Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Logic And Proof For Mathematicians: A Twentieth Century Perspective, Calvin Jongsma

Faculty Work Comprehensive List

If there is one aspect of mathematics education that frustrates both students and teachers alike, it has got to be learning how to do valid proofs. Students often feel they really know the mathematics they're studying but that their teachers place some unreasonably stringent demands upon their arguments. Teachers, on the other hand, can't understand where their students get some of the wacky arguments they come up with. They argue in circles, they end up proving a different result from what they claim, they make false statements, they draw invalid inferences - it can be quite exasperating at times! Unfortunately, …