493:. Namely, "to prove" something in the common mathematical sense is to establish its truth, but in another sense "to prove" something is to test its truth or quality (as in "a proving ground" or "proven reserves of oil"). More often than not, the adage is taken to mean "the rule is true despite the counter-example"--or absurdly, "the rule is true because of the counter-example". But in fact it means "the counter-example puts the rule to the test". Thus I agree that the use of the adage is inappropriate here--but it would make for a nice ...(idiom) page!
95:
85:
64:
31:
401:
a statement, believed to be true, that has amassed a reasonable amount of compelling theoretical and experimental (yes, mathematical experimental) evidence to support it. You just don't go spouting off anything you want in number theory, "I think this sequence satisfies...blah, blah, blah" You better have a lot of evidence or no one is going to take you seriously. For a better explanation of this, you can see Daniel Shanks number theory book, he has a long discussion of this topic.
294:
22:
196:
169:
206:
602:
In the article, it says, "Until recently, the most famous conjecture was Fermat's Last
Theorem." Really? I would have thought that the Riemann Hypothesis was much more famous, at least amongst mathematicians. Furthermore, a proof of the Riemann Hypothesis would lead to a lot of light shed on a lot
503:
Even more ironically, this correction is also incorrect. The meaning of "the exception proves the rule" is probably best seen in an example: a traffic sign that says "Only emergency vehicles may park here" is equivalent to a rule "No parking here - except by emergency vehicles". The exception - which
408:
Some comments on "hypothesis"...I tend to blaze in and make changes without thinking through the best way to present or justify them to people. "Hypothesis", strictly speaking, refers to one of the assumptions in a logical argument or mathematical proof. ("Are the hypotheses sufficient?", "One of the
400:
This article gives the impression that (forgive the expression) "anything goes", i.e. anything can be a conjecture, because if we don't know if it's true or not, why not?? This is really not accurate. One cannot go around saying anything and everything under the sun is a "conjecture". A conjecture is
376:
would ever be is a redirect here. That doesn't make sense. Another thing is that redirects are not obvious and having the article at a parenthetical title will mean that new contributors will be typing the unnecessary . Isn't one of the founding principles of our naming conventions the preservation
418:
true or false. In other words, RH is either true or false (unless it ends up depending on GCH or something, heaven forbid), the twin prime conjecture is either true or false, Poincare conjecture is either true or false. The statement "R is an integral domain" is not like this. It's conditional,
413:
is an integral domain", "Without the hypothesis that the space is compact, the conclusion may be false", etc., etc.) This isn't really the same thing as "conjecture". Conjectures aren't necessarily assumptions in a logical argument or proof; they're simply statements which we don't know whether
455:
I know I've heard something at least similar many times. The only way I can make sense out of it is if the exceptions are are made explicit in the rule (and proved to be the only exceptions). This -is- legitimate in mathematics, at least to my understanding. I'm always forgetting to sign my
618:
All mathematicians have heard of both Fermat's last theorem and the
Riemann hypothesis, so there's nothing to choose between them in terms of fame in mathematics, and importance to mathematics has nothing to do with fame. In any case, the article doesn't say it was the most famous among
579:
What is there to say about these conjectures? Would the alternate articles be anything other than dictionary definitions? How are these other conjectures substantially different from "a proposition that is unproven but appears correct and has not been disproven"?
603:
of other theorems, whilst at least to me it seems that Fermat's Last
Theorem has much less applications. Riemann Hypothesis seems to be more 'mainstream mathematics', whereas FLT seems to be a bit less important in regards to the progress of mathematics.
355:
I just spoke to Larry and he says there isn't a term in philosophy called conjecture that could be made into an encylcopedia article. I will move the entry back to the simple title. There is no need to disambiguate when there isn't a valid ambiguity.
464:
The problem with that expression is I think it is too vague and non-mathematical to start with. I am not sure it is worth thinking that much about it. I would actually not mind removing it from the article altogether. What do you think?
419:
depending on what R is. "Suppose f is entire" is not a true/false statement, it depends on f. This is why calling conjectures "hypotheses" rings false for me. One reason, say, CH is called as it is, is because it is exactly that -- a
423:, i.e. in the world of set theory, you can take it to be true or false; it's your choice. In this sense, it's not "true" or "false" in the sense that we consider a conjecture to be true or false (but don't know yet).
