Law

noun
  • mathematics
    a universally accepted principle or rule that describes a particular mathematical relationship or property.
All terms

Description

In mathematics, a law refers to a universally accepted principle or rule that describes a particular mathematical relationship or property. These laws are typically proven truths, derived from axioms or basic assumptions, that hold under specific conditions.

For example, the Law of Sines is a fundamental relationship in trigonometry that relates the lengths of the sides of a triangle to the sines of its angles.

Similarly, the Commutative Law of addition states that the order in which you add numbers does not affect the result.

In mathematics, understanding and applying these laws is essential for problem-solving and for proving other mathematical theorems or propositions.

Related Terms

Theorem

A theorem is a statement that has been proven to be true within the framework of a mathematical system, based on the system's axioms and previously established theorems.

Axiom

An axiom, in mathematics and logic, is a statement or proposition that is regarded as being self-evidently true, without the need for proof. Axioms serve as the starting points for developing a mathematical theory. Different sets of axioms can give rise to different, but consistent, mathematical systems.

Postulate

A postulate, also known as an axiom, is a statement that is assumed to be true without proof. Postulates are the foundational assumptions upon which a mathematical or logical system is built. They serve as the starting points from which other truths can be logically deduced.