noun

theorem

THEE-uh-ruhm/ˈθiːərəm/

A statement proved by reasoning from accepted principles.

The notebook illustrates the Pythagorean theorem.

Notebook displays clean correct Pythagorean theorem: right triangle with legs labeled a and b and hypotenuse c, right-angle square at corner, beneath exactly a² + b² = c² and small checkmark.

Etymology

theoremGreeksight; proposition to be proved

The Greek ancestor literally meant “that which is looked at.” In Euclid it named a proposition to be proved, connecting an object of contemplation with the mathematical statement established by proof.

In context

nptelhrd18:59

There is a theorem by mathematician called S.M. Ulam and that theorem was proved in 1930.

Mod-03 Lec-09 Extension of measure

More examples

She proved the theorem by contradiction.
The textbook gives two proofs of the same theorem.
He applied the theorem to the geometric problem.

Forms

theorem · theorems

Similar words

axiom: An axiom is accepted as a starting point; a theorem is proved from such premises.
conjecture: A conjecture is proposed but unproved; a theorem has an accepted proof within its system.