1. Week #6 – 30 September / 2/4 October 2002 Prof. Marie desJardins
CMSC 203 / 0201 Fall 2002
Week #6 – 30 September / 2/4 October 2002
Prof. Marie desJardins

2. TOPICS
Proof methods
Mathematical induction

3. MON 9/30 MIDTERM #1
Chapters 1-2

4. WED 10/2 PROOF METHODS (3.1)

5. CONCEPTS / VOCABULARY Theorems Rules of inference
Axioms / postulates / premises
Hypothesis / conclusion
Lemma, corollary, conjecture
Rules of inference
Modus ponens (law of detachment)
Modus tollens
Syllogism (hypothetical, disjunctive)
Universal instantiation, universal generalization, existential instantiation (skolemization or Everybody Loves Raymond), existential generalization

6. CONCEPTS / VOCABULARY II
Fallacies
Affirming the conclusion [abductive reasoning]
Denying the hypothesis
Begging the question (circular reasoning)
Proof methods
Direct proof
Indirect proof, proof by contradiction
Trivial proof
Proof by cases
Existence proofs (constructive, nonconstructive)

7. Examples
Exercise 3.1.3: Construct an argument using rules of inference to show that the hypotheses “Randy works hard,” “If Randy works hard, then he is a dull boy,” and “If Randy is a dull boy, then he will not get the job” imply the conclusion “Randy will not get the job.”

8. Examples II
Exercise : Determine whether each of the following arguments is valid. If an argument is correct, what rule of inference is being used? If it is not, what fallacy occurs?
(a) If n is a real number s.t. n > 1, then n2 > 1. Suppose that n2 > 1. Then n > 1.
(b) The number log23 is irrational if it is not the ratio of two integers. Therefore, since log23 cannot be written in the form a/b where a and b are integers, it is irrational.
(c) If n is a real number with n > 3, then n2 > 9. Suppose that n2  9. Then n  3.

9. Examples III (Exercie 3.1.11 cont.)
(d) A positive integer is either a perfect square or it has an even number of positive integer divisors. Suppose that n is a positive integer that has an odd number of positive integer divisors. Then n is a perfect square.
(e) If n is a real number with n > 2, then n2 > 4. Suppose that n  2. Then n2  4.

10. Examples IV
Exercise : Prove that if n is an integer and n3 + 5 is odd, then n is even using
(a) an indirect proof.
(b) a proof by contradiction.

11. FRI 10/4 MATHEMATICAL INDUCTION (3.2)

12. CONCEPTS/VOCABULARY Proof by mathematical induction
Inductive hypothesis
Basis step: P(1) is true (or sometimes P(0) is true).
Inductive step: Show that P(n) P(n+1) is true for every integer n > 1 (or n > 0).
Strong mathematical induction (“second principle of mathematical induction”)
Inductive step: Show that [P(1)  …  P(n)]  P(n+1) is true for every positive integer n.

13. Examples
Example (p. 189): Use mathematical induction to prove that the sum of the first n odd positive integers is n2.
Example (p. 193): Use mathematical induction to show that the 2nth harmonic number, H2n = 1 + ½ + 1/3 + … + 1/(2n)  1 + n/2, whenever n is a nonnegative integer.

14. Examples II
Exercise :
(a) Determine which amounts of postage can be formed using just 5-cent and 6-cent stamps.
(b) Prove your answer to (a) using the principle of mathematical induction.
(c) Prove your answer to (a) using the second principle of mathematical induction.