Where Proof, Evidence, and Imagination Intersect — Quanta Magazine

Published by MrHonner on

My latest column for Quanta Magazine explores the role that evidence plays in mathematics, a field better known for its reliance on logical proof.

For example, do you know the next term in this sequence?

1, 2, 4, 8, 16

You might be surprised!

“Mathematics has a long history of defying expectations and forcing us to expand our imaginations. That’s one reason mathematicians strive for proof, not just evidence. It’s proof that establishes mathematical truth. All available evidence might point to 32 as the next number in our sequence, but without a proof, we can’t be certain.

Some simple examples involving high school math show how evidence can lead us toward proof in mathematics, but can also lead us astray if we aren’t careful. You can learn more by reading the article at Quanta Magazine, which is freely available here.


2 Comments

Elena Weinstein · March 20, 2019 at 7:19 pm

The answer to the circle regions problem is not always 31; it can be 30 and, I believe, also 29, depending on the number of concurrent chords.

    MrHonner · March 21, 2019 at 7:24 pm

    But there’s only one maximum!

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