Proofs-- Bad Ones
Revision as of 07:18, 27 March 2021 by Rasmusen p1vaim (talk | contribs) (Created page with "What bad proofs might go in a course on bad proofs? I'm thinking such a course could be a fun way to teach students, at grad or undergrad level, how to do proofs. It would i...")
What bad proofs might go in a course on bad proofs?
I'm thinking such a course could be a fun way to teach students, at grad or undergrad level, how to do proofs. It would include some math classics of the 1=2 and diagonal length of a square equals side length variety with some published economics or math proofs with fatal errors. Answers can be at any level, but the proofs should have one of these features:
(1) Have flaws that are easy to see ex post.
(2) Be short.
(3) Be in a classic paper.
(4) Illustrate a subtle and dangerous flaw.
That is, no sign errors in the middle of 5 pages of algebra in some East Slovakian working paper.