653:
But how does one decide what is the most famous theorem? It changes over time as well. Clearly FLT's fame has decreased since it has been solved, but the
Riemann Hypothesis still retains that 'mysticism'.
536:
Would this be anything other than a dictionary definition. How is a scientific conjecture substantially different from "a proposition that is unproven but appears correct and has not been disproven"? —
730:
372:. So just because there is a dictionary definition doesn't mean that we must pre-emptively disambiguate from that term. Now that is just silly. If this article is at a parenthetical title then all
151:
561:
For this reason soon I am going to move the whole page about mathematical "Conjecture" to entry "Conjecture (mathematics)" and change the "Conjecture" entry into a disambiguation page.
788:
823:
333:.Also a conjecture means that a guess that is maybe ture. Like for example if a odd number minus an even numer is the answer even or odd?the answer is odd. See this is what it means.
628:
I'm not a mathematician and have heard of Fermat's theorem and not of
Riemann's hypothesis. However, any statement about "most famous" needs a reference, so I put a tag there.
384:
Hm. The term "Jesus Christ" has an alternate dictionary definition in slang usage that differs from the meaning in this article. I propose we move the article on the person to
828:
778:
227:
on
Knowledge. If you would like to support the project, please visit the project page, where you can get more details on how you can help, and where you can join the
818:
793:
813:
254:
35:
264:
729:
IF there is no proff then we can conclude that the funtion in question is indeed a
Logarithm function, meaning the funtion takes the form of a Logarithm.
696:. Good rephrasing considering this fact else someone may advance this Article should happen in accordance to updating this Article. Maybe is that the one
803:
141:
681:
is the real
Conjecture, maybe folks who are all specific to Scientific may feel so abstract that this Article is. However good. But I see reference of
773:
301:
179:
783:
369:
117:
798:
439:
Unlike the empirical sciences, mathematics is based on provable truth; one cannot apply the adage about "the exception that proves the rule".
229:
808:
490:
The adage does exist, but ironically it is almost universally misunderstood. The problem is the ambiguity of the
English verb "to prove"
734:
473:
I do tend to think too much about trivial things. I would say either leave it as it is or remove it. I wouldn't try to "fix" it. --
522:
where it is used in terms of scientific conjecture, but only covers mathematics. Could someone please add the meaning in science. ..
108:
69:
219:
174:
768:
663:
659:
612:
608:
44:
388:. That way nobody will be encouraged to place dictionary defintions in the first line of this article.</sarcasm: -->
326:
is the collatz conjecture verified up to 2.88 Ă— 10^18 like indicated in its own article or up to 10^12 like said here?
749:
337:
Why does this need to be renamed? Other than dictionary definitions I'm not aware of any other use of the term. --
348:
Hm. Perhaps. But what more than a simple definition can be written on this subject? Maybe we should ask Larry. --
330:
655:
604:
385:
745:
50:
94:
389:
Again, I hate this type of pre-emptive disambiguation. This is an encyclopedia and in that content we
620:
527:
505:
482:
466:
448:
447:
I heard this saying about the exception that proves the rule many times before. I think it is real.
21:
686:
674:
638:
569:
623:
116:
on
Knowledge. If you would like to participate, please visit the project page, where you can join
100:
84:
63:
619:
mathematicians, but in general, and (though I have no source) I'm pretty sure this is correct.
363:
211:
585:
541:
523:
394:
378:
357:
349:
338:
558:
There is a need for disambiguation here (rhetorical conjecture, textual conjecture etc.)
629:
565:
504:
is explicit - proves the existence of the general rule ("no parking") - which is not.
293:
762:
704:
491:
424:
402:
678:
474:
457:
677:
is not there at all. Maybe speculated considering Numbers. But Ordinal by right
581:
537:
113:
697:
693:
682:
414:
they're true or false. Even worse, conjectures tend to be statements that are
373:
224:
201:
90:
494:
223:, a collaborative effort to improve the coverage of content related to
519:
443:
I am not familiar with this adage. Is it real? (user did not sign)
195:
168:
456:
comments. I made the original question sometime earlier today. --
753:
738:
719:
689:. This may lead to the one to conclude & think, what is this.
