ProofWiki:About

$\mathsf{Pr} \infty \mathsf{fWiki}$ is dedicated to providing a place where people can take their knowledge of math proofs and share it online. Anyone can add or edit articles on math proofs from any field of mathematics.

$\mathsf{Pr} \infty \mathsf{fWiki}$ was started in April 2008, and is maintained by Joe with the help of Alec Cooper, prime.mover and Lord_Farin.

The more people we have supporting the project, the bigger and better it will become, so spread the word!

Manifesto

So, why another page dedicated to mathematical proofs, Aren't there enough of these sites on the web already?

Well okay, there are quite a few around, but this one will be special, as follows.

Completely connected

Every proof is to be connected via a link to every result which it depends upon.

Every concept is defined concisely in terms of simpler concepts which have also likewise been defined.

At base lie the axioms on which the entire edifice depends.

Fully detailed

Every proof is presented in full detail.

Every thought is presented separately.

Nothing is glossed over.

The intention is that anybody, with no prior knowledge or experience, should be able to select a random page and be able to understand it completely.

But why?

There is a lot of argument against what is perceived to be "spoon-feeding". The argument goes: you mustn't present proofs, you must make the aspiring mathematicians do all the work themselves, or they won't grow as mathematicians. If you do all the work for them, they won't be able to develop the mental muscle to generate their own proofs.

To which we say: fair enough. But mathematics is an enormous subject nowadays. Just to get to a level so as to be able to understand what the questions are requires either years of study or a lightning-fast brain.

Or, perhaps, a completely systematic exposition of the underlying basics that all mathematicians ought to be familiar with.

To which we say, Welcome, $\mathsf{Pr} \infty \mathsf{fWiki}$.

$\mathsf{Pr} \infty \mathsf{fWiki}$ Is Not Wikipedia

Wikipedia: WikiProject Mathematics is a completely different project from this one.

• $\mathsf{Pr} \infty \mathsf{fWiki}$ encourages personal views from the contributors.
• $\mathsf{Pr} \infty \mathsf{fWiki}$ encourages short pages with a small number of information on them. Ultimately, each page will contain one result, one concept or one process. Links are provided to related material.
• $\mathsf{Pr} \infty \mathsf{fWiki}$ wants to contribute towards the development of ideas. Documenting what exists is all very well, but everyone does that. We want to do new stuff.

• The only thing we do demand is rigor.