theorem

the·o·rem

noun \ˈthē-ə-rəm, ˈthir-əm\

Definition of THEOREM

1

: a formula, proposition, or statement in mathematics or logic deduced or to be deduced from other formulas or propositions

2

: an idea accepted or proposed as a demonstrable truth often as a part of a general theory : proposition <the theorem that the best defense is offense>

3

: stencil

4

: a painting produced especially on velvet by the use of stencils for each color

— the·o·rem·at·ic \ˌthē-ə-rə-ˈma-tik, ˌthir-ə-\ adjective

Origin of THEOREM

Late Latin theorema, from Greek theōrēma, from theōrein to look at, from theōros spectator, from thea act of seeing — more at theater

First Known Use: 1551

Other Mathematics and Statistics Terms

abscissa, denominator, divisor, equilateral, exponent, hypotenuse, logarithm, oblique, radii, rhomb

Rhymes with THEOREM

serum

theorem

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

In mathematics or logic, a statement whose validity has been established or proved. It consists of a hypothesis and a conclusion, beginning with certain assumptions that are necessary and sufficient to establish a result. A system of theorems that build on and augment each other constitutes a theory. Within any theory, however, only statements that are essential, important, or of special interest are called theorems. Less important statements, usually stepping-stones in proofs of more important results, are called lemmas. A statement proved as a direct consequence of a theorem is a corollary of the theorem. Some theorems (and even lemmas and corollaries) are singled out and given titles (e.g., Gödel's theorem, fundamental theorem of algebra, fundamental theorem of calculus, Pythagorean theorem).