hypothesis


In mathematics, a hypothesisMathworldPlanetmathPlanetmath is an unproven statement which is supported by all the available data and by many weaker results. An unproven mathematical statement is usually called a “conjecture”, and while experimentation can sometimes produce millions of examples to support a conjecture, usually nothing short of a proof can convince experts in the field. But when a conjecture is supported not only but all the available data but also by numerous weaker results, it is upgraded in label to a hypothesis. The most famous conjecture in mathematics is the Riemann hypothesisMathworldPlanetmath, which despite many attempts at a proof, is supported by many related results. The convexity conjecture, on the other hand, is considered “incompatible” with the n-tuples conjecture and more results appear to support the latter, thus neither is upgraded to hypothesis.

References

  • 1 R. Crandall & C. Pomerance, Prime NumbersMathworldPlanetmath: A Computational Perspective, Springer, NY, 2001: 1.2.4
Title hypothesis
Canonical name Hypothesis
Date of creation 2013-03-22 17:15:18
Last modified on 2013-03-22 17:15:18
Owner PrimeFan (13766)
Last modified by PrimeFan (13766)
Numerical id 6
Author PrimeFan (13766)
Entry type Definition
Classification msc 00A05