Proof by Contradiction to Prove Theorem that is not True












0












$begingroup$


Based on the following incorrect Theorem, why is this proof by contradiction not valid?



Theorem
If $x+y=10$
Then $xneq 3 text{ and } yneq 8$



Proof
Assume:
$x+y=10$
$x=3$ or $y=8$



Let $x=3$ and $y=8$
Since $x+y=3+8=11neq 10$ we have a contradiction based on the assumptions.



Based on this haven't we just proven the above theorem which we know to be incorrect. The steps I have been taught for proving something using proof by contradiction is to assume $Pland lnot Q$ which I believe that I have done correctly. Then you simply want to derive something that is not true, which I also feel that I have done ($x+yneq 10$).



So, my question is, where have I gone wrong/what is it that I am not understanding correctly?










share|cite|improve this question









$endgroup$

















    0












    $begingroup$


    Based on the following incorrect Theorem, why is this proof by contradiction not valid?



    Theorem
    If $x+y=10$
    Then $xneq 3 text{ and } yneq 8$



    Proof
    Assume:
    $x+y=10$
    $x=3$ or $y=8$



    Let $x=3$ and $y=8$
    Since $x+y=3+8=11neq 10$ we have a contradiction based on the assumptions.



    Based on this haven't we just proven the above theorem which we know to be incorrect. The steps I have been taught for proving something using proof by contradiction is to assume $Pland lnot Q$ which I believe that I have done correctly. Then you simply want to derive something that is not true, which I also feel that I have done ($x+yneq 10$).



    So, my question is, where have I gone wrong/what is it that I am not understanding correctly?










    share|cite|improve this question









    $endgroup$















      0












      0








      0





      $begingroup$


      Based on the following incorrect Theorem, why is this proof by contradiction not valid?



      Theorem
      If $x+y=10$
      Then $xneq 3 text{ and } yneq 8$



      Proof
      Assume:
      $x+y=10$
      $x=3$ or $y=8$



      Let $x=3$ and $y=8$
      Since $x+y=3+8=11neq 10$ we have a contradiction based on the assumptions.



      Based on this haven't we just proven the above theorem which we know to be incorrect. The steps I have been taught for proving something using proof by contradiction is to assume $Pland lnot Q$ which I believe that I have done correctly. Then you simply want to derive something that is not true, which I also feel that I have done ($x+yneq 10$).



      So, my question is, where have I gone wrong/what is it that I am not understanding correctly?










      share|cite|improve this question









      $endgroup$




      Based on the following incorrect Theorem, why is this proof by contradiction not valid?



      Theorem
      If $x+y=10$
      Then $xneq 3 text{ and } yneq 8$



      Proof
      Assume:
      $x+y=10$
      $x=3$ or $y=8$



      Let $x=3$ and $y=8$
      Since $x+y=3+8=11neq 10$ we have a contradiction based on the assumptions.



      Based on this haven't we just proven the above theorem which we know to be incorrect. The steps I have been taught for proving something using proof by contradiction is to assume $Pland lnot Q$ which I believe that I have done correctly. Then you simply want to derive something that is not true, which I also feel that I have done ($x+yneq 10$).



      So, my question is, where have I gone wrong/what is it that I am not understanding correctly?







      discrete-mathematics






      share|cite|improve this question













      share|cite|improve this question











      share|cite|improve this question




      share|cite|improve this question










      asked Dec 16 '18 at 0:06









      Jac FrallJac Frall

      174




      174






















          2 Answers
          2






          active

          oldest

          votes


















          4












          $begingroup$

          Yes, you have set up things correctly: Assume $x+y=10$, and then, to start the proof by Contradiction, you (correctly) assumed that it is not true that $x neq 3$ and $y neq 8$. And the latter means that $x=3$ or $y=8$. But from that, you cannot infer that $x=3$ and $y=8$, which is what you need in order to get to $x+y=11$ and thus to your contradiction.






          share|cite|improve this answer











          $endgroup$













          • $begingroup$
            I cannot see why that is the case. It seems to me that the truth value for $x=3lor y=8$ would be true when both $x=3$ and $ y=8$?
            $endgroup$
            – Jac Frall
            Dec 16 '18 at 0:19












