Accused of cheating because math proof is similar to online solution I am taking a math course this semester and the problems that are given to us on a weekly basis require less than half a page to solve. The path to the proof is relatively straightforward, using the things we learned in class. However, my professor is accusing me of cheating because my proofs look very similar to online solutions. I don't know what to do because the proofs do look similar, even if they aren't word for word, but I wouldn't know any other way of solving them using the information we learned in the course.
Because the problems were relatively simple, there doesn't seem to be many places where I could &quot;branch&quot; off and do something completely different from what can be found online. What do you think is the best course of action in the face of this allegation?
I'll assume here that you didn't cheat, nor go outside the bounds of what is acceptable in your course.
The path, hopefully successful, is just to insist that you didn't cheat and keep on insisting on it. Don't try to &quot;prove&quot; that you didn't cheat. That isn't your job and will probably lead nowhere, or even to some &quot;gotcha moment&quot;. If you didn't cheat, say that and keep saying it.
If your work process was that you solved the problem on your own using course materials and your notes, then say that.
No one can, of course, guarantee that this or anything will be successful. If offered a follow up, possibly an oral question, consider taking it.
But accusations need to be proved, not assumed.
Good luck. The world isn't necessarily fair.