misproof

Noun

misproof (countable and uncountable, plural misproofs)

1. (countable) A mathematical proof that contains logical errors.
   • Only a misproof of Nöebling [66] (for any m) ensued in the 1930's.1977, Robion C. Kirby, Laurence C. Siebenmann, Foundational Essays on Topological Manifolds, Smoothings, and Triangulations., volume 88, page 308
   • This is what applied mathematics should be about; not the fallacious misproofs of Stoke's theorem or the relentless linearisation of the nonlinear that put me off applied mathematics for 15 years.1983 May 12, David Cohen, “Developing psychological thought”, in New Scientist, volume 98, number 1357, page 391
2. Evidence or convincing argument that misleads one to the wrong conclusion.
   • Misproof occurs when some other than the proposition stated is proved. This may occur from confusion, or may be intentional, as in attacking the character of an opponent (argumentum ad hominem); appealing to the prejudice (ad populum); or to authority without evidence of validity (ad verecundiam).1914, William Dinwiddie, Essentials of Logic, page 125
   • However, the probability of such a misproof goes to zero exponentially with the number of questions asked and hence the probability of giving an interactive “proof” for a false statement can be easily made arbitrarily small.1995, Yuri Matiyasevich, “On Some Works of Avi Wigderson”, in S.D. Chatterji, editor, Proceedings of the International Congress of Mathematicians, page 26
3. (obsolete, uncountable) Evidence that contradicts or casts doubt on.
   • That he could claim close kinship with a maiden so sweet and fair as Phyllis Maybird seemed almost incredible, but her own words placed the matter beyond misproof or doubt.1897, Richard Gilbert Soans, John Gilbert, Yeoman: A Romance of the Commonwealth, page 25
   • Misproof of the declared condition of mind falsifies the statement.1914, Esten Kenneth Williams, Digest of Canadian Case Law, page 359