          • $begingroup$
            @JacFrall True, from $x=3 land y=8$ you can indeed infer $x=3 lor y=8$. But in order for your proof to work, you need to go the other way around: Your Proof by Contradiction goes like this: $neg (x neq 3 land y neq 8) Rightarrow (x =3 lor y=8) Rightarrow x = 3 land y=8 Rightarrow x+y=11$.
            $endgroup$
            – Bram28
            Dec 16 '18 at 0:24












          • $begingroup$
            Look at your proof. You assume $x=3$ or $y=8$ ... and yet on the very next line you say 'Let $x=3$ and $y=8$' ... wait! Where does that come from? Certainly not from your assumption, because from $x=3$ or $y=8$ you cannot infer $x=3$ and $y=8$. And so is this a new assumption? A second assumption? But then when that second assumption runs into a contradiction, all you u have shown is that it cannot be trrue that $x=3$ and $y=8$ ... the first assumption does not get discharged, and hence you have not shown that it cannot be true that $x=3$ or $y=8$
            $endgroup$
            – Bram28
            Dec 16 '18 at 0:33










          • $begingroup$
            Yes that makes much more sense now. Thank you for helping me see that it is a stronger statement and thus you cannot assume more than the initial $Pland lnot Q$
            $endgroup$
            – Jac Frall
            Dec 16 '18 at 0:44












          • $begingroup$
            @JacFrall Cool, glad I could help! :)
            $endgroup$
            – Bram28
            Dec 16 '18 at 0:45



















          0












          $begingroup$

          this theorem is wrong



          $P: bigg[x+y=10implies (xne 3land yne 8)bigg]iff bigg[(x=3 lor y=8)implies x+yne 10bigg]$



          Suppose $x=3$, you take $y:=7$ so $x+y=10$ contradiction so your theorem is wrong



          by contradiction :



          $lnot P :quad x+y=10 land (x= 3lor y= 8)$



          $x+y=10$ and $x=3$ we take $y:=7$, so the proposition $lnot P$ is right.





          I remind you $P:(simplies t)iff (lnot slor t)$ so $lnot P :sland lnot t$
          To avoid any confusion you have to add quantifier so the proposition becomes



          $ P :forall (x,y)in mathbb{N}^2,bigg[x+y=10implies (xne 3land yne 8)bigg]$



          So the negative is :



          $lnot P : exists (x,y)in mathbb{N}^2,quad (x+y=10) land (x= 3lor y= 8)$



          We only need to find one 2-tuple that satisfies the proposition, so $(x,y)=(3,7)$ fits. We conclude $lnot P$ is right thus $P$ is wrong






          share|cite|improve this answer











          $endgroup$













          • $begingroup$
            Yes, I understand that the Theorem is not True. This is why I was confused. I was showing that some obviously false theorem was true using proof by contradiction, asking for clarification.
            $endgroup$
            – Jac Frall
            Dec 16 '18 at 0:41












          • $begingroup$
            I added a proof by contradiction
            $endgroup$
            – Stu
            Dec 16 '18 at 0:49












          • $begingroup$
            I see. What confused me was I thought you could let $x=3 $ and $y=8$ in the proof by contradiction since this seems to satisfy the $x=3 lor y=8$ part of $lnot P$.
            $endgroup$
            – Jac Frall
            Dec 16 '18 at 0:54












          • $begingroup$
            what do you mean?
            $endgroup$
            – Stu
            Dec 16 '18 at 1:43










          • $begingroup$
            $forall cdots P$ and $existscdots lnot P$
            $endgroup$
            – Stu
            Dec 16 '18 at 1:47











          Your Answer





          StackExchange.ifUsing("editor", function () {
          return StackExchange.using("mathjaxEditing", function () {
          StackExchange.MarkdownEditor.creationCallbacks.add(function (editor, postfix) {
          StackExchange.mathjaxEditing.prepareWmdForMathJax(editor, postfix, [["$", "$"], ["\\(","\\)"]]);
          });
          });
          }, "mathjax-editing");

          StackExchange.ready(function() {
          var channelOptions = {
          tags: "".split(" "),
          id: "69"
          };
          initTagRenderer("".split(" "), "".split(" "), channelOptions);

