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So you say to yourself, "What's a proof?" Well, for the few people who went to this page not knowing what a proof is, you can look it up, ask a teacher, or just take my word for it. It's a method of solving a problem. (See, this list of 'proofs' was given to me at a freshman level of high school. So high school can't be that bad. HAH!)
derived from: Dick Wood, Seattle Pacific University
If the Proof of a theorum is not immediately apparent, it may be because you are trying the wrong approach. Below are some effective methods of proof that may set you in the right direction.
Proof by Obviousness: "The proof is so clear that it need not be mentioned."
Proof by General Agreement: "All in favor?..."
Proof by Imagination: "Well, we'll pretend it's true."
Proof by Convenience: "It would be very nice if it were true, so..."
Proof by Necessity: "It had better be true or the whole structure of mathematics will crumble to the ground."
Proof by Plausibility: "It sounds good so it must be true."
Proof by Intimidation: "Don't be stupid, of course it's true."
Proof by Lack of Sufficient Time: "Because of the time constraint, I'll leave the Proof to you."
Proof by Postponement: "The Proof for this is long and arduous, so it is given in he appendix."
Proof by accident: "Hey, what have we here?"
Proof by Insignificance: "Who really cares anyway?"
Proof by Mumbo-Jumbo:
EWARYInbjkSkj
Proof by Profanity: (example omitted)
Proof by Definition: "We'll define it to be true."
Proof by Tautology: "It's true because it's true."
Proof by Plagarism: "As we see on page 289..."
Proof by Proof by Lost Reference: "I know I saw this somewhere..."
Proof by Calculus: "This proof requires calculus so we'll skip it."
Proof by Lack of Interest: "Does anyone really want to see this?"
Proof by Illegibility:
haha, you can't read this so it must be right
Proof by Logic: "If it is on the problem sheet, then it must true."
Proof by Majority Rules: Only to be used if General Agreement is impossible.
Proof by Clever Variable Choice: "Let 'A' be the number such that this proof works."
Proof byTessellation: "This proof is just th same as the last."
Proof by Divine Word: "... And the Great One said, 'Let it be true' and it came to pass."
Proof by Stubborness: "I don't care what you say! It's true!!!"
Proof by Simplification: "This proof reduces to the statement, 1 + 1 =2."
Proof by Hasty Generalization: "Well it works for the number 17, so it works for all reals."
Proof by Deception: "Now everyone turn their backs..."
Proof by Supplication: "Oh please, let it be true."
Proof by Poor Analogy: "Well, it's just like..."
Proof by Avoidance: "Limit of Proof of Postponement as 't' approaces infinity."
Proof by Design: "If it's not true in today's oath, then invent a new system in which it is."
Proof by Intuition: "I just have this gut feeling..."
Proof by Auhority: "Well, Don Knuth says it's true, so it must be."
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