proof by contradiction

proof by contradiction

English

Noun

proof by contradiction (countable and uncountable, plural proofs by contradiction)

1. (mathematics, logic) Proof of a statement adduced by deriving a contradiction from the statement's negation.

Synonyms

• apagoge
• reductio ad absurdum

Translations

proof of a statement adduced by deriving a contradiction from the statement's negation

Czech: důkaz sporem m Dutch: bewijs uit het ongerijmde n French: preuve par l'absurde f, raisonnement par l'absurde m Greek: εις άτοπον απαγωγή (el) f (eis átopon apagogí) Icelandic: óbein sönnun f

Latin: reductio ad absurdum Polish: dowód nie wprost m, sprowadzenie do absurdu Russian: доказа́тельство от проти́вного (ru) n (dokazátelʹstvo ot protívnovo) Swedish: motsägelsebevis n

Further reading

• proof by contradiction on Wikipedia.Wikipedia