645:
591:
573:
547:
530:
508:
497:
377:
of free-linking where ambiguities do not exist (such as here)? --
393:
need concern ourselfs with disambiguating encyclopedic terms.--
15:
673:
This Article lacks, coz' for the reason that referencing for
362:
I disagree with mav's conclusion. See my user talk page. --
292:
744:
What part of the article (if any) are you talking about? -
692:
I may see this as Time Function, that's where I felt this
344:
Philosophers would certianly want a different article...
112:, a collaborative effort to improve the coverage of
275:
789:Knowledge level-4 vital articles in Mathematics
824:High-importance philosophy of science articles
8:
272:
163:
58:
829:Philosophy of science task force articles
779:Knowledge vital articles in Mathematics
731:2603:7000:B901:8500:A433:B41E:5DFD:5C26
165:
60:
19:
819:B-Class philosophy of science articles
233:about philosophy content on Knowledge.
794:B-Class vital articles in Mathematics
7:
669:No Reference for Turing completeness
217:This article is within the scope of
106:This article is within the scope of
814:High-importance Philosophy articles
49:It is of interest to the following
409:hypotheses of the theorem is that
14:
804:Top-priority mathematics articles
435:Here is a quote from the article
126:Knowledge:WikiProject Mathematics
774:Knowledge level-4 vital articles
368:I think you have said once that
239:Knowledge:WikiProject Philosophy
204:
194:
167:
129:Template:WikiProject Mathematics
93:
83:
62:
29:
20:
259:This article has been rated as
242:Template:WikiProject Philosophy
146:This article has been rated as
784:B-Class level-4 vital articles
698:Conjecture#P_versus_NP_problem
1:
720:08:32, 20 November 2018 (UTC)
574:10:34, 12 February 2009 (UTC)
370:Knowledge is not a dictionary
120:and see a list of open tasks.
799:B-Class mathematics articles
754:14:35, 15 January 2023 (UTC)
739:20:02, 14 January 2023 (UTC)
597:
518:This article is linked from
809:B-Class Philosophy articles
509:06:48, 23 August 2006 (UTC)
498:12:14, 16 August 2006 (UTC)
845:
564:React if you don't agree.
531:17:42, 24 March 2006 (UTC)
481:I agree with the removal.
265:project's importance scale
646:17:24, 29 June 2010 (UTC)
624:09:57, 29 June 2010 (UTC)
613:08:53, 29 June 2010 (UTC)
477:04:24, Jun 6, 2005 (UTC)
460:01:53, Jun 6, 2005 (UTC)
427:04:55, 21 Apr 2004 (UTC)
405:04:35, 21 Apr 2004 (UTC)
329:This needs to be renamed
300:
271:
258:
189:
145:
78:
57:
664:12:31, 1 July 2010 (UTC)
592:18:05, 24 May 2009 (UTC)
548:18:04, 24 May 2009 (UTC)
331:conjecture (mathematics)
152:project's priority scale
485:15:28, 6 Jun 2005 (UTC)
469:02:54, 6 Jun 2005 (UTC)
451:01:46, 6 Jun 2005 (UTC)
276:Associated task forces:
109:WikiProject Mathematics
769:B-Class vital articles
297:
220:WikiProject Philosophy
598:Fermat's Last Theorem
514:Scientific conjecture
386:Jesus Christ (person)
302:Philosophy of science
296:
36:level-4 vital article
132:mathematics articles
687:Turing completeness
675:Turing completeness
245:Philosophy articles
298:
230:general discussion
101:Mathematics portal
45:content assessment
656:My 2 Cents' Worth
605:My 2 Cents' Worth
319:
318:
315:
314:
311:
310:
307:
306:
212:Philosophy portal
162:
161:
158:
157:
836:
746:Jochen Burghardt
643:
642:
636:
635:
383:<sarcasm: -->
283:
273:
247:
246:
243:
240:
