Axiom
Axioms are statements that you're allowed to assume are true to aid in the formulation of proofs. Depending on your audience, certain axioms may be so obvious that you don't need to mention them when they are used in a step of your proof. However, when a step is complicated, mention exactly which axiom or theorem you're using.
Here's a list of some typical axioms:
- The rules of algebra always apply. (If you do weird stuff, clarify it!)
- The set of integers is closed under addition, subtraction, and multiplication. (This means sums, differences, and products of integers are always integers!)
- All integers are either even or odd. (True because of the Division Algorithm!)
- If \(n\) is an integer, there is no integer between \(n\) and \(n+1.\)