Session 8A
Proof style and revision checklist
45-75 min - work through lesson notes, practice, and the MCQ check.
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Session tips
- Finish the MCQ before marking complete.
- Check the answer outlines after trying on paper.
- Mark complete to update your certificate progress.
Lesson notes
- A correct proof can still be hard to read, and proof-based math cares about communication. Good proof style means: state the claim clearly, define your terms, introduce variables with their sets ("let n be an integer"), and justify each step. Avoid skipping the key step where a word becomes algebra, like "n is even, so n = 2k." Also avoid "obvious" unless you can explain it in one line. A proof should be checkable by another person without guessing what you meant.
- Revision is a real part of mathematics. When you revise, look for hidden assumptions, unclear variable declarations, and steps that are true but not justified. Also watch for the most common beginner issue: proving a stronger or different statement than what was asked. A good revision pass compares each line to the goal: does this line move me closer to the conclusion, or is it unrelated algebra? Clean proofs are usually shorter, not longer, because every line has a job.
Practice
Revise two older proofs using the checklist.
MCQ
Which item belongs on the proof revision checklist?