Proof

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

A proof is a structured argument that follows a set of logical steps. It sets out to prove if a mathematical statement or conjecture is true using mathematical facts or theorems. Once a conjecture has been proved, it becomes a theorem . An example of a theorem is the fact that an even number squared is even.

Theorems are based on axioms. Axioms are defined as a statement or proposition on which a structure is based. Essentially, these are things that we assume to be true and that we do not need to prove. Some examples of axioms are:

All multiples of 2 are even.
Addition is commutative:
Multiplication is commutative:

What must you do in a proof?

The key elements to writing a thorough proof are:

State any information that you are using.
Make sure every step logically follows on from the step before.
Make sure all possible cases are covered, eg if you are asked to prove for all numbers and you have only proven for odd numbers, then you have to prove for even numbers too.
Finish the proof with a statement.

What are the different types of proof?

The different types of proof are defined according to the method being used to do the proof. The main methods that you can find are:

Proof by deduction
Proof by counterexample
Proof by exhaustion
Proof by contradiction

Proof by deduction

Proof by deduction is the most commonly used method of proof, and it involves starting from known facts or theorems, then going through a logical sequence of steps that show the reasoning that leads you to reach a conclusion that proves the original conjecture.

The equation has no real roots. Prove that satisfies the inequality

This is going to involve using the discriminant.

When something has no real roots, the value of

So let's just substitute values of , and .

other

So , as this has no real roots, the value of the discriminant has got to be less than 0.

So if we sketch this out, we get:

Proof Proof by deduction example StudySmarter Proof by deduction example, Marilu García De Taylor - StudySmarter Originals

You can see in the graph that when the curve is below the x-axis . This happens when

However, when the discriminant formula is no longer valid.

If we substitute in the original equation

This is not possible, so there are no real roots

Therefore as required.

Check out the Proof by Deduction article for more examples.

What about identities?

An identity is a mathematical expression that is always true. It is a statement showing that the two sides of the expression are identical. To prove an identity , simply manipulate one side of the expression algebraically until it matches the other side. A symbol you will find in identities is ≡, which means 'is always equal to'. Here are a couple of examples:

1. Prove that

Expand the brackets on the left-hand side of the identity and combine like terms

Therefore, we can say that

2. You can also be asked to prove trigonometric identities:

Prove that

Consider the diagram below:

Proof Pythagorean trigonometric identity StudySmarter Proof of a trigonometric identity, Study Smarter Originals

If we write out trigonometric expressions for and :

By Pythagoras

So substituting expressions in for and :

Factoring out :

Divide both sides by (We can do this because )

Therefore

Please refer to the Proving an Identity article to expand your knowledge on this topic.

Proof by counterexample

A mathematical statement can be disproved by finding one counterexample. A counterexample is an example for which a statement is not true. Let's look at an example below:

Prove that the statement below is not true.

The sum of two square numbers is always a square number.

We can prove this by counterexample, by finding a single example that proves that the statement is false. So, we need to find two square numbers that when added the result is not a square number. Let's try 4 and 9.

4 is a square number ( )

9 is a square number ( )

9 + 4 = 13

13 is not a square number.

So the statement is not true.

For more details and examples about this type of proof, check out the Disproof by Counterexample article.

Proof by exhaustion

Proving by exhaustion is done by considering every example possible and checking each case separately.

Prove that the sum of two consecutive square numbers between 1 and 81 is an odd number.

The square numbers between 1 and 81 are:

4, 9, 16, 25, 36, 49, and 64.

Now let's use proof by exhaustion, and find these sums.

4 + 9 = 13 (odd)

9 + 16 = 25 (odd)

16 + 25 = 41 (odd)

25 + 36 = 61 (odd)

36 + 49 = 85 (odd)

49 + 64 = 113 (odd)

All these numbers are odd, so the statement has been proved.

For more examples, have a look at the Proof by Exhaustion article.

Proof by contradiction

Proof by contradiction works slightly different. In this case, in order to prove a mathematical statement to be true, you will assume that the opposite of the statement must be false, and prove that it is actually false.

Prove that there are no integers a and b for which

Assume the opposite: Assume that we can find two integers a and b that make the equation true.
If that is the case, then we can divide both sides of the equation by 5:

If a and b are integers, then the result of must be an integer too, therefore cannot result in the fraction , which is what the equation states. Here we have a contradiction , which makes our assumption false.
As we have proved the opposite statement to be false, the original statement is proved to be true. Therefore, we can say that the statement "There are no integers a and b for which " is true.