237:
214:
209:
208:
207:
198:
191:
190:
185:
182:
171:
164:
134:
133:
130:
127:
124:
103:
98:
97:
87:
80:
79:
74:
66:
59:
42:
33:
32:
25:
24:
16:
844:
843:
839:
838:
837:
835:
834:
833:
759:
758:
727:
671:
640:
639:
631:
630:
600:
556:
516:
483:Oleg Alexandrov
467:Oleg Alexandrov
449:Oleg Alexandrov
433:
324:
281:
261:High-importance
244:
241:
238:
235:
234:
210:
205:
203:
184:High‑importance
183:
177:
131:
128:
125:
122:
121:
99:
92:
72:
43:on Knowledge's
40:
30:
12:
11:
5:
842:
840:
832:
831:
826:
821:
816:
811:
806:
801:
796:
791:
786:
781:
776:
771:
761:
760:
757:
756:
726:
723:
685:over there in
670:
667:
651:
650:
649:
648:
599:
596:
595:
594:
555:
554:Disambiguation
552:
551:
550:
515:
512:
501:
500:
487:
486:
471:
470:
453:
452:
441:
440:
432:
429:
398:
353:
352:
342:
341:
323:
320:
317:
316:
313:
312:
309:
308:
305:
304:
299:
289:
288:
286:
284:
278:
277:
269:
268:
257:
251:
250:
248:
216:
215:
199:
187:
186:
172:
160:
159:
156:
155:
144:
138:
137:
135:
118:the discussion
105:
104:
88:
76:
75:
67:
55:
54:
48:
26:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
841:
830:
827:
825:
822:
820:
817:
815:
812:
810:
807:
805:
802:
800:
797:
795:
792:
790:
787:
785:
782:
780:
777:
775:
772:
770:
767:
766:
764:
755:
751:
747:
743:
742:
741:
740:
736:
732:
724:
722:
721:
718:
716:
713:
710:
709:
701:
699:
695:
690:
688:
684:
680:
676:
668:
666:
665:
661:
657:
647:
644:
637:
634:
627:
626:
625:
622:
617:
616:
615:
614:
610:
606:
593:
589:
588:
583:
578:
577:
576:
575:
571:
567:
562:
559:
553:
549:
545:
544:
539:
535:
534:
533:
532:
529:
525:
521:
513:
511:
510:
507:
499:
496:
492:
489:
488:
484:
480:
479:
478:
476:
468:
463:
462:
461:
459:
450:
446:
445:
444:
438:
437:
436:
430:
428:
426:
422:
417:
412:
406:
404:
397:
396:
392:
387:
381:
380:
375:
371:
366:
365:
360:
359:
351:
347:
346:
345:
340:
336:
335:
334:
332:
327:
321:
303:
295:
291:
290:
287:
285:
280:
279:
274:
270:
266:
262:
256:
253:
252:
249:
232:
231:
226:
222:
221:
213:
202:
200:
197:
193:
192:
188:
181:
176:
173:
170:
166:
153:
149:
143:
140:
139:
136:
119:
115:
111:
110:
102:
96:
91:
89:
86:
82:
81:
77:
71:
68:
65:
61:
56:
52:
46:
38:
37:
27:
23:
18:
17:
728:
714:
711:
707:
705:
702:
691:
679:Distribution
672:
652:
632:
601:
586:
563:
560:
557:
542:
517:
502:
472:
454:
442:
434:
420:
415:
410:
407:
399:
390:
382:
367:
364:Larry Sanger
361:
354:
343:
328:
325:
260:
228:
218:
148:Top-priority
147:
107:
73:Top‑priority
51:WikiProjects
34:
725:Log funtion
123:Mathematics
114:mathematics
70:Mathematics
763:Categories
694:Conjecture
683:Conjecture
621:Algebraist
524:dave souza
506:Aquatarkus
421:hypothesis
416:definitely
374:conjecture
236:Philosophy
225:philosophy
175:Philosophy
717:Sadasivam
633:Lova Falk
566:Cuckowski
39:is rated
425:Revolver
403:Revolver
322:untitled
475:1pezguy
458:1pezguy
263:on the
180:Science
150:on the
41:B-class
582:Centrx
538:Centrx
520:theory
47:scale.
431:Adage
28:This
750:talk
735:talk
715:nand
660:talk
641:talk
609:talk
587:talk
570:talk
543:talk
528:talk
391:only
255:High
495:mjk
395:mav
379:mav
358:mav
350:mav
339:mav
142:Top
765::
752:)
737:)
708:ev
700:.
662:)
611:)
590:•
572:)
546:•
526:,
356:--
282:/
178::
748:(
733:(
712:A
706:D
703:—
658:(
607:(
584:→
580:—
568:(
540:→
411:R
267:.
154:.
53::
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.