misproof

English

Etymology

mis- +‎ proof

Noun

misproof (countable and uncountable, plural misproofs)

1. (countable, mathematics) A mathematical proof that contains logical errors.
   • 1977, Robion C. Kirby, Laurence C. Siebenmann, Foundational Essays on Topological Manifolds, Smoothings, and Triangulations., volume 88, page 308:

     Only a misproof of Nöebling [66] (for any m) ensued in the 1930's.

   • 1983 May 12, David Cohen, “Developing psychological thought”, in New Scientist, volume 98, number 1357, page 391:

     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.

   • 2012, D. S. Freed, K. K. Uhlenbeck, Instantons and Four-Manifolds, page 15:

     The three basic theorems of three-manifold topology -- Dehn's Lemma, the Loop Theorem, and the Sphere Theorem -- were proved in 1957 by Papakyriakopoulos. (Dehn stated his result in 1910, but gave a misproof.)

2. (countable, uncountable) Evidence or convincing argument that misleads one to the wrong conclusion.
   • 1914, William Dinwiddie, Essentials of Logic, page 125:

     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).

   • 1995, Yuri Matiyasevich, “On Some Works of Avi Wigderson”, in S.D. Chatterji, editor, Proceedings of the International Congress of Mathematicians, page 26:

     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.

   • 2007 September 11, Christopher Rocchio, “Kellie Pickler's estranged mom: Leaving was the hardest decision”, in Reality TV World:

     The 38-year-old Malone currently resides in Triangle, NC and referred to herself during the interview as Kellie's "mystery mom" and said she decided to talk because "a lot of misproof has been printed" about her.

   • 2013, Tony Burke, Ancient Gospel or Modern Forgery?:

     With one misproof piled on top of another, we end up under an avalanche of falsehoods, distortions, and non-evidence.

3. (uncountable, obsolete) Evidence that contradicts or casts doubt on.
   • 1897, Richard Gilbert Soans, John Gilbert, Yeoman: A Romance of the Commonwealth, page 25:

     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.

   • 1914, Esten Kenneth Williams, Digest of Canadian Case Law, page 359:

     Misproof of the declared condition of mind falsifies the statement.

   • 1924, John Drinkwater, Mary Staurt: A Play, page 76:

     They may believe what they will — it is a story strong enough against misproof.