          StackExchange.using("externalEditor", function() {
          // Have to fire editor after snippets, if snippets enabled
          if (StackExchange.settings.snippets.snippetsEnabled) {
          StackExchange.using("snippets", function() {
          createEditor();
          });
          }
          else {
          createEditor();
          }
          });

          function createEditor() {
          StackExchange.prepareEditor({
          heartbeatType: 'answer',
          autoActivateHeartbeat: false,
          convertImagesToLinks: true,
          noModals: true,
          showLowRepImageUploadWarning: true,
          reputationToPostImages: 10,
          bindNavPrevention: true,
          postfix: "",
          imageUploader: {
          brandingHtml: "Powered by u003ca class="icon-imgur-white" href="https://imgur.com/"u003eu003c/au003e",
          contentPolicyHtml: "User contributions licensed under u003ca href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/"u003ecc by-sa 3.0 with attribution requiredu003c/au003e u003ca href="https://stackoverflow.com/legal/content-policy"u003e(content policy)u003c/au003e",
          allowUrls: true
          },
          noCode: true, onDemand: true,
          discardSelector: ".discard-answer"
          ,immediatelyShowMarkdownHelp:true
          });


          }
          });














          draft saved

          draft discarded


















          StackExchange.ready(
          function () {
          StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fmath.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f3042086%2fproof-by-contradiction-to-prove-theorem-that-is-not-true%23new-answer', 'question_page');
          }
          );

          Post as a guest















          Required, but never shown

























          2 Answers
          2






          active

          oldest

          votes








          2 Answers
          2






          active

          oldest

          votes









          active

          oldest

          votes






          active

          oldest

          votes









          4












          $begingroup$

          Yes, you have set up things correctly: Assume $x+y=10$, and then, to start the proof by Contradiction, you (correctly) assumed that it is not true that $x neq 3$ and $y neq 8$. And the latter means that $x=3$ or $y=8$. But from that, you cannot infer that $x=3$ and $y=8$, which is what you need in order to get to $x+y=11$ and thus to your contradiction.






          share|cite|improve this answer











          $endgroup$













          • $begingroup$
            I cannot see why that is the case. It seems to me that the truth value for $x=3lor y=8$ would be true when both $x=3$ and $ y=8$?
            $endgroup$
            – Jac Frall
            Dec 16 '18 at 0:19












          • $begingroup$
            @JacFrall True, from $x=3 land y=8$ you can indeed infer $x=3 lor y=8$. But in order for your proof to work, you need to go the other way around: Your Proof by Contradiction goes like this: $neg (x neq 3 land y neq 8) Rightarrow (x =3 lor y=8) Rightarrow x = 3 land y=8 Rightarrow x+y=11$.
            $endgroup$
            – Bram28
            Dec 16 '18 at 0:24












          • $begingroup$
            Look at your proof. You assume $x=3$ or $y=8$ ... and yet on the very next line you say 'Let $x=3$ and $y=8$' ... wait! Where does that come from? Certainly not from your assumption, because from $x=3$ or $y=8$ you cannot infer $x=3$ and $y=8$. And so is this a new assumption? A second assumption? But then when that second assumption runs into a contradiction, all you u have shown is that it cannot be trrue that $x=3$ and $y=8$ ... the first assumption does not get discharged, and hence you have not shown that it cannot be true that $x=3$ or $y=8$
            $endgroup$
            – Bram28
            Dec 16 '18 at 0:33










          • $begingroup$
            Yes that makes much more sense now. Thank you for helping me see that it is a stronger statement and thus you cannot assume more than the initial $Pland lnot Q$
            $endgroup$
            – Jac Frall
            Dec 16 '18 at 0:44












          • $begingroup$
            @JacFrall Cool, glad I could help! :)
            $endgroup$
            – Bram28
            Dec 16 '18 at 0:45
















          4












          $begingroup$

          Yes, you have set up things correctly: Assume $x+y=10$, and then, to start the proof by Contradiction, you (correctly) assumed that it is not true that $x neq 3$ and $y neq 8$. And the latter means that $x=3$ or $y=8$. But from that, you cannot infer that $x=3$ and $y=8$, which is what you need in order to get to $x+y=11$ and thus to your contradiction.






