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Proof Levels

A proof can be given on various levels of detail.

• Lowest level (most details).
  • Very small reasoning steps.
  • Correctness can be checked by computer program.
  • Proofs become very large.
• Higher level (fewer details).
  • Larger reasoning steps.
  • Proof becomes shorter and manageable by humans.
  • Each step can be decomposed into finer steps.

A high-level proof is a map of a (more detailed but larger) low-level proof; it can be refined on demand.