Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: Notesfiles $Revision: 1.7.0.10 $; site uiucdcs Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!cbosgd!ihnp4!inuxc!pur-ee!uiucdcs!mcewan 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> Lines: 26 Nf-ID: #R:Cascade.ARPA:21:uiucdcs:22300023:000:863 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."