          share|cite|improve this answer











          $endgroup$













          • $begingroup$
            I cannot see why that is the case. It seems to me that the truth value for $x=3lor y=8$ would be true when both $x=3$ and $ y=8$?
            $endgroup$
            – Jac Frall
            Dec 16 '18 at 0:19












          • $begingroup$
            @JacFrall True, from $x=3 land y=8$ you can indeed infer $x=3 lor y=8$. But in order for your proof to work, you need to go the other way around: Your Proof by Contradiction goes like this: $neg (x neq 3 land y neq 8) Rightarrow (x =3 lor y=8) Rightarrow x = 3 land y=8 Rightarrow x+y=11$.
            $endgroup$
            – Bram28
            Dec 16 '18 at 0:24












          • $begingroup$
            Look at your proof. You assume $x=3$ or $y=8$ ... and yet on the very next line you say 'Let $x=3$ and $y=8$' ... wait! Where does that come from? Certainly not from your assumption, because from $x=3$ or $y=8$ you cannot infer $x=3$ and $y=8$. And so is this a new assumption? A second assumption? But then when that second assumption runs into a contradiction, all you u have shown is that it cannot be trrue that $x=3$ and $y=8$ ... the first assumption does not get discharged, and hence you have not shown that it cannot be true that $x=3$ or $y=8$
            $endgroup$
            – Bram28
            Dec 16 '18 at 0:33










          • $begingroup$
            Yes that makes much more sense now. Thank you for helping me see that it is a stronger statement and thus you cannot assume more than the initial $Pland lnot Q$
            $endgroup$
            – Jac Frall
            Dec 16 '18 at 0:44












          • $begingroup$
            @JacFrall Cool, glad I could help! :)
            $endgroup$
            – Bram28
            Dec 16 '18 at 0:45














          4












          4








          4





          $begingroup$

          Yes, you have set up things correctly: Assume $x+y=10$, and then, to start the proof by Contradiction, you (correctly) assumed that it is not true that $x neq 3$ and $y neq 8$. And the latter means that $x=3$ or $y=8$. But from that, you cannot infer that $x=3$ and $y=8$, which is what you need in order to get to $x+y=11$ and thus to your contradiction.






          share|cite|improve this answer











          $endgroup$



          Yes, you have set up things correctly: Assume $x+y=10$, and then, to start the proof by Contradiction, you (correctly) assumed that it is not true that $x neq 3$ and $y neq 8$. And the latter means that $x=3$ or $y=8$. But from that, you cannot infer that $x=3$ and $y=8$, which is what you need in order to get to $x+y=11$ and thus to your contradiction.







          share|cite|improve this answer














          share|cite|improve this answer



          share|cite|improve this answer








          edited Dec 16 '18 at 0:29

























          answered Dec 16 '18 at 0:13









          Bram28Bram28

          63.1k44793




          63.1k44793












          • $begingroup$
            I cannot see why that is the case. It seems to me that the truth value for $x=3lor y=8$ would be true when both $x=3$ and $ y=8$?
            $endgroup$
            – Jac Frall
            Dec 16 '18 at 0:19












          • $begingroup$
            @JacFrall True, from $x=3 land y=8$ you can indeed infer $x=3 lor y=8$. But in order for your proof to work, you need to go the other way around: Your Proof by Contradiction goes like this: $neg (x neq 3 land y neq 8) Rightarrow (x =3 lor y=8) Rightarrow x = 3 land y=8 Rightarrow x+y=11$.
            $endgroup$
            – Bram28
            Dec 16 '18 at 0:24












          • $begingroup$
            Look at your proof. You assume $x=3$ or $y=8$ ... and yet on the very next line you say 'Let $x=3$ and $y=8$' ... wait! Where does that come from? Certainly not from your assumption, because from $x=3$ or $y=8$ you cannot infer $x=3$ and $y=8$. And so is this a new assumption? A second assumption? But then when that second assumption runs into a contradiction, all you u have shown is that it cannot be trrue that $x=3$ and $y=8$ ... the first assumption does not get discharged, and hence you have not shown that it cannot be true that $x=3$ or $y=8$
            $endgroup$
            – Bram28
            Dec 16 '18 at 0:33










