The proof is in the pudding : the changing nature of mathematical proof

Krantz's book covers the full history and evolution of the proof concept. The notion of rigorous thinking has evolved over time, and this book documents that development. It gives examples both of decisive developments in the technique of proof and also of magnificent blunders that taught us about how to think rigorously. Many historical vignettes illustrate the concepts and acquaint the reader with how mathematicians think and what they care about. In modern times, strict rules for generating and recording proof have been established. At the same time, many new vectors and forces have had an influence over the way mathematics is practiced. Certainly the computer plays a fundamental role in many mathematical investigations. But there are also fascinating social forces that have affected the way that we now conceive of proof. Daniel Gorenstein's program to classify the finite simple groups, Thomas Hales's resolution of the Kepler sphere-packing problem, Louis de Branges's proof of the Bieberbach conjecture, and Thurston's treatment of the geometrization program are but some examples of mathematical proofs that were generated in ways inconceivable 100 years ago. Krantz treats all of them--and more--in some detail; he names the players and tells all the secrets. Many of the proofs treated in this book are described in some detail, with figures and explanatory equations. The reader is given a dose of modern mathematics, and h ow mathemati cians think. Both the joy and the sorrow of mathematical exploration are communicated dynamically and energetically in this exciting new book Covers the full history and evolution of the proof concept. The notion of rigorous thinking has evolved over time, and this book documents that development. It gives examples both of decisive developments in the technique of proof and also of magnificent blunders that taught us about how to think rigorously. Many historical vignettes illustrate the concepts and acquaint the reader with how mathematicians think and what they care about. In modern times, strict rules for generating and recording proof have been established. At the same time, many new vectors and forces have had an influence over the way mathematics is practiced. Certainly the computer plays a fundamental role in many mathematical investigations, but there are also fascinating social forces that have affected the way that we now conceive of proof. Daniel Gorenstein's program to classify the finite simple groups, Thomas Hales's resolution of the Kepler sphere-packing problem, Louis de Branges's proof of the Bieberbach conjecture, and Thurston's treatment of the geometrization program are some examples of mathematical proofs that were generated in ways inconceivable 100 years ago ... Many of the proofs treated in this book are described in some detail, with figures and explanatory equations.--From publisher description. Front Matter....Pages i-xvii What Is a Proof and Why?....Pages 1-36 The Ancients....Pages 37-46 The Middle Ages and An Emphasis on Calculation....Pages 47-52 The Dawn of the Modern Age....Pages 53-59 Hilbert and the Twentieth Century....Pages 61-106 The Tantalizing Four-Color Theorem....Pages 107-115 Computer-Generated Proofs....Pages 117-133 The Computer as an Aid to Teaching and a Substitute for Proof....Pages 135-148 Aspects of Modern Mathematical Life....Pages 149-156 Beyond Computers: The Sociology of Mathematical Proof....Pages 157-182 A Legacy of Elusive Proofs....Pages 183-217 John Horgan and “The Death of Proof?”....Pages 219-222 Closing Thoughts....Pages 223-227 Back Matter....Pages 229-264 This text explores the many transformations that the mathematical proof has undergone from its inception to its versatile, present-day use, considering the advent of high-speed computing machines. Though there are many truths to be discovered in this book, by the end it is clear that there is no formalized approach or standard method of discovery to date. Most of the proofs are discussed in detail with figures and equations accompanying them, allowing both the professional mathematician and those less familiar with mathematics to derive the same joy from reading this book.