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Mathematical Reasoning: Writing and Proof
Introduction to Writing Proofs
01What Is a Statement? Truth Values and If-Then02Quantifiers and Counterexamples: What One Example Can Prove03The Truth Table for If-Then: When a Conditional Is False04Using Conditionals: Theorems, Counterexamples and ClosureProblem set0/10Problem set 20/10
01Even and Odd Integers: Why a Proof Starts From the Definition02The Know-Show Table: Proving Odd Times Odd Is Odd03Writing Proofs for a Reader: Six Guidelines and Sums of Even and Odd04Backward Answers Must Imply the Goal: Two More Direct ProofsProblem set0/10Problem set 20/10
Logical Reasoning
01Logical Operators: Truth Rules for And, Or, Not and If-Then02Only If, Necessary and Sufficient: Truth Tables and Tautologies03Logical Equivalence: De Morgan's Laws and the Contrapositive04Negating If-Then and Proving Equivalences by ChainsProblem set0/10Problem set 20/10
01Sets and Variables: The Roster Method and the Universal Set02Element, Subset and Truth Set: Open Sentences as Predicates03Set Builder Notation, the Empty Set, and Sentences True for All xProblem set0/10Problem set 20/10
01Quantifiers: When For Every and There Exists Statements Are True02Negating Quantified Statements: The Quantifier Switches03Counterexamples and Negating Definitions With Quantifiers04Statements With Two Quantifiers: Why the Order MattersProblem set0/10Problem set 20/10
Constructing Proofs
01Divisibility: Definition, Notation, and Non-Divisors02Proving Divisibility Is Transitive: Axioms, Definitions, Proof03A Divisor of Two Numbers Divides Their Sum, and Counterexamples04Congruence Modulo n: A Proof Mod 8 and 7 Rules for Writing ProofsProblem set0/10Problem set 20/10
01Proving the Contrapositive When a Direct Proof Stalls02Writing a Proof by Contrapositive: ab = 0 and De Morgan03Proving Biconditionals: Two Conditionals, Each Marked04Constructive and Nonconstructive Proofs of ExistenceProblem set0/10Problem set 20/10
Contradiction, Cases and Proof Writing
01Why Proof by Contradiction Works and How to Negate the Claim02Writing a Proof by Contradiction: x/y + y/x and Negations03Proving Nonexistence by Contradiction: Even Equals Odd04Proof That √2 Is Irrational: Rational and Irrational NumbersProblem set0/10Problem set 20/10
01Proof by Cases: Why It Works, and Why n² + n Is Even02Choosing Exhaustive Cases and Writing a Case Proof03Absolute Value by Cases: Proving |x| = A and |-x| = |x|04The Triangle Inequality by Cases: |x + y| ≤ |x| + |y|Problem set0/10Problem set 20/10
01Many Ways to Write 27 = 4q + r, and a Mod 6 Proof02The Division Algorithm: One Quotient, One Remainder03Proof by Remainders: Why 3 Divides n³ - n04Adding, Multiplying and Powering Congruences05Congruence Is Reflexive, Symmetric and Transitive06Each Integer Is Congruent to Its Remainder: Squares Mod 507Ruling Out Cases to Prove a² ≡ 1 (mod 6)Problem set0/10Problem set 20/10
01Direct, Contrapositive or Contradiction: Choosing a Proof02Proof by Cases, Equivalences, and Existence Proofs03Writing a Proof for a Reader: Openings and Signposts04Writing the Math in a Proof: Displays and a Clear EndingProblem set0/10Problem set 20/10
Mathematical Induction
01Inductive Sets: Why a Table of Cases Is Not a Proof02The Principle of Mathematical Induction as an Axiom03Induction on Sums: Add the Next Term to Both Sides04Why Both Steps Matter: Proving 4 Divides 5ⁿ − 1Problem set0/10Problem set 20/10
01When Ordinary Induction Falls Short: n! vs 2ⁿ and Primes02Extended Induction: Start the Basis Step at Any Integer M03Strong Induction: Every Integer Above 1 Factors into Primes04Three Basis Cases: Every n from 8 On Is a Sum of 3s and 5sProblem set0/10Problem set 20/10
01Defining Sequences by Recursion: From Halving to n!02Fibonacci Numbers: Patterns, Rabbits and Sanskrit Verse03Every Third Fibonacci Number Is Even: An Induction Proof04Geometric Series by Induction: a(1 − rⁿ)/(1 − r)Problem set0/10Problem set 20/10
Set Theory
01Intersection, Union, Difference, Complement: And, Or, Not for Sets02Venn Diagrams for Two Sets: Four Regions and De Morgan's Law03Proper Subsets, the Empty Set and Set Equality04Venn Diagrams for Three Sets: Eight Regions and Subset Conditions05Power Sets Have 2ⁿ Elements: Cardinality and the Number SystemsProblem set0/10Problem set 20/10
01Choose-an-Element Proofs: Multiples of 6 Are a Subset of the Evens02Complements Reverse Subsets: A ⊆ B Implies Bᶜ ⊆ Aᶜ03Proving Set Equality by Two Inclusions: A − (A − B) = A ∩ B04Proving a Set Is Empty: Disjoint Sets and Element ChasingProblem set0/10Problem set 20/10
01De Morgan's Law for Unions and Cycles of Conditionals02Laws of Union and Intersection: Proving A ∩ B = B ∩ A03Distributive Law: A ∪ (B ∩ C) = (A ∪ B) ∩ (A ∪ C)04Complement Laws and Proofs by the Algebra of SetsProblem set0/10Problem set 20/10
01Ordered Pairs as Solutions: The Truth Set of 2x + 3y = 1202The Cartesian Product A × B: Listing Pairs, Testing Laws03Products of Intervals Are Rectangles in the Plane04Proving A × (B ∪ C) = (A × B) ∪ (A × C)Problem set0/10Problem set 20/10
01Union and Intersection of a Family: Some Versus All02Indexed Unions: Subscripts for Infinitely Many Sets03Families Indexed by Any Set: One Interval per Real Number04De Morgan's Laws for Any Family, and Pairwise DisjointProblem set0/10Problem set 20/10
Functions
01What Is a Function? Exactly One Output for Each Input02Functions Without Formulas: Birthdays and Sums of Divisors03Images and Preimages: The Formal Definition of a Function04The Range of a Function: From Graphs and Arrow DiagramsProblem set0/10Problem set 20/10

