Talk:Mathematical proof

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From basic mathematical study I have come across the notion of story proofs. Some are used in a book I am reading (Introduction to Probability by Blitzstein and Hwang). It seems like its own category of proof, so perhaps a section should be added here, or a new Wikipedia page created. I would do it, but I'm not confident enough in my mathematical knowledge to consider editing this page. So I figured I would provide a suggestion instead. Proxyma (talk) 23:44, 28 June 2017 (UTC)Reply

I think as a minimum there would have to be references that showed the term "story proof" has a clear, widely understood meaning in the mathematical community, outside of this one text book. I did a quick Google search, but the only links I could see refer to a book "Story Proof: The Science Behind the Startling Power of Story" by Kendall F. Haven, which has nothing to do with mathematical proof. Gandalf61 (talk) 08:52, 29 June 2017 (UTC)Reply

Here at https://books.google.com/books?id=EvoYCwAAQBAJ&pg=PA19 there's some rather nice examples (and more in the book), but if indeed this is the only book where it is mentioned, I don't think we should have it in our article—just per wp:primary source and wp:undue. - DVdm (talk) 12:33, 29 June 2017 (UTC)Reply

And I think the standard term for the type of proof described in that link is double counting. Gandalf61 (talk) 15:49, 29 June 2017 (UTC)Reply

I agree that it is odd that Google doesn't turn up much. My impression was that "story proof" specifically referred to the English text accompanying the equation, and that the author basically meant "proving by providing an interpretation."

Here is how it is described in the book: A story proof is a proof by interpretation. For counting problems, this often means counting the same thing in two different ways, rather than doing tedious algebra. A story proof often avoids messy calculations and goes further than an algebraic proof toward explaining why the result is true. The word “story” has several meanings, some more mathematical than others, but a story proof (in the sense in which we’re using the term) is a fully valid mathematical proof.

I am not super experienced in math, but I have definitely seen plenty of accompanying text to equations. I think story proof is the author's attempt to give that a name. I admit, though, that there's a significant overlap with double counting techniques in the story proofs I've seen so far. Proxyma (talk) 00:14, 30 June 2017 (UTC)Reply

Not all methods of proof are mathematical.

see: law

This biased redirection causes problems to other pages.

I love mathematics, but it's unmathematical to force mathematics as self-caused without using the foundations of mathematics according to which mathematics isn't absolute and self-caused = logical monism is wrong.

see: logical pluralism (experimental logical foundations, not necessarily useful)

This article was the subject of a Wiki Education Foundation-supported course assignment, between 13 January 2026 and 17 April 2026. Further details are available on the course page. Student editor(s): Hu.Lemon, Anewby14, AcademicLemon, J.McD21, Aynelson15 (article contribs).

— Assignment last updated by J.McD21 (talk) 13:36, 27 April 2026 (UTC)Reply

The redirect Mathing has been listed at redirects for discussion to determine whether its use and function meets the redirect guidelines. Readers of this page are welcome to comment on this redirect at Wikipedia:Redirects for discussion/Log/2026 May 17 § Mathing until a consensus is reached. Duckmather (talk) 21:59, 17 May 2026 (UTC)Reply