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09 Proof

This document discusses different proof techniques in mathematics including direct proof, proof by contradiction, and proof by contraposition. It provides examples of proving statements using each technique and discusses concepts like vacuous proofs, trivial proofs, and disproving universally quantified statements by counterexample. The document is intended to teach students in a discrete mathematics course how to structure and write mathematical proofs.

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Shadmaan Sabit
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33 views19 pages

09 Proof

This document discusses different proof techniques in mathematics including direct proof, proof by contradiction, and proof by contraposition. It provides examples of proving statements using each technique and discusses concepts like vacuous proofs, trivial proofs, and disproving universally quantified statements by counterexample. The document is intended to teach students in a discrete mathematics course how to structure and write mathematical proofs.

Uploaded by

Shadmaan Sabit
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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PROOF TECHNIQUES

CSE 2213 – Discrete Mathematics


Course teacher: Minhajul Bashir

12/15/2022 [email protected]
WHAT TO PROVE? HOW TO
PROVE?
Prove that, if an integer is even, then is also even.

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CAN WE PROVE THE
REVERSE?
Prove that, if is an integer, and is even, then is also even.

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PROOF TECHNIQUES
Three basic techniques –
 Direct proof
 Proof by contradiction
 Proof by contraposition

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DIRECT PROOF
To prove , we first assume that is true, and hence prove that is true
 We reach the conclusion directly from our assumption

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PROOF BY CONTRADICTION
To prove , we first assume that , and start logical arguments to reach a conclusion
that contradicts our assumption, or any real life scenario

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PROOF BY CONTRAPOSITION
To prove , we first assume that is true, and hence prove that is true
 We actually prove the contrapositive of the actual sentence, i.e.

What is the difference between proof by contraposition and proof by contradiction?

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EXAMPLE
Use direct proof to prove that the product of two rational numbers is rational

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EXAMPLE
Prove by contradiction that is an irrational number.

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EXAMPLE
Prove by contraposition that if is an integer and is odd,
then is even.

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STANDARD FORMS OF
DIFFERENT NUMBERS
Type Standard form
Even number , where is an integer
Odd number or , where k is an integer
Multiple of , where is an integer
Division by gives remainder , where is an integer
Perfect square , where is an integer
, where are integers and
Rational number (Sometimes also assume do not have any common factors other
than 1)

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VACUOUS AND TRIVIAL
PROOFS
If we prove a conditional statement by disproving its hypothesis, then the proof
technique is called vacuous proof
If we prove a conditional statement by proving its conclusion, then the proof
technique is called trivial proof

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QUICK EXERCISE
Is true, where ?
 Vacuous proof

Is true, where ?
 Trivial proof

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PROVING EQUIVALENCES
Prove that “For every positive integer , is odd if and only if is odd”
 First prove “if is odd then is odd”
 Then prove “if is odd then is odd”

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DISPROVING UNIVERSALLY
QUANTIFIED PROPOSITIONS
Prove that “Every positive integer is the sum of the squares of two integers” is false.
 We just find a counterexample, that invalidates the use of “every” in the sentence
 Here, a counterexample is 3 (because 3 = 1 + 2 = 0 + 3, and 2 and 3 are not squares of any integer)

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EXAMPLE
Prove that, if and are even integers, then is also even

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EXAMPLE
Prove that, if is irrational, then is also irrational

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EXAMPLE
Prove that the sum of an irrational and a rational number is irrational

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QUICK EXERCISE
Prove or disprove that the product of two irrational numbers is irrational

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