3 ms·
This result is almost certainly bullshit, but there is nothing wrong in principle with a non constructive proof. Sometimes it is much easier to prove a counter
by sebzim4500 4y ago
This result is almost certainly bullshit, but there is nothing wrong in principle with a non constructive proof.
Sometimes it is much easier to prove a counterexample exists than to demonstrate that a specific number is a counterexample.
Here's the canonical example of this:
We want to show that there exists irrational numbers a, b s.t. a^b is rational (with b != 0).
If sqrt(2) ^ sqrt(2) is rational then we are done. Otherwise, (sqrt(2) ^ sqrt(2)) ^ sqrt(2) = 2 so that is a counterexample.
In this case, it is possible to prove that sqrt(2) ^ sqrt(2) is irrational, but this requires much more work.