UK TeX FAQ -- question label proof

### Proof environment

It was long thought impossible to make a `proof` environment which automatically includes an ‘end-of-proof’ symbol. Some proofs end in displayed maths; others do not. If the input file contains `...`\``]`` `\``end{proof}` then LaTeX finishes off the displayed maths and gets ready for a new line before it reads any instructions connected with ending the proof, so the code is very tricky. You can insert the symbol by hand, but the (apparently) original ‘automatic’ solution came with Paul Taylor’s QED.

Nowadays, the ntheorem package now solves the problem for LaTeX users: it provides an automatic way of signalling the end of a proof.

The AMSLaTeX package amsthm also provides a `proof` environment that does the job; though you need to insert a `\``qedhere` command if the proof ends with a displayed equation:

>     \begin{proof}
>       text...
>       \begin{equation*}
>         maths... \tag*{\qedhere}
>       \end{equation*}
>     \end{proof}

The `\``tag*{`\``qedhere`}` construction may be used in any of AMSLaTeX’s numbering environments.

`amsthm.sty`
  Distributed as part of the AMSLaTeX bundle macros/latex/required/amslatex (or browse the directory); catalogue entry
`ntheorem.sty`
  macros/latex/contrib/ntheorem (or browse the directory); catalogue entry

This answer last edited: 2011-03-09

This question on the Web: http://www.tex.ac.uk/cgi-bin/texfaq2html?label=proof