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Good Math
book

Good Math

by Mark C. Chu-Carroll
July 2013
Intermediate to advanced
282 pages
6h 28m
English
Pragmatic Bookshelf
Content preview from Good Math

Building a Simple Proof with a Tree

Truth trees work by creating a contradiction. We take a statement that we want to prove true, turn it around by negating it, and then show that that negation leads to contradictions.

For example, I can use this basic method to prove that there isn’t a largest even number, N:

Example: Prove there is no such thing as a largest even number, N.

  1. We’ll start by inverting the fact to prove, and then we’ll show that it leads to a contradiction. Suppose that there is a largest even number, N.

  2. Since N is the largest even number, then for every other even number n, n < N.

  3. N is a natural number; therefore, it can be added with other natural numbers.

  4. If we add 2 to N, the result will be even and it will be larger ...

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Publisher Resources

ISBN: 9781941222546Errata