Can We Understand This Proof? A Glimpse into Formalized Mathematics
2025-01-10
Stephen Wolfram delves into a long-standing mathematical puzzle: the proof of a surprisingly simple axiom for Boolean algebra. Generated using automated theorem proving, the proof is incredibly complex and remains incomprehensible to humans. The article explores the proof's intricacies, dissecting its 'machine code' level operations, and poses a challenge: to humanize this proof. It discusses the potential of Large Language Models (LLMs) to understand and simplify the proof, and the implications for the future of mathematics. The conclusion suggests that some mathematical proofs may inherently be uninterpretable, hinting that mathematics will increasingly resemble an experimental science.