Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site Cascade.ARPA Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!cbosgd!ihnp4!qantel!hplabs!pesnta!greipa!decwrl!Glacier!Cascade!marks From: marks@Cascade.ARPA Newsgroups: net.jokes.d,net.misc Subject: Wanted: list of proof methodologies Message-ID: <21@Cascade.ARPA> Date: Fri, 8-Nov-85 18:28:25 EST Article-I.D.: Cascade.21 Posted: Fri Nov 8 18:28:25 1985 Date-Received: Mon, 11-Nov-85 06:37:05 EST Distribution: net Organization: Stanford University Center for Integrated Systems Lines: 32 Xref: watmath net.jokes.d:1202 net.misc:8869 -- I'm looking for a list of humorous proofs I once saw. It included such proofs as: Proof by lack of counterexamples: "I looked for a long time for counterexamples, and I couldn't find any, so it must be true." Proof by authority: "I asked Knuth and he said it was true." Proof by blatant assertion: "This is obvious to anyone who looks at it." Proof by intimidation: "I'm your thesis advisor, so it must be true." ... and so forth. Does anybody have a complete list of such "proofs" that you might be able to send to me? Thanks! Stuart -- Stuart Marks, Center for Integrated Systems, Stanford University {ucbvax,decvax}!decwrl!glacier!marks, marks@su-cascade.ARPA "Is not Napoleon. Is not Hitler. Is not Mussolini. Is Allegro con Brio!" -- Toscanini, on Beethoven's 3rd Symphony, "Eroica"