Is it necessary to explicitly state that $lnot (q notin X)$ is equivalent to $q in X$ when writing a proof?

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In a proof I am trying to write, I have shown that $q in X$ and $(q notin X) lor (Y= emptyset)$ are both true. Is it necessary to explicitly state $lnot (q notin X)$ is true in order to use the disjunction elimination to get $Y = emptyset$, or can I assume that it is obvious?







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    In a proof I am trying to write, I have shown that $q in X$ and $(q notin X) lor (Y= emptyset)$ are both true. Is it necessary to explicitly state $lnot (q notin X)$ is true in order to use the disjunction elimination to get $Y = emptyset$, or can I assume that it is obvious?







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      up vote
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      favorite









      up vote
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      down vote

      favorite











      In a proof I am trying to write, I have shown that $q in X$ and $(q notin X) lor (Y= emptyset)$ are both true. Is it necessary to explicitly state $lnot (q notin X)$ is true in order to use the disjunction elimination to get $Y = emptyset$, or can I assume that it is obvious?







      share|cite|improve this question











      In a proof I am trying to write, I have shown that $q in X$ and $(q notin X) lor (Y= emptyset)$ are both true. Is it necessary to explicitly state $lnot (q notin X)$ is true in order to use the disjunction elimination to get $Y = emptyset$, or can I assume that it is obvious?









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      asked Jul 17 at 14:23









      Ewan Miller

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          2 Answers
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          There is no correct answer to your question, since it all depends on what kind of proof you're writing, who the written proof is aimed at, and (if it's part of an assessment) what the expectations of you and/or assessment criteria are.



          For example:



          • If you're writing a formal axiomatic proof which keeps track of things like disjunction elimination, then you should probably also keep track of your use of double negation as well. There is no 'obvious' in axiomatic proofs, there are only the axioms and rules of inference!


          • If you're writing an informal proof, where it's assumed that the reader can fill in gaps where the details required to fill the gaps are glaringly obvious, then I'd say it's fine to omit this particular detail.


          • If this is part of a larger proof and the intended audience is expected to have a good knowledge of elementary set theory, then you have probably already included far too much detail in mentioning disjunction elimination and the like.


          If you're writing a proof as part of an assessment which is testing your ability to apply axiomatic reasoning (which is what I suspect is the case), then the first example I gave probably applies and I'd recommend that you include it.






          share|cite|improve this answer




























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            This is a somewhat subjective thing, so it's difficult to have a definitive answer. Here is my personal take: it depends on the point of your exercise. If the point of your current book / chapter / exercise is to be explicit about every single logical step, then yes you would need to state that deduction explicitly. If the point is almost anything else, then it may be assumed as obvious, and you will not have to use terms like "disjunction elimination".



            If this isn't an exercise but rather an original proof, then the point of the proof is to convince other mathematicians through your writing that your theorem is true. They will be able to follow your logic without adding in that extra step, as long as your writing is clear enough.






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              2 Answers
              2






              active

              oldest

              votes








              2 Answers
              2






              active

              oldest

              votes









              active

              oldest

              votes






              active

              oldest

              votes








              up vote
              7
              down vote



              accepted










              There is no correct answer to your question, since it all depends on what kind of proof you're writing, who the written proof is aimed at, and (if it's part of an assessment) what the expectations of you and/or assessment criteria are.



              For example:



              • If you're writing a formal axiomatic proof which keeps track of things like disjunction elimination, then you should probably also keep track of your use of double negation as well. There is no 'obvious' in axiomatic proofs, there are only the axioms and rules of inference!


              • If you're writing an informal proof, where it's assumed that the reader can fill in gaps where the details required to fill the gaps are glaringly obvious, then I'd say it's fine to omit this particular detail.


              • If this is part of a larger proof and the intended audience is expected to have a good knowledge of elementary set theory, then you have probably already included far too much detail in mentioning disjunction elimination and the like.


              If you're writing a proof as part of an assessment which is testing your ability to apply axiomatic reasoning (which is what I suspect is the case), then the first example I gave probably applies and I'd recommend that you include it.






              share|cite|improve this answer

























                up vote
                7
                down vote



                accepted










                There is no correct answer to your question, since it all depends on what kind of proof you're writing, who the written proof is aimed at, and (if it's part of an assessment) what the expectations of you and/or assessment criteria are.



                For example:



                • If you're writing a formal axiomatic proof which keeps track of things like disjunction elimination, then you should probably also keep track of your use of double negation as well. There is no 'obvious' in axiomatic proofs, there are only the axioms and rules of inference!


                • If you're writing an informal proof, where it's assumed that the reader can fill in gaps where the details required to fill the gaps are glaringly obvious, then I'd say it's fine to omit this particular detail.


                • If this is part of a larger proof and the intended audience is expected to have a good knowledge of elementary set theory, then you have probably already included far too much detail in mentioning disjunction elimination and the like.


