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From: mcewan@uiucdcs.CS.UIUC.EDU
Newsgroups: net.jokes.d
Subject: Re: Wanted: list of proof methodologies
Message-ID: <22300023@uiucdcs>
Date: Mon, 11-Nov-85 21:47:00 EST
Article-I.D.: uiucdcs.22300023
Posted: Mon Nov 11 21:47:00 1985
Date-Received: Wed, 13-Nov-85 07:23:58 EST
References: <21@Cascade.ARPA>
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Nf-From: uiucdcs.CS.UIUC.EDU!mcewan    Nov 11 20:47:00 1985


> 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."

If you'd like examples of these proof methods, look in net.origins and
net.religion (among other places).

			Scott McEwan
			{ihnp4,pur-ee}!uiucdcs!mcewan

"A flash in front of my eyes ... I blink ... open my eyes to ... discover I am
 a dog in a pickup truck full of garbage ... no one but me sees the lid blow
 off the can ... it's 14 miles to the dump ... this is ... at last ... heaven."