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36 Methods of Mathematical Proof

This document lists 36 different types of mathematical "proofs" that are not valid proofs. Some examples include proof by intimidation, proof by lack of interest, proof by imagination, proof by convenience, proof by necessity, proof by plausibility, proof by lack of sufficient time, proof by postponement, proof by accident, proof by insignificance, proof by mumbo-jumbo, proof by profanity, proof by definition, proof by tautology, proof by plagiarism, proof by lost reference, proof by calculus, and proof by intuition. Many of these "proofs" rely on arguments from authority, convenience, or ambiguity rather than logical reasoning or evidence.

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339 views1 page

36 Methods of Mathematical Proof

This document lists 36 different types of mathematical "proofs" that are not valid proofs. Some examples include proof by intimidation, proof by lack of interest, proof by imagination, proof by convenience, proof by necessity, proof by plausibility, proof by lack of sufficient time, proof by postponement, proof by accident, proof by insignificance, proof by mumbo-jumbo, proof by profanity, proof by definition, proof by tautology, proof by plagiarism, proof by lost reference, proof by calculus, and proof by intuition. Many of these "proofs" rely on arguments from authority, convenience, or ambiguity rather than logical reasoning or evidence.

Uploaded by

bcmribeiro
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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36 Methods of Mathematical Proof

Proof by obviousness Proof by terror


"The proof is so clear that it need not be mentioned." When intimidation fails…

Proof by general agreement Proof by lack of interest


"All in favor?…" "Does anyone really want to see this?"

Proof by imagination Proof by illegibility


"Well, we'll pretend it's true… (scribble, scribble) QED

Proof by convenience Proof by logic


"It would be very nice if it were true, so … "If it is on the problem sheet, then it must be true!"

Proof by necessity Proof by majority rule


"It had better be true, or the entire structure of Only to be used if general agreement is impossible
mathematics would crumble to the ground."
Proof by clever variable choice
Proof by plausibility "Let A be the number such that this proof works…"
"It sounds good, so it must be true."
Proof by tessellation
Proof by intimidation "This proof is the same as the last."
"Don't be stupid; of course it's true."
Proof by divine word
Proof by lack of sufficient time "And the Lord said, 'Let it be true,' and it was true."
"Because of the time constraint, I'll leave the proof to you."
Proof by stubbornness
Proof by postponement "I don't care what you say-it is true!"
"The proof for this is long and arduous, so it is given in the
appendix." Proof by simplification
"This proof reduces to the statement 1 + 1 = 2."
Proof by accident
"Hey, what have we here?!" Proof by hasty generalization
"Well, it works for 17, so it works for all reals."
Proof by insignificance
"Who really cares, anyway?" Proof by deception
"Now everyone turn their backs…"
Proof by mumbo-jumbo
∀ (Β ⊂ Π) , ∃ (Χ ∈ Ω) Proof by supplication
"Oh please, let it be true."
Proof by profanity
(example omitted) Proof by poor analogy
"Well, it's just like…"
Proof by definition
"We define it to be true." Proof by avoidance
Limit of proof by postponement as it approaches infinity
Proof by tautology
'It's true because it's true." Proof by design
If it's not true in today's math, invent a new system in
Proof by plagiarism which it is.
"As we see on page 289…"
Proof by authority
Proof by lost reference "Well, Don Knuth says it's true, so it must be!"
"I know I saw it somewhere…"
Proof by calculus Proof by intuition
"This proof requires calculus, so we'll skip it." "I just have this gut feeling…"

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