Simple Proof Methods

Why do you, as computer science majors, even need to study about proofs?

Understanding and writing mathematical proofs is essential for computer science students because proofs develop rigorous logical reasoning skills, which are fundamental to programming and algorithm design.

For example, proving that an algorithm always terminates and produces the correct result ensures its correctness before implementation.

Proof techniques such as induction, which we will study later this course, are especially useful in analyzing recursive functions and proving properties of data structures like trees and graphs, which we will cover later, too.

By learning to read and construct proofs, you enhance your ability to write clear, efficient, and bug-free code and show the fact that your code is correct to your fellow developers.