Monday, October 15, 2012

Well-Ordering Induction



Template: Well-Ordering Proofs

Stating the template for a well-ordering proof steps would be adequate to give general explanation of its definition;

- Define the set, C, of counterexamples to P being true




- Use a proof by contradiction and assume that C is non-empty
       contradiction definition: 
       a form of proof that establishes the truth or validity of a proposition by showing that the         proposition's being false would imply a contradiction

- By the well ordering Principle, there will be a smallest element(introduced a new variable), n in C.

- Reach a contradiction (somehow) - often by showing how to use n to find another member of C that is smaller than n.

- Conclude that C must be empty, that is, no counterexamples exist.

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