Pseudomathematics

Pseudomathematics often contains mathematical fallacies whose executions are tied to elements of deceit rather than genuine, unsuccessful attempts at tackling a problem.

[5][6]: 47 Another notable case were "Fermatists", who plagued mathematical institutions with requests to check their proofs of Fermat's Last Theorem.

[1] Of Smith, De Morgan wrote: "He is beyond a doubt the ablest head at unreasoning, and the greatest hand at writing it, of all who have tried in our day to attach their names to an error.

During the 18th century, all scientific academies of Europe saw themselves besieged by circle-squarers, trisectors, duplicators, and perpetuum mobile designers, loudly clamoring for recognition of their epoch-making achievements.

[11]The term pseudomathematics has been applied to attempts in mental and social sciences to quantify the effects of what is typically considered to be qualitative.

Squaring the circle : the areas of this square and this circle are both equal to π . Since 1882, it has been known that this figure cannot be constructed in a finite number of steps with an idealized compass and straightedge . Nevertheless, "proofs" of such constructions were still published even 50 years later .