# direct proof method

On occasion, analogical arguments took place, or even by “invoking the gods”. (r_s). This meant that ancient geometry (and Euclidean Geometry) discussed circles. A direct proof is a method of showing whether a conditional statement is true or false using known facts and rules. For example, instead of showing directly p ⇒ q, one proves its contrapositive ~q ⇒ ~p (one assumes ~q and shows that it leads to ~p). However, the area of the large square can also be expressed as the sum of the areas of its components. The area of a triangle is equal to Alternatively, similarly $\ n+(\overbrace{2n+2}^{\rm even})\,$ odd $\,\Rightarrow\,n\,$ odd. A direct proof is a sequence of statements which are either givens or deductions from previous statements, and whose last statement is the conclusion to be proved. Direct Proofs At this point, we have seen a few examples of mathematical)proofs.nThese have the following structure: ¥Start with the given fact(s). Looks like you’ve clipped this slide to already. Observe that we have four right-angled triangles and a square packed into a large square. A direct proof is a sequence of statements which are either givens or deductions from previous statements, and whose last statement is the conclusion to be proved. Slideshare uses cookies to improve functionality and performance, and to provide you with relevant advertising. 1. Theorem 1. Most simple proofs are of this kind. {\displaystyle 4({\frac {1}{2}}ab)+c^{2}. 2. }, Removing the ab that appears on both sides gives, By definition, if n is an odd integer, it can be expressed as, Since 2k2+ 2k is an integer, n2 is also odd. MAT231 (Transition to Higher Math) Direct Proof Fall 2014 14 / 24. – A proof is a sequence of logical deductions from axioms and The first one I want to dabble into is direct proofs. Then the sum can be written as. c Definitions: An integer n is odd iff there exists an integer k so that n = 2k+1. + to make a series of deductions that eventually prove the conclusion of the conjecture to be true 4. Example 1 (Version I): Prove the following universal statement: The negative of any even integer is even. 2. b Proof – An axiom is a proposition that is simply accepted as true. The idea that mathematical statements could be proven had not been developed yet, so these were the earliest forms of the concept of proof, despite not being actual proof at all. Proof: Suppose n is any [particular but arbitrarily chosen] even integer. propositions using previously proved ones. ¥Use logical reasoning to deduce other facts. The word ‘proof’ comes from the Latin word probare,[3] which means “to test”. We use your LinkedIn profile and activity data to personalize ads and to show you more relevant ads. Direct Proof: Example Theorem: 1 + 2 +h3 +rÉ + n =e n(n+1)/2. 2 For example, if someone could draw a reasonable picture, or give a convincing description, then that met all the criteria for something to be described as a mathematical “fact”. Method of direct proof 1. Discussion If a direct proof of an assertion appears problematic, the next most natural strat- egy to try is a proof of the contrapositive. Their improper use results in unclear and even incorrect arguments. [1] In order to directly prove a conditional statement of the form "If p, then q", it suffices to consider the situations in which the statement p is true. Assume the hypothesis to be true 3. This is the simplest and easiest method of proof available to us. See our User Agreement and Privacy Policy. As of this date, Scribd will manage your SlideShare account and any content you may have on SlideShare, and Scribd's General Terms of Use and Privacy Policy will apply. Euclidean Algorithm to nd the GCD Lets use the Euclidean Algorithm to nd gcd(38;22). Consider two even integers x and y. Variables: The proper use of variables in an argument is critical. Proof methods that are not direct include proof by contradiction, including proof by infinite descent. Conditional statements are 'if, then' statements. 1.1 Direct Proof (Proof by Construction) In a constructive proof one attempts to demonstrate P )Q directly. ∎, The sum of two even integers equals an even integer, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Direct_proof&oldid=970176353, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 29 July 2020, at 18:28. The earliest form of mathematics was phenomenological. previously-proved statements that concludes with the A definition is an agreement that a particular word or phrase will stand for some object, property, or other concept that we expect to refer to often. Since p ⇒ q and ~q ⇒ ~p are equivalent by the principle of transposition (see law of excluded middle), p ⇒ q is indirectly proved. If a and b are consecutive integers, then the sum a+ b is odd. If so, that might be why the proof was deemed wrong. Another shape which is crucial in the history of direct proof is the circle, which was crucial for the design of arenas and water tanks. ( These were the shapes which provided the most questions in terms of practical things, so early geometrical concepts were focused on these shapes, for example, the likes of buildings and pyramids used these shapes in abundance. There are only two steps to a direct proof (the second step is, of course, the tricky part): 1. the simplest and easiest method of proof available to us. Identify the hypothesis and conclusion of the conjecture you're trying to prove 2. A direct proof of a proposition in mathematics is often a demonstration that the proposition follows logically from certain definitions and ... the process of constructing a proof for this proposition is the same forward-backward method that was used to construct a proof for Theorem 1.8. Common proof rules used are modus ponens and universal instantiation.[2]. ) Now customize the name of a clipboard to store your clips. }, We know that the area of the large square is also equal to the sum of the areas of the triangles, plus the area of the small square, and thus the area of the large square equals a In mathematics and logic, a direct proof is a way of showing the In my first post on my journey for improving my mathematical rigour I said that I would go through a few different techniques for conducting proofs. The colors show how the numbers move from one line to the next based on the lemma we just proved. In Example 2.4.1 we use this method to prove that if the product of two integers, mand n, is even, then mor nis even. 1 A direct proof of a proposition in mathematics is often a demonstration that the proposition follows logically from certain definitions and previously proven propositions. The type of logic employed is almost invariably first-order logic, employing the quantifiers for all and there exists. You can change your ad preferences anytime. established facts, usually axioms, existing lemmas and theorems, without making any further assumptions. It follows that x + y has 2 as a factor and therefore is even, so the sum of any two even integers is even. {\displaystyle {\frac {1}{2}}ab.