The Meaning of Proofs

The Meaning of Proofs PDF

Author: Gabriele Lolli

Publisher: MIT Press

Published: 2022-09-27

Total Pages: 177

ISBN-13: 0262371049

DOWNLOAD EBOOK →

Why mathematics is not merely formulaic: an argument that to write a mathematical proof is tantamount to inventing a story. In The Meaning of Proofs, mathematician Gabriele Lolli argues that to write a mathematical proof is tantamount to inventing a story. Lolli offers not instructions for how to write mathematical proofs, but a philosophical and poetic reflection on mathematical proofs as narrative. Mathematics, imprisoned within its symbols and images, Lolli writes, says nothing if its meaning is not narrated in a story. The minute mathematicians open their mouths to explain something—the meaning of x, how to find y—they are framing a narrative. Every proof is the story of an adventure, writes Lolli, a journey into an unknown land to open a new, connected route; once the road is open, we correct it, expand it. Just as fairy tales offer a narrative structure in which new characters can be inserted into recurring forms of the genre in original ways, in mathematics, each new abstract concept is the protagonist of a different theory supported by the general techniques of mathematical reasoning. In ancient Greece, there was more than an analogy between literature and mathematics, there was direct influence. Euclid’s proofs have roots in poetry and rhetoric. Mathematics, Lolli asserts, is not the mere manipulation of formulas.

The Meaning of Proofs

The Meaning of Proofs PDF

Author: Gabriele Lolli

Publisher: MIT Press

Published: 2022-09-27

Total Pages: 177

ISBN-13: 0262544261

DOWNLOAD EBOOK →

Why mathematics is not merely formulaic: an argument that to write a mathematical proof is tantamount to inventing a story. In The Meaning of Proofs, mathematician Gabriele Lolli argues that to write a mathematical proof is tantamount to inventing a story. Lolli offers not instructions for how to write mathematical proofs, but a philosophical and poetic reflection on mathematical proofs as narrative. Mathematics, imprisoned within its symbols and images, Lolli writes, says nothing if its meaning is not narrated in a story. The minute mathematicians open their mouths to explain something—the meaning of x, how to find y—they are framing a narrative. Every proof is the story of an adventure, writes Lolli, a journey into an unknown land to open a new, connected route; once the road is open, we correct it, expand it. Just as fairy tales offer a narrative structure in which new characters can be inserted into recurring forms of the genre in original ways, in mathematics, each new abstract concept is the protagonist of a different theory supported by the general techniques of mathematical reasoning. In ancient Greece, there was more than an analogy between literature and mathematics, there was direct influence. Euclid’s proofs have roots in poetry and rhetoric. Mathematics, Lolli asserts, is not the mere manipulation of formulas.

Book of Proof

Book of Proof PDF

Author: Richard H. Hammack

Publisher:

Published: 2016-01-01

Total Pages: 314

ISBN-13: 9780989472111

DOWNLOAD EBOOK →

This book is an introduction to the language and standard proof methods of mathematics. It is a bridge from the computational courses (such as calculus or differential equations) that students typically encounter in their first year of college to a more abstract outlook. It lays a foundation for more theoretical courses such as topology, analysis and abstract algebra. Although it may be more meaningful to the student who has had some calculus, there is really no prerequisite other than a measure of mathematical maturity.

Proofs from THE BOOK

Proofs from THE BOOK PDF

Author: Martin Aigner

Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media

Published: 2013-06-29

Total Pages: 194

ISBN-13: 3662223430

DOWNLOAD EBOOK →

According to the great mathematician Paul Erdös, God maintains perfect mathematical proofs in The Book. This book presents the authors candidates for such "perfect proofs," those which contain brilliant ideas, clever connections, and wonderful observations, bringing new insight and surprising perspectives to problems from number theory, geometry, analysis, combinatorics, and graph theory. As a result, this book will be fun reading for anyone with an interest in mathematics.

Introduction to Proof in Abstract Mathematics

Introduction to Proof in Abstract Mathematics PDF

Author: Andrew Wohlgemuth

Publisher: Courier Corporation

Published: 2014-06-10

Total Pages: 385

ISBN-13: 0486141683

DOWNLOAD EBOOK →

The primary purpose of this undergraduate text is to teach students to do mathematical proofs. It enables readers to recognize the elements that constitute an acceptable proof, and it develops their ability to do proofs of routine problems as well as those requiring creative insights. The self-contained treatment features many exercises, problems, and selected answers, including worked-out solutions. Starting with sets and rules of inference, this text covers functions, relations, operation, and the integers. Additional topics include proofs in analysis, cardinality, and groups. Six appendixes offer supplemental material. Teachers will welcome the return of this long-out-of-print volume, appropriate for both one- and two-semester courses.

