Proof by Contradiction

Proof by contradiction, also known as indirect proof or reductio ad absurdum, is a method of proof in which a statement is shown to be true by demonstrating that the opposite statement leads to a logical contradiction.

Proof by contradiction is often used to prove statements that may not have obvious direct proof. It can be a useful tool for demonstrating the truth of a statement by showing that the opposite statement leads to a logical absurdity.

Here’s an example of a proof by contradiction:

Statement to be proved: “For every real number x, if x^2 = 4, then x = 2 or x = -2.”

― #genAI/chatgpt