          • $begingroup$
            Yes that makes much more sense now. Thank you for helping me see that it is a stronger statement and thus you cannot assume more than the initial $Pland lnot Q$
            $endgroup$
            – Jac Frall
            Dec 16 '18 at 0:44












          • $begingroup$
            @JacFrall Cool, glad I could help! :)
            $endgroup$
            – Bram28
            Dec 16 '18 at 0:45


















          • $begingroup$
            I cannot see why that is the case. It seems to me that the truth value for $x=3lor y=8$ would be true when both $x=3$ and $ y=8$?
            $endgroup$
            – Jac Frall
            Dec 16 '18 at 0:19












          • $begingroup$
            @JacFrall True, from $x=3 land y=8$ you can indeed infer $x=3 lor y=8$. But in order for your proof to work, you need to go the other way around: Your Proof by Contradiction goes like this: $neg (x neq 3 land y neq 8) Rightarrow (x =3 lor y=8) Rightarrow x = 3 land y=8 Rightarrow x+y=11$.
            $endgroup$
            – Bram28
            Dec 16 '18 at 0:24












          • $begingroup$
            Look at your proof. You assume $x=3$ or $y=8$ ... and yet on the very next line you say 'Let $x=3$ and $y=8$' ... wait! Where does that come from? Certainly not from your assumption, because from $x=3$ or $y=8$ you cannot infer $x=3$ and $y=8$. And so is this a new assumption? A second assumption? But then when that second assumption runs into a contradiction, all you u have shown is that it cannot be trrue that $x=3$ and $y=8$ ... the first assumption does not get discharged, and hence you have not shown that it cannot be true that $x=3$ or $y=8$
            $endgroup$
            – Bram28
            Dec 16 '18 at 0:33










          • $begingroup$
            Yes that makes much more sense now. Thank you for helping me see that it is a stronger statement and thus you cannot assume more than the initial $Pland lnot Q$
            $endgroup$
            – Jac Frall
            Dec 16 '18 at 0:44












          • $begingroup$
            @JacFrall Cool, glad I could help! :)
            $endgroup$
            – Bram28
            Dec 16 '18 at 0:45
















          $begingroup$
          I cannot see why that is the case. It seems to me that the truth value for $x=3lor y=8$ would be true when both $x=3$ and $ y=8$?
          $endgroup$
          – Jac Frall
          Dec 16 '18 at 0:19






          $begingroup$
          I cannot see why that is the case. It seems to me that the truth value for $x=3lor y=8$ would be true when both $x=3$ and $ y=8$?
          $endgroup$
          – Jac Frall
          Dec 16 '18 at 0:19














          $begingroup$
          @JacFrall True, from $x=3 land y=8$ you can indeed infer $x=3 lor y=8$. But in order for your proof to work, you need to go the other way around: Your Proof by Contradiction goes like this: $neg (x neq 3 land y neq 8) Rightarrow (x =3 lor y=8) Rightarrow x = 3 land y=8 Rightarrow x+y=11$.
          $endgroup$
          – Bram28
          Dec 16 '18 at 0:24






          $begingroup$
          @JacFrall True, from $x=3 land y=8$ you can indeed infer $x=3 lor y=8$. But in order for your proof to work, you need to go the other way around: Your Proof by Contradiction goes like this: $neg (x neq 3 land y neq 8) Rightarrow (x =3 lor y=8) Rightarrow x = 3 land y=8 Rightarrow x+y=11$.
          $endgroup$
          – Bram28
          Dec 16 '18 at 0:24














          $begingroup$
          Look at your proof. You assume $x=3$ or $y=8$ ... and yet on the very next line you say 'Let $x=3$ and $y=8$' ... wait! Where does that come from? Certainly not from your assumption, because from $x=3$ or $y=8$ you cannot infer $x=3$ and $y=8$. And so is this a new assumption? A second assumption? But then when that second assumption runs into a contradiction, all you u have shown is that it cannot be trrue that $x=3$ and $y=8$ ... the first assumption does not get discharged, and hence you have not shown that it cannot be true that $x=3$ or $y=8$
          $endgroup$
          – Bram28
          Dec 16 '18 at 0:33




