Math 5070 Spring 2005
Handout 4
How to write Mathematics
Jan Mandel
University of Colorado at Denver
January 2005
When the
mathematician would solve a
difficult problem, he first frees the equation of all incumbrances, and
reduces it to its simplest terms. - Henry D. Thoreau
These simple rules apply to all forms of mathematical writing
- from homeworks to exams to journal papers and books.
- When read aloud, the text and formulas must form
complete English
sentences. If you get lost, say aloud what you mean, then write it down.
- Every mathematical statement must be complete and
meaningful.
Avoid fragments.
- If a statement is something you want to prove or
something you
assume temporarily, e.g., to discuss possible cases or to get a
contradiction,
say so clearly. Otherwise, anything you put down must be a true
statement that follows from your up front assumptions.
- Write what your plan is. It will also help
you focus on what to do.
- There must be sufficient detail to verify your
argument. If you
do not
have the details, you have no way of knowing if what you wrote is
correct
or not. Keep the
level of detail uniform.
- If you are not sure about
something, even slightly, work out the details on a different sheet of
paper just for yourself, with utmost honesty, going
as deep as necessary. Decide later how much detail to include.
- Do not write irrelevant things just to fill paper
and
show you know something.
- Your argument should flow well. Make the reading
easy. Logical
and intuitive notation matters.
- Keep in mind what the problem is to make sure you
are not doing something else. Many problems are solved and proofs done
simply by understanding what is what.
- The state of mind when you are inventing a
solution is completely different from the mode of work when you are
writing the solution down and verifying it. Learn how to go back and forth between the two.