36 Methods of Proof |
1 |
Proof by obviousness |
“The proof is so clear that it need not be mentioned.” |
2 |
Proof by general agreement |
“All in favor?…” |
3 |
Proof by imagination |
“Well, we’ll pretend it’s true…” |
4 |
Proof by convenience |
“It would be very nice if it were true, so…” |
5 |
Proof by necessity |
“It had better be true, or the entire structure of mathematics would crumble to the ground.” |
6 |
Proof by plausibility |
“It sounds good so it must be true.” |
7 |
Proof by intimidation |
“Don’t be stupid; of course it’s true.” |
8 |
Proof by lack of sufficient time |
“Because of the time constraint, I’ll leave the proof to you.” |
9 |
Proof by postponement |
“The proof for this is long and arduous, so it is given in the appendix.” |
10 |
Proof by accident |
“Hey, what have we here?!” |
11 |
Proof by insignificance |
“Who really cares, anyway?” |
12 |
Proof by mumbo-jumbo |
|
13 |
Proof by profanity |
(example omitted) |
14 |
Proof by definition |
“We define it to be true.” |
15 |
Proof by tautology |
It’s true because it’s true.” |
16 |
Proof by plagiarism |
“As we see on page 289,…” |
17 |
Proof by lost reference |
“I know I saw it somewhere…” |
18 |
Proof by calculus |
“This proof requires calculus, so we’ll skip it.” |
19 |
Proof by terror |
When intimidation fails… |
20 |
Proof by lack of interest |
“Does anyone really want to see this?” |
21 |
Proof by illegibility |
|
22 |
Proof by logic |
“If it is on the problem sheet, then it must be true!” |
23 |
Proof by majority rule |
“Only to be used if general agreement is impossible.” |
24 |
Proof by clever variable choice |
“Let A be the number such that this proof works…” |
25 |
Proof by tessellation |
“This proof works the same as the last.” |
26 |
Proof by divine word |
“…And the Lord said, ‘Let it be true,’ and it was true.” |
27 |
Proof by stubbornness |
“I don’t care what you say-it is true!” |
28 |
Proof by simplification |
“This proof reduces to the statement 1+1=2.” |
29 |
Proof by hasty generalization |
“Well, it works for 17, so it works for all real numbers.” |
30 |
Proof by deception |
“Now everyone turn their backs…” |
31 |
Proof by supplication |
“Oh please, let it be true.” |
32 |
Proof by poor analogy |
“Well, it’s just like…” |
33 |
Proof by avoidance |
Limit of proof by postponement as it approaches infinity |
34 |
Proof by design |
If it’s not true in today’s math, invent a new system in which it is. |
35 |
Proof by authority |
“Well, Ruth Kraus says it’s true, so it must be!” |
36 |
Proof by intuition |
“I just have this gut feeling…” |