What results from taking the contrapositive of a conditional statement?

The correct answer is that taking the contrapositive of a conditional statement results in a statement where both parts are switched and negated. This is defined in terms of logical reasoning.

In a conditional statement of the form "If P, then Q," the contrapositive is formed by negating both the hypothesis and the conclusion and then switching them, resulting in "If not Q, then not P." This maintains the logical equivalence of the original statement, meaning that the truth value of the conditional and its contrapositive are the same.

Understanding this concept is crucial in fields such as mathematics and logic, as it helps in proving statements and deductions. The negation and switching ensure that you are still capturing the essence of the relationship established in the original statement while viewing it from a different logical perspective.