                If you're writing a proof as part of an assessment which is testing your ability to apply axiomatic reasoning (which is what I suspect is the case), then the first example I gave probably applies and I'd recommend that you include it.






                share|cite|improve this answer























                  up vote
                  7
                  down vote



                  accepted







                  up vote
                  7
                  down vote



                  accepted






                  There is no correct answer to your question, since it all depends on what kind of proof you're writing, who the written proof is aimed at, and (if it's part of an assessment) what the expectations of you and/or assessment criteria are.



                  For example:



                  • If you're writing a formal axiomatic proof which keeps track of things like disjunction elimination, then you should probably also keep track of your use of double negation as well. There is no 'obvious' in axiomatic proofs, there are only the axioms and rules of inference!


                  • If you're writing an informal proof, where it's assumed that the reader can fill in gaps where the details required to fill the gaps are glaringly obvious, then I'd say it's fine to omit this particular detail.


                  • If this is part of a larger proof and the intended audience is expected to have a good knowledge of elementary set theory, then you have probably already included far too much detail in mentioning disjunction elimination and the like.


                  If you're writing a proof as part of an assessment which is testing your ability to apply axiomatic reasoning (which is what I suspect is the case), then the first example I gave probably applies and I'd recommend that you include it.






                  share|cite|improve this answer













                  There is no correct answer to your question, since it all depends on what kind of proof you're writing, who the written proof is aimed at, and (if it's part of an assessment) what the expectations of you and/or assessment criteria are.



                  For example:



                  • If you're writing a formal axiomatic proof which keeps track of things like disjunction elimination, then you should probably also keep track of your use of double negation as well. There is no 'obvious' in axiomatic proofs, there are only the axioms and rules of inference!


                  • If you're writing an informal proof, where it's assumed that the reader can fill in gaps where the details required to fill the gaps are glaringly obvious, then I'd say it's fine to omit this particular detail.


                  • If this is part of a larger proof and the intended audience is expected to have a good knowledge of elementary set theory, then you have probably already included far too much detail in mentioning disjunction elimination and the like.


                  If you're writing a proof as part of an assessment which is testing your ability to apply axiomatic reasoning (which is what I suspect is the case), then the first example I gave probably applies and I'd recommend that you include it.







                  share|cite|improve this answer













                  share|cite|improve this answer



                  share|cite|improve this answer











                  answered Jul 17 at 14:34









                  Clive Newstead

                  47.8k471130




                  47.8k471130




















                      up vote
                      2
                      down vote













                      This is a somewhat subjective thing, so it's difficult to have a definitive answer. Here is my personal take: it depends on the point of your exercise. If the point of your current book / chapter / exercise is to be explicit about every single logical step, then yes you would need to state that deduction explicitly. If the point is almost anything else, then it may be assumed as obvious, and you will not have to use terms like "disjunction elimination".



                      If this isn't an exercise but rather an original proof, then the point of the proof is to convince other mathematicians through your writing that your theorem is true. They will be able to follow your logic without adding in that extra step, as long as your writing is clear enough.






                      share|cite|improve this answer

























                        up vote
                        2
                        down vote













                        This is a somewhat subjective thing, so it's difficult to have a definitive answer. Here is my personal take: it depends on the point of your exercise. If the point of your current book / chapter / exercise is to be explicit about every single logical step, then yes you would need to state that deduction explicitly. If the point is almost anything else, then it may be assumed as obvious, and you will not have to use terms like "disjunction elimination".



                        If this isn't an exercise but rather an original proof, then the point of the proof is to convince other mathematicians through your writing that your theorem is true. They will be able to follow your logic without adding in that extra step, as long as your writing is clear enough.






                        share|cite|improve this answer























                          up vote
                          2
                          down vote










                          up vote
                          2
                          down vote









                          This is a somewhat subjective thing, so it's difficult to have a definitive answer. Here is my personal take: it depends on the point of your exercise. If the point of your current book / chapter / exercise is to be explicit about every single logical step, then yes you would need to state that deduction explicitly. If the point is almost anything else, then it may be assumed as obvious, and you will not have to use terms like "disjunction elimination".



                          If this isn't an exercise but rather an original proof, then the point of the proof is to convince other mathematicians through your writing that your theorem is true. They will be able to follow your logic without adding in that extra step, as long as your writing is clear enough.






                          share|cite|improve this answer













                          This is a somewhat subjective thing, so it's difficult to have a definitive answer. Here is my personal take: it depends on the point of your exercise. If the point of your current book / chapter / exercise is to be explicit about every single logical step, then yes you would need to state that deduction explicitly. If the point is almost anything else, then it may be assumed as obvious, and you will not have to use terms like "disjunction elimination".



                          If this isn't an exercise but rather an original proof, then the point of the proof is to convince other mathematicians through your writing that your theorem is true. They will be able to follow your logic without adding in that extra step, as long as your writing is clear enough.







                          share|cite|improve this answer













                          share|cite|improve this answer



                          share|cite|improve this answer











                          answered Jul 17 at 14:32









                          Arthur

                          98.9k793175




                          98.9k793175






















                               

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