Chapter-1 6

Chapter 1.
Introduction to PROOFs
PROOFs
Two types of proof:
Formal proof
Informal proof
2 nazia.majadi.googlepages.com/dm_cse09 08/01/21
Formal Proofs
A formal proof of a conclusion C, given premises p1 ,
p2 , ...,pn consists of a sequence of steps, each of
which applies some inference rule to premises or to
previously proven statements (as hypotheses) to yield a
new true statement (the conclusion)
A proof demonstrates that if the truth of the premises

implies that the conclusion is true.
Informal Proofs
Where the axioms being assumed.
Where the rule of inference used are not explicitly
stated.
Methods of proving theorems:

Direct Proof
Indirect Proof (Proof by Contrapositive)
Proof by Contradiction
Direct Proof
The implication p→q can be proved by showing that if
p is true then q must be true.
This shows that the combination p true and q false

never occurs.
 A proof of this kind is called a DIRECT PROOF.
Examples of Direct Proof
Before the examples of direct proof, we need to learn
some definition:
DEFINITION 1: The integer n is even if there exists an
integer k such that n=2k and it is odd if there exists an
integer k such that n=2k+1
DEFINITION 2: An integer a is a perfect square if

there is an integer b such that a=b2 .
Examples of direct proofs
EXAMPLE 1: Give a direct proof of the theorem “If n
is an odd integer, then n2 is an odd integer”.
EXAMPLE 2: Give a direct proof of the theorem “If

m and n are both perfect squares, then mn is also a
perfect square”.
Indirect Proofs (Proof by Contrapositive)
Since the implication p→q is equivalent to its
contrapositive ¬q→¬p, the implication p→q can be
proved by showing that its contrapositive ¬q→¬p is
true.
An argument of this type is called an INDIRECT

PROOF or Proof by Contrapositive.
Examples of Indirect Proof
Give an indirect proof of the theorem, “If 3n+2 is odd,
then n is odd”
Give an indirect proof of the theorem, “If n2 is odd,

then n is odd”
DEFINITION 3: The real number r is rational if

there exist integers p and q with q≠0 such that r=p/q.
A real number that is not rational is called irrational.
Examples of Indirect Proof
Prove that the sum of two rational numbers is rational.
Proof by contrapositive of Indirect Proof can succeed

when we cannot easily find a direct proof.
Example
Prove: If n is an integer and 3n + 2 is odd, then n
is odd.
First, attempt a direct proof:
Assume that 3n + 2 is odd, thus 3n + 2 = 2k + 1 for some k
Can solve to find that n = (2k – 1)/3
Where do we go from here?!?

Now, try proof by contraposition:
Assume n is even, so n = 2k for some k
3(2k) + 2 = 6k + 2 = 2(3k + 1)
So, 3n + 2 is also even.
Since we proved ¬“n is odd” → ¬“3n+2 is odd”, we can
conclude that “3n + 2 is odd” → “n is odd” ☐
Another Example
Prove that if n2 is odd, then n is odd.
Proof by Contradiction
Given a conditional p → q, the only way to reject this claim
is to prove that p ∧ ¬q is true.
¬ (p→q)  ¬(¬pq)  p ∧ ¬q
In a proof by contradiction we:

1. Assume that p ∧ ¬q is true
2. Proceed with the proof
3. If this assumption leads us to a contradiction, we can
conclude that p → q is true
Let’s revisit an earlier example…

Previous Example
Prove: If n is an integer and 3n + 2 is odd, then n
is odd.
Proof:
Assume that 3n + 2 is odd and n is even (i.e., n = 2k)
3n + 2 = 3(2k) + 2 = 6k + 2 = 2(3k + 1)
The above statement tells us that 3n + 2 is even, which is a
contradiction of our assumption that 3n + 2 is odd.
Therefore, we have shown that if 3n + 2 is odd, then n is also
odd.
We can also use proof by contradiction in cases where were

the theorem to be proved is not of the form p → q
Group work!
Problem: Prove the following claims
Use a direct proof to show that the square of an even
number is an even number.
Show that if m + n and n + p are even integers, then the
sum m + p is also an even integer.
Use proof by contraposition to show that if n is an
integer and n3 + 5 is odd, then n is even.
END

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Chapter 1.

A proof demonstrates that if the truth of the premises

Methods of proving theorems:

This shows that the combination p true and q false

 A proof of this kind is called a DIRECT PROOF.

DEFINITION 2: An integer a is a perfect square if

EXAMPLE 2: Give a direct proof of the theorem “If

An argument of this type is called an INDIRECT

Give an indirect proof of the theorem, “If n2 is odd,

DEFINITION 3: The real number r is rational if

Proof by contrapositive of Indirect Proof can succeed

Where do we go from here?!?

In a proof by contradiction we:

Let’s revisit an earlier example…

We can also use proof by contradiction in cases where were

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