          $begingroup$
          Look at your proof. You assume $x=3$ or $y=8$ ... and yet on the very next line you say 'Let $x=3$ and $y=8$' ... wait! Where does that come from? Certainly not from your assumption, because from $x=3$ or $y=8$ you cannot infer $x=3$ and $y=8$. And so is this a new assumption? A second assumption? But then when that second assumption runs into a contradiction, all you u have shown is that it cannot be trrue that $x=3$ and $y=8$ ... the first assumption does not get discharged, and hence you have not shown that it cannot be true that $x=3$ or $y=8$
          $endgroup$
          – Bram28
          Dec 16 '18 at 0:33












          $begingroup$
          Yes that makes much more sense now. Thank you for helping me see that it is a stronger statement and thus you cannot assume more than the initial $Pland lnot Q$
          $endgroup$
          – Jac Frall
          Dec 16 '18 at 0:44






          $begingroup$
          Yes that makes much more sense now. Thank you for helping me see that it is a stronger statement and thus you cannot assume more than the initial $Pland lnot Q$
          $endgroup$
          – Jac Frall
          Dec 16 '18 at 0:44














          $begingroup$
          @JacFrall Cool, glad I could help! :)
          $endgroup$
          – Bram28
          Dec 16 '18 at 0:45




          $begingroup$
          @JacFrall Cool, glad I could help! :)
          $endgroup$
          – Bram28
          Dec 16 '18 at 0:45











          0












          $begingroup$

          this theorem is wrong



          $P: bigg[x+y=10implies (xne 3land yne 8)bigg]iff bigg[(x=3 lor y=8)implies x+yne 10bigg]$



          Suppose $x=3$, you take $y:=7$ so $x+y=10$ contradiction so your theorem is wrong



          by contradiction :



          $lnot P :quad x+y=10 land (x= 3lor y= 8)$



          $x+y=10$ and $x=3$ we take $y:=7$, so the proposition $lnot P$ is right.





          I remind you $P:(simplies t)iff (lnot slor t)$ so $lnot P :sland lnot t$
          To avoid any confusion you have to add quantifier so the proposition becomes



          $ P :forall (x,y)in mathbb{N}^2,bigg[x+y=10implies (xne 3land yne 8)bigg]$



          So the negative is :



          $lnot P : exists (x,y)in mathbb{N}^2,quad (x+y=10) land (x= 3lor y= 8)$



          We only need to find one 2-tuple that satisfies the proposition, so $(x,y)=(3,7)$ fits. We conclude $lnot P$ is right thus $P$ is wrong






          share|cite|improve this answer











          $endgroup$













          • $begingroup$
            Yes, I understand that the Theorem is not True. This is why I was confused. I was showing that some obviously false theorem was true using proof by contradiction, asking for clarification.
            $endgroup$
            – Jac Frall
            Dec 16 '18 at 0:41












          • $begingroup$
            I added a proof by contradiction
            $endgroup$
            – Stu
            Dec 16 '18 at 0:49












          • $begingroup$
            I see. What confused me was I thought you could let $x=3 $ and $y=8$ in the proof by contradiction since this seems to satisfy the $x=3 lor y=8$ part of $lnot P$.
            $endgroup$
            – Jac Frall
            Dec 16 '18 at 0:54












          • $begingroup$
            what do you mean?
            $endgroup$
            – Stu
            Dec 16 '18 at 1:43










          • $begingroup$
            $forall cdots P$ and $existscdots lnot P$
            $endgroup$
            – Stu
            Dec 16 '18 at 1:47
















          0












          $begingroup$

          this theorem is wrong



          $P: bigg[x+y=10implies (xne 3land yne 8)bigg]iff bigg[(x=3 lor y=8)implies x+yne 10bigg]$



          Suppose $x=3$, you take $y:=7$ so $x+y=10$ contradiction so your theorem is wrong



          by contradiction :



          $lnot P :quad x+y=10 land (x= 3lor y= 8)$



          $x+y=10$ and $x=3$ we take $y:=7$, so the proposition $lnot P$ is right.





