Mathematics poll

[ciphergoth]

Inspired by a similar poll in palmer1984's journal.

About the "proof" question below: examples of the kind of proof I mean would be a proof that there are infinitely many primes, or that the square root of two is irrational, or of Pythagoras's Theorem. A proof in computer science counts too. By "know a proof off by heart" I mean that you'd be able to convince someone of it at a party, if they had the background to follow the proof.

If you know lots of proofs, feel free to choose one you particularly like in the last question...

[Poll #1351621]

Comments

[xquiq.livejournal.com]

I did first and second year maths at university, but I've possibly forgotten more than a remember, it seems since I no proofs sprang to mind other than those you've mentioned.

I'm now thinking I'll have to dig into my old maths books. I do recall spending a large amount of time messing around with Taylor series, so presumably I must've been doing it for a reason, but can't for the life of me remember what!

I often wish I'd stuck with it, rather than switching to Economics. There's definitely something pleasing about the rigor required in mathematics.