ENGLISH

On the Shape of Mathematical Arguments

By Antonetta J. M. van Gasteren (auth.)

Book information

Publisher
Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
Year
1990
ISBN
9780387528496, 9783540528494, 0387528490, 3540528490
DOI
10.1007/BFb0020908
LCC
QA9.54 .G37 1990
Open Library ID
OL1858185M
Language
english
Format
DJVU
Filesize
1 MB (1320082 bytes)
Series
Lecture Notes in Computer Science 445
Edition
1
Pages
184\190
Topic
Computers
DPI
600
Scanned
no
Time added
2011-06-04 13:46:07
Logics and Meanings of Programs; Software Engineer

Description

This book deals with the presentation and systematic design of mathematical proofs, including correctness proofs of algorithms. Its purpose is to show how completeness of argument, an important constraint especially for the correctness of algorithms, can be combined with brevity. The author stresses that the use of formalism is indispensible for achieving this. A second purpose of the book is to discuss matters of design. Rather than addressing psychological questions, the author deals with more technical questions like how analysis of the shape of the demonstrandum can guide the design of a proof. This technical rather than psychological view of heuristics together with the stress on exploiting formalism effectively are two key features of the book. The book consists of two independently readable parts. One part includes a number of general chapters discussing techniques for clear exposition, the use of formalism, the choice of notations, the choice of what to name and how to name it, and so on. The other part consists of a series of expositional essays, each dealing with a proof or an algorithm and illustrating the use of techniques discussed in the more general chapters.

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