Everything2
Near Matches
Ignore Exact
Full Text
Everything2

Proof by intimidation

created by neil

(idea) by dialectic (2.6 y) (print)   ?   (I like it!) Fri Apr 20 2001 at 1:04:26

A phrasing system used especially in mathematics, but can be further extended to other formal systems, this method employs the following:

1. Write up the theorem to be proven, using superfluous gestures while reciting the exact wording used on the board.

2. Begin the proof. Make sure to use the proper "Let x be..." or "Assume that..."

3. During the most critical arguments of the proof, use phrases such as "Clearly this follows..." or "Certainly x must be..." or "Only a moron couldn't see that..."

4. Draw out the final conclusion, Q.E.D.

printable version
chaos

Proof by handwaving Methods of mathematical proof Monsieur, (a+bn)/n=x, donc Dieu existe: repondez! Proof by oddity
Q.E.D. Fake proof that if one person in a room is a redhead, then all the people in that room are redheads argumentum ad crumenam All birds are ducks
pumping lemma Argument from intimidation Cray-Pas Proof by repeated assertion
A drug that gives instant orgasms Fractal image compression The Chewbacca Defense August 12, 2003
Euler Phi function Fermat's Theorem Honey Nut Cheerios intimidation
Objectivism Evelyn Underhill The faulty reasoning of Ayn Rand types base 112
Y'know, if you log in, you can write something here, or contact authors directly on the site. Create a New User if you don't already have an account.
  Epicenter
Login
Password

password reminder
register

Everything2 Help

Cool Staff Picks
Drink up!
Timon of Athens
Your job is to find kitten. This task is complicated by the existence of various things which are not kitten.
Chuck D's 18 Reasons why 2Pac is alive
Dozenal Society of America
on the rotations of the spheres
Summit in Savannah
Slaver Ants
Baba O'Riley
Yes! We have no bananas!
Max Clifford
Self-injury
Editor Log: December 2003
tree
New Writeups
aneurin
Earl of Landaff(person)
Heitah
Pseudocide(idea)
XWiz
Google Knol(lede)
Mythi
July 24, 2008(personal)
locke baron
The fall of Earth(fiction)
BookReader
Fear the Cold(dream)
Pavlovna
Kathleen MacInnes(person)
stainedglass
1(fiction)
kalen
Three "T"s(idea)
octillion369
Undead(idea)
archiewood
Ico(fiction)
Heisenberg
Why I love Everything2(log)
octillion369
Death Knight(person)
XWiz
Are you hoping for a miracle?(review)
santo
The Host(review)
This page courtesy of The Everything Development Company