conjecture

Everyday

1. A conjecture is a guess or opinion formed without full proof. tree →
2. To conjecture is to guess or suppose something when you do not have all the facts. tree →
3. (maths) A conjecture is a statement mathematicians think is true but have not yet proved. tree →

In the lessons

In maths lessons pupils make a conjecture from patterns («I think all even numbers end in 0, 2, 4, 6 or 8») and then test it. In stories and news it means a guess. Phrases: «pure conjecture», «make a conjecture», «a matter of conjecture».

Examples

• My conjecture is that the next number in the pattern is 20. tree →
• Without evidence, what you say is just conjecture. tree →
• Scientists conjectured that the planet had water. tree →
• Test your conjecture with more examples. tree →
• How the stones got there is still a matter of conjecture. tree →
• A famous conjecture says every even number bigger than 2 is the sum of two prime numbers. tree →
• No one knew who the dead stranger was, they could not even form a conjecture; the fragments of wreckage gave no clue to the matter. tree →

Note

In maths, a conjecture becomes a «theorem» when it is proved. One counterexample shows a conjecture is false. Formal; everyday words: «guess», «hunch», «theory».

In Jewish tradition

In maths lessons pupils make a conjecture from patterns («I think all even numbers end in 0, 2, 4, 6 or 8») and then test it. In stories and news it means a guess. Phrases: «pure conjecture», «make a conjecture», «a matter of conjecture».

Examples

• I shall not venture to conjecture. (Mordell, The Origin of Letters and Numerals according to Sefer Yetzirah (1914)) tree →

Note

In maths, a conjecture becomes a «theorem» when it is proved. One counterexample shows a conjecture is false. Formal; everyday words: «guess», «hunch», «theory».