          I remind you $P:(simplies t)iff (lnot slor t)$ so $lnot P :sland lnot t$
          To avoid any confusion you have to add quantifier so the proposition becomes



          $ P :forall (x,y)in mathbb{N}^2,bigg[x+y=10implies (xne 3land yne 8)bigg]$



          So the negative is :



          $lnot P : exists (x,y)in mathbb{N}^2,quad (x+y=10) land (x= 3lor y= 8)$



          We only need to find one 2-tuple that satisfies the proposition, so $(x,y)=(3,7)$ fits. We conclude $lnot P$ is right thus $P$ is wrong






          share|cite|improve this answer











          $endgroup$













          • $begingroup$
            Yes, I understand that the Theorem is not True. This is why I was confused. I was showing that some obviously false theorem was true using proof by contradiction, asking for clarification.
            $endgroup$
            – Jac Frall
            Dec 16 '18 at 0:41












          • $begingroup$
            I added a proof by contradiction
            $endgroup$
            – Stu
            Dec 16 '18 at 0:49












          • $begingroup$
            I see. What confused me was I thought you could let $x=3 $ and $y=8$ in the proof by contradiction since this seems to satisfy the $x=3 lor y=8$ part of $lnot P$.
            $endgroup$
            – Jac Frall
            Dec 16 '18 at 0:54












          • $begingroup$
            what do you mean?
            $endgroup$
            – Stu
            Dec 16 '18 at 1:43










          • $begingroup$
            $forall cdots P$ and $existscdots lnot P$
            $endgroup$
            – Stu
            Dec 16 '18 at 1:47














          0












          0








          0





          $begingroup$

          this theorem is wrong



          $P: bigg[x+y=10implies (xne 3land yne 8)bigg]iff bigg[(x=3 lor y=8)implies x+yne 10bigg]$



          Suppose $x=3$, you take $y:=7$ so $x+y=10$ contradiction so your theorem is wrong



          by contradiction :



          $lnot P :quad x+y=10 land (x= 3lor y= 8)$



          $x+y=10$ and $x=3$ we take $y:=7$, so the proposition $lnot P$ is right.





          I remind you $P:(simplies t)iff (lnot slor t)$ so $lnot P :sland lnot t$
          To avoid any confusion you have to add quantifier so the proposition becomes



          $ P :forall (x,y)in mathbb{N}^2,bigg[x+y=10implies (xne 3land yne 8)bigg]$



          So the negative is :



          $lnot P : exists (x,y)in mathbb{N}^2,quad (x+y=10) land (x= 3lor y= 8)$



          We only need to find one 2-tuple that satisfies the proposition, so $(x,y)=(3,7)$ fits. We conclude $lnot P$ is right thus $P$ is wrong






          share|cite|improve this answer











          $endgroup$



          this theorem is wrong



          $P: bigg[x+y=10implies (xne 3land yne 8)bigg]iff bigg[(x=3 lor y=8)implies x+yne 10bigg]$



          Suppose $x=3$, you take $y:=7$ so $x+y=10$ contradiction so your theorem is wrong



          by contradiction :



          $lnot P :quad x+y=10 land (x= 3lor y= 8)$



          $x+y=10$ and $x=3$ we take $y:=7$, so the proposition $lnot P$ is right.





          I remind you $P:(simplies t)iff (lnot slor t)$ so $lnot P :sland lnot t$
          To avoid any confusion you have to add quantifier so the proposition becomes



          $ P :forall (x,y)in mathbb{N}^2,bigg[x+y=10implies (xne 3land yne 8)bigg]$



          So the negative is :



          $lnot P : exists (x,y)in mathbb{N}^2,quad (x+y=10) land (x= 3lor y= 8)$



          We only need to find one 2-tuple that satisfies the proposition, so $(x,y)=(3,7)$ fits. We conclude $lnot P$ is right thus $P$ is wrong







          share|cite|improve this answer














          share|cite|improve this answer



          share|cite|improve this answer








          edited Dec 16 '18 at 8:33

























          answered Dec 16 '18 at 0:39









          StuStu

          1,1881414




          1,1881414












          • $begingroup$
            Yes, I understand that the Theorem is not True. This is why I was confused. I was showing that some obviously false theorem was true using proof by contradiction, asking for clarification.
            $endgroup$
            – Jac Frall
            Dec 16 '18 at 0:41












          • $begingroup$
            I added a proof by contradiction
            $endgroup$
            – Stu
            Dec 16 '18 at 0:49












