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| 44468 | STU_RSFURR   | STORIES              | 12/15/92 | 12/22/92 |     7    |
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| Description: ben brown more                                                  |
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| 36314 | STU_TSJORDAN | JOKES                | 04/10/91 | 04/30/91 |     7    |
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| Description: 36 methods of mathematical proof                                |
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                      36 Methods of Mathematical Proof
 
Proof by General 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 would
 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 the appendix..."
 
Proof by Accident:
"Hey, what have we here ?"
 
Proof by insignificance:
"Who really cares anyway ?"
 
Proof by Mumbo-Jumbo:
a be * # $ @@ x } > ^
 
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 Lost Reference:
"I know that I saw this somewhere . . ."
 
Proof by Calculus:
"This proof requires serious calculus, so we'll skip it."
 
Proof by Terror:
When proof by intimidation fails . . .
 
Proof by Lack of Interest:
"Does anyone really want to see this ?"
 
Proof by Illegibility:
@^=g.|[&]^)@-m%$#
 
Proof by Logic:
"If it is on the problem sheet, then it must be true."
 
Proof by Majority Rule:
Only to be used if proof by general agreement is impossible.
 
Proof by Clever Variable Choice:
"Let 'X' be the number such that this proof works."
 
Proof by Tessellation:
"This proof is just the same as the last."
 
Proof by Divine Word:
". . . And The Lord 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 42, so it works for all real numbers."
 
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 by Postponements as 't' approaches infinity.
 
Proof by Design:
"If it's not true in today's math, invent a system in which it is."
 
Proof by Intuition:
"I just have this gut feeling . . . "
 
Proof by Authority:
"Well, Dr. Lepera says it's true, so it must be."