# Proof by Contradiction > In a proof by contradiction, you assume the opposite of what you want to prove, and then build on this assumption with a sequence of logically correct steps that culminates in a patently false statement. Such a contradiction implies that the assumption can't be true, which proves the desired statement. --- Date: 20211015 Links to: [Mathematics MOC](Mathematics%20MOC.md) [Computer Science MOC](Computer%20Science%20MOC.md) Tags: References: * Algorithms Illuminated 2, pg 24 (chapter 8)