          • $begingroup$
            I see. What confused me was I thought you could let $x=3 $ and $y=8$ in the proof by contradiction since this seems to satisfy the $x=3 lor y=8$ part of $lnot P$.
            $endgroup$
            – Jac Frall
            Dec 16 '18 at 0:54












          • $begingroup$
            what do you mean?
            $endgroup$
            – Stu
            Dec 16 '18 at 1:43










          • $begingroup$
            $forall cdots P$ and $existscdots lnot P$
            $endgroup$
            – Stu
            Dec 16 '18 at 1:47


















          • $begingroup$
            Yes, I understand that the Theorem is not True. This is why I was confused. I was showing that some obviously false theorem was true using proof by contradiction, asking for clarification.
            $endgroup$
            – Jac Frall
            Dec 16 '18 at 0:41












          • $begingroup$
            I added a proof by contradiction
            $endgroup$
            – Stu
            Dec 16 '18 at 0:49












          • $begingroup$
            I see. What confused me was I thought you could let $x=3 $ and $y=8$ in the proof by contradiction since this seems to satisfy the $x=3 lor y=8$ part of $lnot P$.
            $endgroup$
            – Jac Frall
            Dec 16 '18 at 0:54












          • $begingroup$
            what do you mean?
            $endgroup$
            – Stu
            Dec 16 '18 at 1:43










          • $begingroup$
            $forall cdots P$ and $existscdots lnot P$
            $endgroup$
            – Stu
            Dec 16 '18 at 1:47
















          $begingroup$
          Yes, I understand that the Theorem is not True. This is why I was confused. I was showing that some obviously false theorem was true using proof by contradiction, asking for clarification.
          $endgroup$
          – Jac Frall
          Dec 16 '18 at 0:41






          $begingroup$
          Yes, I understand that the Theorem is not True. This is why I was confused. I was showing that some obviously false theorem was true using proof by contradiction, asking for clarification.
          $endgroup$
          – Jac Frall
          Dec 16 '18 at 0:41














          $begingroup$
          I added a proof by contradiction
          $endgroup$
          – Stu
          Dec 16 '18 at 0:49






          $begingroup$
          I added a proof by contradiction
          $endgroup$
          – Stu
          Dec 16 '18 at 0:49














          $begingroup$
          I see. What confused me was I thought you could let $x=3 $ and $y=8$ in the proof by contradiction since this seems to satisfy the $x=3 lor y=8$ part of $lnot P$.
          $endgroup$
          – Jac Frall
          Dec 16 '18 at 0:54






          $begingroup$
          I see. What confused me was I thought you could let $x=3 $ and $y=8$ in the proof by contradiction since this seems to satisfy the $x=3 lor y=8$ part of $lnot P$.
          $endgroup$
          – Jac Frall
          Dec 16 '18 at 0:54














          $begingroup$
          what do you mean?
          $endgroup$
          – Stu
          Dec 16 '18 at 1:43




          $begingroup$
          what do you mean?
          $endgroup$
          – Stu
          Dec 16 '18 at 1:43












          $begingroup$
          $forall cdots P$ and $existscdots lnot P$
          $endgroup$
          – Stu
          Dec 16 '18 at 1:47




          $begingroup$
          $forall cdots P$ and $existscdots lnot P$
          $endgroup$
          – Stu
          Dec 16 '18 at 1:47


















          draft saved

          draft discarded




















































          Thanks for contributing an answer to Mathematics Stack Exchange!


          • Please be sure to answer the question. Provide details and share your research!

          But avoid



          • Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers.

          • Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience.


          Use MathJax to format equations. MathJax reference.


          To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers.




          draft saved


          draft discarded














          StackExchange.ready(
          function () {
          StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fmath.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f3042086%2fproof-by-contradiction-to-prove-theorem-that-is-not-true%23new-answer', 'question_page');
          }
          );

          Post as a guest















          Required, but never shown





















































          Required, but never shown














          Required, but never shown












          Required, but never shown







          Required, but never shown

































          Required, but never shown














          Required, but never shown












          Required, but never shown







          Required, but never shown







          Popular posts from this blog

          Index of /

          Tribalistas

          Listed building