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To understand proof by contrapositive we must first understand what the contrapositive of a statement is.

Say there is a statement that says: If a then b.

Then the contrapositive of this statement is : If not b then not a.

Contrapositive proofs are designed on the fact that if the contrapositive of a statement is true then so is the statement.

Here is an example:

Prove that if a, b, and c are not sides of a right triangle and c is the longest side, then a2+b2≠c2a^2+b^2\ne c^2.

Let's take the contrapositive, this yields: if a2+b2=c2a^2+b^2 = c^2, then a, b, and c are sides of a right triangle where c is the longest side.

This is just the converse of the pythagorean theorem (Which is true), and so therefore the original statement was true.

Type a concept, like “slope” or “photosynthesis”.

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