Strong Induction: Every Integer Above 1 Factors into Primes

Why does proving every integer above 1 factors into primes need all of P(2), …, P(k) at once?


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Your summary note

    1. 1

      Assuming every previous statement at once

      State the idea of the new principle, assuming all of P(M),…,P(k)P(M), \ldots, P(k)P(M),…,P(k) instead of P(k)P(k)P(k) alone, in the domino picture where every domino up to the kkkth has already fallen.

    2. 2

      The Second Principle of Mathematical Induction

      State the principle for T⊆ZT \subseteq \mathbb{Z}T⊆Z with M∈TM \in TM∈T and {M,M+1,…,k}⊆T\{M, M+1, \ldots, k\} \subseteq T{M,M+1,…,k}⊆T implying k+1∈Tk + 1 \in Tk+1∈T, and write the proof outline with its stronger inductive hypothesis.

    3. 3

      Proof of prime factorisation for every n>1n > 1n>1

      Write the complete proof: basis step P(2)P(2)P(2), the assumption P(2),…,P(k)P(2), \ldots, P(k)P(2),…,P(k), Case 1 for prime k+1k + 1k+1, and Case 2 with k+1=a⋅bk + 1 = a \cdot bk+1=a⋅b, 1<a,b≤k1 < a, b \leq k1<a,b≤k, invoking P(a)P(a)P(a) and P(b)P(b)P(b).

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