Observations on writing proofs:

1.

MATH 245

When asked to prove a theorem or show a statement is true search for and use previous definitions and/or theorems that include aspects of the theorem or statement you are trying to prove. Ex: Definition: An integer n is even if there exists and integer m such that n = 2m. Prove: The sum of two even integers is even.

2.

The statement of a theorem consists of two parts, the hypothesis and the conclusion. The hypothesis (or hypotheses as there may be more than one hypothesis to a theorem) is given to be true. You must start with the hypothesis as a true statement; use valid mathematical manipulations, previously defined terms, and/or previously proven theorems to arrive at the conclusion. Prove: If r is an even integer and s is an odd integer, then the sum r + s is an odd integer. What are the hypotheses? What is the conclusion? What definitions do you need to prove the statement is true? Prove it.

3.

If we claim that a statement or theorem is true then the statement or theorem must be true for all test cases. Hence, to prove a statement or theorem is false, we need only find one case, called a counter-example, where the statement or theorem is false. Ex: Prove the that the following statement is false, The square of every real number is positive.

4.

Never, and I mean NEVER tacitly assume you are given a hypothesis that is not explicitly stated as part of the theorem or statement.

5.

Never, and I REALLY mean NEVER use a specific example to prove a theorem or statement is true. You must prove a statement or theorem is true for ALL test cases not just one or even a subset of test cases. Consider the statement, If differentiable. Think of at least one function that is continuous for all real numbers and differentiable for all real numbers.

f ( x)

is a continuous function, then

f ( x)

is

Does your example prove the statement? Why or why not?

Can you think of a function that is continuous for all real numbers but not differentiable for all real numbers? Have you disproved the statement? Why or why not?

6.

When you are asked to show that something exists and is unique, first prove existence, then prove uniqueness. To prove uniqueness first assume that you have two of the unique element and then prove that the two elements are equal and in fact one. Ex: Show that there is a unique real number r such that numbers x.

rx = r for all real

Later we will discuss three other types of proofs: proof by contradiction, proof by contrapositive, and proof by induction. Although while working on the following homework problems, we may learn about a couple of these proof methods.

First Proofs Homework: Prove each of the following or give a counter example. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. The square of every odd integer is one more than an integral multiple of 4. The square of every real number is positive. n 2 > n for every integer n. There exists a unique integer n such that n 2 + 2 = 3 . There exists a unique non-negative integer n such that n 2 + 4 = 8 . n n Let n and m be integers such that n < m and m 0, then . m m
3 2

7.

Let r be an even integer and s be an odd integer. Then r + s is odd.

8.

The product of two even integers is an integral multiple of four.

9.

If n is one more than an integral multiple of three, then

n2

is as well.