Proof – mathematical logic and reasoning
PROOF
According to the Collins Dictionary, ‘proof is a fact, argument, or piece of evidence which shows that something is definitely true or definitely exists’. In Mathematics, we use logical processes and fundamental tools to show that mathematical statements are true. We call this Mathematical Proof.
There are numerous proof methods in mathematics. Typically, you will study Proof by Deduction and Exhaustion in the first year of A-Level Maths or equivalent. Students will also be taught Disproof by CounterExample to show them how to prove that a mathematical statement isn’t true. You don’t usually see Proof by Contradiction until the second year.
AS Maths:
A2 Maths:
Other areas in AS Maths
- ALGEBRA & FUNCTIONS – completing the square, cubics, curve sketching, discriminant, indices, inequalities, polynomials, quadratics, simultaneous equations, surds, transformations
- COORDINATE GEOMETRY – straight lines, equation of a circle
- SEQUENCES & SERIES – binomial expansion
- TRIGONOMETRY – non-right-angled triangles, trigonometric equations, trigonometric graphs, trigonometric identities
- EXPONENTIALS & LOGS – exponential & logarithmic graphs, logs, their rules and solving log equations, growth & decay, differentiating e to the kx
- DIFFERENTIATION – differentiation from first principles and differentiating polynomials, increasing & decreasing functions, stationary points, tangents & normals, differentiating e to the kx
- INTEGRATION – fundamental theorem of calculus and integrating powers of x, definite integrals
- NUMERICAL METHODS – (not covered at AS Level)
- VECTORS – two-dimensional vectors, vector arithmetic, vectors in context
Other areas in A2 Maths
- ALGEBRA & FUNCTIONS – modulus of a function, partial fractions, inverse and composite functions, compound transformations
- COORDINATE GEOMETRY – parametric equations
- SEQUENCES & SERIES – arithmetic series (and sigma notation), geometric series, sequences, binomial expansion
- TRIGONOMETRY – radians, arc length & area of a sector, small angle approximations, reciprocal trigonometric functions, inverse trigonometric functions, double & compound angle formulae
- EXPONENTIALS & LOGARITHMS – compound transformations
- DIFFERENTIATION – concavity, convexity & inflection points, derivatives of trigonometric functions, product, quotient & chain rule, parametric & implicit differentiation, differentiating exp/log functions, differential equations & rates
- INTEGRATION – further integration, integration using trigonometric identities, integration by substitution, integration by parts, integration using partial fractions, solving differential equations,
- NUMERICAL METHODS – locating roots using iteration (including Newton-Raphson), trapezium rule
- VECTORS – 3D vectors
