Question

What is the difference between a postulate and a theorem?

Answer 1

A postulate is assumed to be true without proof. A theorem can be proved.

Answer 2

an example of a postulate is the transitive property of equality:-

If a = b and b = c then a = c.

(one might say that this is common sense)

Answer 3

A famous theorem is the Pythagoras theorem for right angled triangles.
- someone wrote a book containing 367 proofs of this one!

Answer 4

So postulates are conventions yeah?

Answer 5

Theorem — a mathematical statement that is proved using rigorous mathematical reasoning. In a mathematical paper, the term theorem is often reserved for the most important results.
Postulate — a statement that is assumed to be true without proof. These are the basic building blocks from which all theorems are proved

Answer 6

I dont think postulates are conventions - conventions can be defined as customs.

Answer 7

A postulate is like a conjecture... Not proven, but likely to be true. A theorem can be proven, and certain to be true. (PRPs or probable primes are "likely" to be prime, but not proven) on the other hand (proven primes, are certain to be primes, not just "likely) Just a quick comparison between the two.