Ronald Graham Quote

Incidentally, when we're faced with a "prove or disprove," we're usually better off trying first to disprove with a counterexample, for two reasons: A disproof is potentially easier (we need just one counterexample); and nitpicking arouses our creative juices. Even if the given assertion is true, our search for a counterexample often leads to a proof, as soon as we see why a counterexample is impossible. Besides, it's healthy to be skeptical.


Concrete mathematics: a foundation for computer science (ed. Addison Wesley Publishing Company, 1989)


Incidentally, when we're faced with a prove or disprove, we're usually better off trying first to disprove with a counterexample, for two reasons: A...

Incidentally, when we're faced with a prove or disprove, we're usually better off trying first to disprove with a counterexample, for two reasons: A...

Incidentally, when we're faced with a prove or disprove, we're usually better off trying first to disprove with a counterexample, for two reasons: A...

Incidentally, when we're faced with a prove or disprove, we're usually better off trying first to disprove with a counterexample, for two reasons: A...