Lectures on the Philosophy of Mathematics

Lectures on the Philosophy of Mathematics PDF

Author: Joel David Hamkins

Publisher: MIT Press

Published: 2021-03-09

Total Pages: 350

ISBN-13: 0262542234

DOWNLOAD EBOOK →

An introduction to the philosophy of mathematics grounded in mathematics and motivated by mathematical inquiry and practice. In this book, Joel David Hamkins offers an introduction to the philosophy of mathematics that is grounded in mathematics and motivated by mathematical inquiry and practice. He treats philosophical issues as they arise organically in mathematics, discussing such topics as platonism, realism, logicism, structuralism, formalism, infinity, and intuitionism in mathematical contexts. He organizes the book by mathematical themes--numbers, rigor, geometry, proof, computability, incompleteness, and set theory--that give rise again and again to philosophical considerations.

Proofs and Refutations

Proofs and Refutations PDF

Author: Imre Lakatos

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Published: 1976

Total Pages: 190

ISBN-13: 9780521290388

DOWNLOAD EBOOK →

Proofs and Refutations is for those interested in the methodology, philosophy and history of mathematics.

Formal Proofs in Maths

Formal Proofs in Maths PDF

Author: Chris Lavranos

Publisher: Createspace Independent Publishing Platform

Published: 2015-07-15

Total Pages: 122

ISBN-13: 9781514634448

DOWNLOAD EBOOK →

The scope of Formal Proofs in Maths is to teach students between higher school classes and University undergraduate or postgraduate studies, how to write a formal proof with the true meaning of the concept, of simple theorems in Algebra, particulary in identities concerning equalities, equations and inequalities. This is accomplished by writing four different types of proof namely type(A), type(B), type(C) and type(D) for each theorem or exercise. In TYPE(A) ordinary proofs will be cited in the usual narrative style used by experienced mathematicians. In TYPE(B) a rigorous proof in steps will be introduced to the reader. Each line of that proof will be justified by an appropriate axiom, theorem or definition. In TYPE(C) we will try for a smooth transition from a rigorous proof to a formal proof exposing the way that the laws of logic apply on one or more statements of the proof. In TYPE(D) we will simply write in tabular stepwise form, the results of TYPE(C) mentioning both: 1) Axioms, theorems or definitions. 2) The laws of logic. Hence, finally producing a formal proof according to the definition given in the preface note of the book.

How to Prove It

How to Prove It PDF

Author: Daniel J. Velleman

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Published: 2006-01-16

Total Pages: 401

ISBN-13: 0521861241

DOWNLOAD EBOOK →

Many students have trouble the first time they take a mathematics course in which proofs play a significant role. This new edition of Velleman's successful text will prepare students to make the transition from solving problems to proving theorems by teaching them the techniques needed to read and write proofs. The book begins with the basic concepts of logic and set theory, to familiarize students with the language of mathematics and how it is interpreted. These concepts are used as the basis for a step-by-step breakdown of the most important techniques used in constructing proofs. The author shows how complex proofs are built up from these smaller steps, using detailed 'scratch work' sections to expose the machinery of proofs about the natural numbers, relations, functions, and infinite sets. To give students the opportunity to construct their own proofs, this new edition contains over 200 new exercises, selected solutions, and an introduction to Proof Designer software. No background beyond standard high school mathematics is assumed. This book will be useful to anyone interested in logic and proofs: computer scientists, philosophers, linguists, and of course mathematicians.

Introduction · to Mathematical Structures and · Proofs

Introduction · to Mathematical Structures and · Proofs PDF

Author: Larry Gerstein

Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media

Published: 2013-11-21

Total Pages: 355

ISBN-13: 1468467085

DOWNLOAD EBOOK →

This is a textbook for a one-term course whose goal is to ease the transition from lower-division calculus courses to upper-division courses in linear and abstract algebra, real and complex analysis, number theory, topology, combinatorics, and so on. Without such a "bridge" course, most upper division instructors feel the need to start their courses with the rudiments of logic, set theory, equivalence relations, and other basic mathematical raw materials before getting on with the subject at hand. Students who are new to higher mathematics are often startled to discover that mathematics is a subject of ideas, and not just formulaic rituals, and that they are now expected to understand and create mathematical proofs. Mastery of an assortment of technical tricks may have carried the students through calculus, but it is no longer a guarantee of academic success. Students need experience in working with abstract ideas at a nontrivial level if they are to achieve the sophisticated blend of knowledge, disci pline, and creativity that we call "mathematical maturity. " I don't believe that "theorem-proving" can be taught any more than "question-answering" can be taught. Nevertheless, I have found that it is possible to guide stu dents gently into the process of mathematical proof in such a way that they become comfortable with the experience and begin asking them selves questions that will lead them in the right direction.