Used to complete a proof in technical books when one doesn' t mind a handwave, or to avoid one entirely. The complete phrase is: "The proof [or "the rest"] is left as an exercise for the reader." This comment *has* occasionally been attached to unsolved research problems by authors possessed of either an evil sense of humour or a vast faith in the capabilities of their audiences. [Jargon File] (1995-02-20)

In addition suitable contents:
[ 2 ] [ = ] [ ad ] [ ai ] [ al ] [ am ] [ an ] [ ar ] [ arc ] [ arg ] [ as ] [ at ] [ au ] [ av ] [ b ] [ be ] [ bi ] [ bo ] [ by ] [ ca ] [ cc ] [ ch ] [ ci ] [ co ] [ com ] [ comment ] [ complete ] [ de ] [ die ] [ do ] [ du ] [ ec ] [ ed ] [ ee ] [ er ] [ es ] [ et ] [ evil ] [ fi ] [ file ] [ fo ] [ for ] [ h ] [ handwave ] [ hn ] [ hr ] [ hu ] [ humour ] [ id ] [ ie ] [ il ] [ in ] [ io ] [ ir ] [ is ] [ it ] [ J ] [ Jargon File ] [ Lex ] [ li ] [ lv ] [ ly ] [ mm ] [ mo ] [ mod ] [ module ] [ mp ] [ ms ] [ na ] [ nc ] [ ne ] [ ni ] [ ns ] [ om ] [ pa ] [ ph ] [ pl ] [ pr ] [ proof ] [ query ] [ rc ] [ re ] [ ro ] [ se ] [ search problem ] [ si ] [ sn ] [ so ] [ st ] [ T ] [ th ] [ to ] [ tt ] [ um ] [ va ] [ ve ] [ vi ] [ wav ]