From 65438 to 0977, Wu Wenjun, a famous mathematician in China, and his students made a breakthrough in the mechanical proof of plane geometry theorem. This event is one of the landmark events in the history of Chinese mathematics, which has a far-reaching impact on promoting the development of mathematics in China and improving its international status.
Prior to this, the proof of geometric theorems has always been an important issue in the field of mathematics. The traditional proof method needs a lot of calculation and reasoning, which is not only time-consuming and laborious, but also easy to make mistakes. Therefore, it is always a hot issue in mathematics to study the proof method of geometric theorem.
Wu Wenjun and his students have been exploring and researching in this field for many years. They believe that the proof of geometric theorems should be based on axiomatic systems, rather than relying on personal observation and experimental results. Therefore, they put forward a proof method of geometric theorem based on axiomatic system, that is, the geometric theorem is transformed into a series of formal propositions, and then the correctness of these propositions is proved by logical reasoning and mathematical operation.
The core of this method is "mechanized proof", that is, using computers and other tools to automatically complete the proof process of geometric theorems. This method was still a cutting-edge technology at that time, but Wu Wenjun and his students thought it was the direction to prove geometric theorems in the future.
Wu Wenjun's contribution to the mechanization of mathematics.
China's traditional mathematics emphasizes constructiveness and algorithmic, pays attention to solving various problems raised in scientific experiments and production practice, and often expresses conclusions in the form of various principles. Wu Wenjun summarized China's traditional mathematics thought as mechanization thought, and pointed out that it was the essence of China's ancient mathematics.
In the 1970s, Wu Wenjun worked in a computer factory. He realized the great power of computers and keenly realized their great development potential. Wu Wenjun believes that computer, as a new tool, will be widely involved in mathematical research, so that mathematicians' intelligence can be brought into full play.
The rapid development of computer will certainly carry forward China's mechanization thought of traditional mathematics, and the development of mechanized mathematics will certainly make great contributions to the development of mathematics in China. The late Academician Cheng Minde believed that Wu Wenjun advocated the mechanization of mathematics, which was put forward from the strategic height of the development of mathematical science. The realization of mathematical mechanization will make great contributions to the revitalization and even revival of mathematics in China.