Mathematical logic
Mathematical logic is the study of logic within mathematics . Major subareas include model theory , proof theory , set theory , and recursion theory . Research in mathematical logic commonly addresses the mathematical properties of formal systems of logic such as their expressive or deductive power. However, it can also include uses of logic to characterize correct mathematical reasoning or to establish foundations of mathematics . Since its inception, mathematical logic has both contributed to, and has been motivated by, the study of foundations of mathematics. This study began in the late 19th century with the development of axiomatic frameworks for geometry , arithmetic , and analysis . In the early 20th century it was shaped by David Hilbert 's program to prove the consistency of foundational theories. Results of Kurt Gödel , Gerhard Gentzen , and others provided partial resolution to the program, and clarified the issues involved in proving consis