how to prove theorems

GUIDE FOR LECTURERS

Proof by vigorous handwaving:
Works well in a classroom or seminar setting.

Proof by omission:
"The reader may easily supply the details" or "The other 253 cases are analogous"

Proof by deferral:
"We'll prove this later in the course".

Proof by intimidation:
"Trivial."

Proof by adverb:
"As is quite clear, the elementary aforementioned statement is obviously valid."

Proof by seduction:
"Convince yourself that this is true! "

Proof by cumbersome notation:
Best done with access to at least four alphabets and special symbols (must include greek symbols,).

Proof by obfuscation:
A long plotless sequence of true and/or meaningless syntactically related statements.


Proof by wishful citation:
The author cites the negation, converse, or generalization of a theorem from the literature to support his claims.


Proof by reference to inaccessible literature:
The author cites a simple corollary of a theorem to be found in a privately circulated memoir of the Slovenian Philological Society, 1883.


Proof by cosmology:
The negation of the proposition is unimaginable or meaningless. Popular for proofs of the existence of God.


Proof by mutual reference:
In reference A, Theorem 5 is said to follow from Theorem 3 in reference B, which is shown to follow from Corollary 6.2 in reference C, which is an easy consequence of Theorem 5 in reference A.