Tuesday, October 20th, 2009
How to Write Proofs by Exhaustion
Description
A detailed tutorial on writing proofs by exhaustion. Step by step tutorial including several examples of how to write proofs by exhaustion for reference.
Overview
A proof by exhaustion is one of the easier types of proofs to write. All this proof involves is testing cases – every case possible for what you are trying to prove. This can be made easier by using variables instead of numbers, or by testing for an even number and odd number, positive and negative number, etc. That way you do not have to test many numbers in order to prove. If even one of the cases does not work out, then whatever you are testing for has been disproven.
Tags: cases, discrete math, disproven, even, exhaustion, Math, method, negative, odd, positive, possibilities, proof, proofs, proven, variable, write
Posted in Discrete Math | No Comments »
Thursday, September 17th, 2009
An Introduction to Writing Proofs
Description
A detailed tutorial on how to write a simple proof. Step by step tutorial including an example problem on writing simple proofs for reference. Knowledge of proof writing is required in nearly all branches of math and science.
Overview
The art of writing proofs is different than anything else that is done in math, yet it is what math is all about. A proof is like math literature, it is taking something that we already know to be true or false and proving why it is true or false. Typically variables are used with many algebra tricks, although in geometry proofs you are required to write paragraphs on certain things. Proofs all have a different style depending on who wrote them – it is the one part of math you are allowed to use your creativity in. Remember, there is no “right” and “wrong” with proofs, provided you either prove or disprove what the problem asked you to.
Tags: discrete math, disprove, geometrical proofs, literature, Math, proofs, prove, proven, two column proofs, writing, writing proofs
Posted in Discrete Math | No Comments »