To find out more about this type of proof, follow the link to the Proof by Contradiction article.

Proof-Key takeaways

A proof is a sequence of logical steps used to prove a mathematical statement or conjecture.
Proof by deduction is the most commonly used method of proof, and it involves starting from known facts or theorems, then going through a logical sequence of steps to reach a conclusion that proves the original conjecture.
Proving identities is done by manipulating one side of the expression algebraically until it matches the other side.
Proof by counterexample is done by using a counterexample to prove that a statement is not true.
Proof by exhaustion is done by considering all possible cases and proving each case separately.
Proof by contradiction proves a mathematical statement to be true, by assuming that the opposite of the statement must be false, and proving that it is actually false.

Frequently Asked Questions about Proof

To write a proof in Maths, start with theorems and axioms before performing mathematical processes, and finally finish with a statement concluding your proof.

A mathematical proof is a structured argument that follows a sequence of logical steps using facts and theorems to prove if a mathematical statement is true. It shows the reasoning behind every step and culminates with a final statement.

Proof gives us evidence for our statements and the certainty that what we are using is accurate.

The three main types of proof are proof by deduction, by counterexample, and by exhaustion. Another important method of proof studied at A-levels is proof by contradiction.

Final Proof Quiz

Question

Prove that 2e + 1 is odd for all even numbers between 10 and 20 (e).

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Answer

The even numbers are 12,14,16,18

When e = 12, 2e + 1 = 25

When e = 14, 2e + 1 = 29

When e = 16, 2e + 1 = 33

When e = 18, 2e + 1 = 37

These are all odd numbers.

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Question

Prove that any two consecutive positive integers under 5 sum an odd number.

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Answer

The numbers are 1,2,3, and 4.

The sums we get are:

1 + 2 = 3

2 + 3 = 5

3 + 4 = 7

3,5, and 7 are all odd numbers.

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Question

Prove this statement is not true.

for all real .

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Answer

Let x = 3.

So the statement is untrue.

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Question

Prove this statement is untrue.

All odd numbers squared are even.

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Answer

Choose an odd number such as 5.

. This is not even, so the statement is untrue.

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Question

Why does a counterexample disprove statements?

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Answer

As statements need to be true for all values stated, so if it is untrue for one value, the statement is false.

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Question

What is proof in Maths?

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Answer

A proof is a structured argument that follows a set of logical steps. It sets out to prove if a mathematical statement or conjecture is true using mathematical facts or theorems.

Show question

Question

What is a theorem?

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Answer

A theorem is a mathematical statement or conjecture that has been proved.

Show question

Question

What are the key elements to writing a thorough proof?

Show answer

Answer

The key elements to writing a thorough proof are:

State any information that you are using.
Make sure every step logically follows on from the step before.
Make sure all possible cases are covered.
Finish the proof with a statement.

Show question

Question

What is proof by deduction?

Show answer

Answer

Proof by deduction is the most commonly used method of proof, and it involves starting from known facts or theorems, then going through a logical sequence of steps that show the reasoning that leads you to reach a conclusion that proves the original conjecture.

Show question

Question

How do you prove an identity?

Show answer

Answer

To prove an identity, simply manipulate one side of the mathematical expression algebraically until it matches the other side.

Show question

Question

What is a counterexample?

Show answer

Answer

A counterexample is an example for which a statement is not true.

Show question

Question

What is proof by exhaustion?

Show answer

Answer

Proving by exhaustion is done by considering every example possible and checking each case separately.

Show question

Question

What is proof by contradiction?

Show answer

Answer

Proof by contradiction works slightly different. In this case, in order to prove a mathematical statement to be true, you will assume that the opposite of the statement must be false, and prove that it is actually false.

Show question

Question

What is the purpose of proof in Maths?

Show answer

Answer

Proof gives us evidence for our statements and the certainty that what we are using is accurate.

Show question

Question

What are the three types of proof?

Show answer

Answer

The 3 main types of proof are proof by deduction, by counterexample, and by exhaustion. Another important method of proof studied at A-levels is proof by contradiction.

Show question

More about Proof

Select your language

Proof

Proof

What must you do in a proof?

What are the different types of proof?

Proof by deduction

What about identities?

Proof by counterexample

Proof by exhaustion

Proof by contradiction

Proof-Key takeaways

Frequently Asked Questions about Proof

How do we write a proof in Mathematics?

What constitutes a mathematical proof?

What is the purpose of proof in Mathematics?

What are the three types of proofs?

Final Proof Quiz

More explanations about Pure Maths

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