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PROOF : DIRECT PROOF

Definition

Definition 1 An integer n is even if n  2a for some integer a  .

Definition 2 An integer n is odd if n  2a  1 for some integer a  .

Definition 3 Two integers have the same parity if they are both even or they are both
odd. Otherwise they have opposite parity.

Definition 4 A natural number n is prime if it has exactly two positive

divisors, 1 and n .

Outline for Direct Proof

Outline Explanation

Proposition If P , then Q . The setup for direct proof is remarkably simple.

Proof. Suppose P . The first line of the proof is the sentence “Suppose P .”
The last line is the sentence “Therefore Q .”
. Between the first and last line we use logic, definitions and
. standard math facts to transform the statement P to the
. statement Q .
It is common to use the word “Proof” to indicate the
Therefore Q . beginning of a proof, and the symbol to indicate the end.

Answer the following.

1. Prove that if x is an odd then x 2 is odd.

STEP 1 Proposition Prove that if x is an odd then x 2 is

odd.
The first step in the proof is to fill in
the outline for direct proof.
Proof. Suppose x is odd.
We leave some space between the first .
and last line of the proof. .
.
The following series of frames .
indicates the steps you might take to .
fill in this space with a logical chain of
reasoning.
Therefore x 2 is odd.
STEP 2 Proposition Prove that if x is an odd then x 2 is
odd.
Now that we have written the first and
last lines, we need to fill in the space
with a chain of reasoning that shows Proof. Suppose x is odd.
that x being odd forces x 2 to be odd. Then x  2a  1 for some a  , by definition of an
odd number.
In doing this it’s always advisable to .
use any definitions that apply. .
.
The first line says x is odd, and by .
Definition it must be that x  2a  1 .
for some a  , so we write this in as
our second line. Therefore x 2 is odd, by definition of an odd
number.

STEP 3 Proposition Prove that if x is an odd then x 2 is

odd.
Now jump down to the last line, which
says x 2 is odd.
Think about what the line immediately Proof. Suppose x is odd.
above it would have to be in order for
us to conclude that x 2 is odd. Then x  2a  1 for some a  , by definition of an
By the definition of an odd number, odd number.
we would have to have x 2  2a  1 for .
some a  . .
However, the symbol a now appears .
earlier in the proof in a different
Thus x 2  2b  1 for an integer b .
context, so we should use a different
symbol, say b . Therefore x 2 is odd, by definition of an odd
number.

STEP 4 Proposition Prove that if x is an odd then x 2 is

odd.
We are almost there. We can bridge
the gap as follows.
Proof. Suppose x is odd.
Then x  2a  1 for some a  , by definition of an
odd number.
Thus x 2  (2a  1)2  4a 2  4a  1  2(2a 2  2a)  1
So x 2  2b  1 where b is the integer b  2a 2  2a .
Thus x 2  2b  1 for an integer b .
Therefore x 2 is odd, by definition of an odd
number.
 Proposition Prove that if x is an odd then x 2 is
STEP 5 odd.

Finally, we may wish to clean up our
work and write the proof in paragraph
form. Here is our final version.
Proof. Suppose x is odd. Then x  2a  1 for some
a  , by definition of an odd number. Thus
x 2  (2a  1)2  4a 2  4a  1  2(2a 2  2a)  1 . So
x 2  2b  1 where b is the integer b  2a 2  2a .
Thus x 2  2b  1 for an integer b .Therefore x 2 is
odd, by definition of an odd number.

2. Prove that if x is an even integer then x 2  6 x  5 is odd.

3. Prove that if x is an even then x 2 is even.

4. Prove that if x is an odd integer, then x 3 is odd.

5. Prove that if a is an odd integer, then a 2  3a  5 is odd.

6. Use the method of direct proof to prove the following statement.
Suppose x, y  . If x and y are odd, then xy is odd.

7. Use the method of direct proof to prove the following statement.

Suppose x, y  .If x is even, then xy is even.
8. Prove that the sum of any even integer and any odd integer is odd.

9. Prove that if n  , then n 2  3n  4 is even.

10. Use the method of direct proof to prove the following statement.
Suppose x, y  . If x 2  5 y  y 2  5x , then x  y or x  y  5

HOT AND SPICY SECTION (OPTIONAL)

11. Use the method of direct proof to prove the following statement.
Let x and y be positive numbers. If x  y , then x y.
12. Prove that if x and y are positive real numbers, then 2 xy  x  y .