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The Lumenary

Practice · Grades 9–12

Proof: direct, contrapositive, contradiction and induction

Proof: direct, contrapositive, contradiction and induction

Warm-upHuman

You want to prove “if n2n^2 is odd, then nn is odd” by contrapositive. What do you assume at the start?

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Proof: direct, contrapositive, contradiction and induction

Warm-upHuman

Use Gauss's formula to compute 1+2+3+⋯+2001 + 2 + 3 + \dots + 200.

Proof: direct, contrapositive, contradiction and induction

CoreHuman

In the “all horses are the same colour” induction, where exactly does the argument break down?

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Proof: direct, contrapositive, contradiction and induction

CoreHuman

Let N=2⋅3⋅5⋅7⋅11⋅13+1=30031N = 2 \cdot 3 \cdot 5 \cdot 7 \cdot 11 \cdot 13 + 1 = 30031. What does Euclid's argument guarantee about NN?

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Proof: direct, contrapositive, contradiction and induction

CoreHuman

With an unlimited supply of stamps worth 33 and 77, what is the largest amount that cannot be made exactly?

Proof: direct, contrapositive, contradiction and induction

CoreHuman

Which of these statements is proved most naturally by strong induction rather than ordinary induction?

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Proof: direct, contrapositive, contradiction and induction

CoreHuman

“Let a=ba = b. Then a2=aba^2 = ab, so a2−b2=ab−b2a^2 - b^2 = ab - b^2, so (a+b)(a−b)=b(a−b)(a+b)(a-b) = b(a-b), so a+b=ba + b = b, so 2b=b2b = b, so 2=12 = 1.” Which step is invalid?

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Proof: direct, contrapositive, contradiction and induction

StretchHuman

A student proves: “if n2+n+1n^2 + n + 1 is even, then (n+1)2+(n+1)+1(n+1)^2 + (n+1) + 1 is even”, and concludes by induction that n2+n+1n^2 + n + 1 is even for all nn. Which statement is correct?

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Proof: direct, contrapositive, contradiction and induction

CoreFormal

Which Lean proposition expresses the principle of ordinary induction for the natural numbers?

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Proof: direct, contrapositive, contradiction and induction

StretchComputational

Write is_prime(n) and first_failure(claim, limit), which returns the least n with 0 <= n <= limit for which claim(n) is false, or None if there is none. Use them to find the first n for which n2+n+41n^2 + n + 41 is not prime. Why does your search not prove anything about the values beyond limit?

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