Skolem reduction classes

1975 ◽  
Vol 40 (1) ◽  
pp. 62-68 ◽  
Author(s):  
Warren D. Goldfarb ◽  
Harry R. Lewis
Keyword(s):  
Decision Problem ◽  
Atomic Formula ◽  
Complex Situation ◽  
Quantification Theory ◽  
Reduction Class

Among the earliest and best-known theorems on the decision problem is Skolem's result [7] that the class of all closed formulas with prefixes of the form ∀···∀∃···∃ is a reduction class for satisfiability for the whole of quantification theory. This result can be refined in various ways. If the Skolem prefix alone is considered, the best result [8] is that the ∀∀∀∃ class is a reduction class, for Gödel [3], Kalmár [4], and Schütte [6] showed the ∀∀∃···∃ class to be solvable. The purpose of this paper is to describe the more complex situation that arises when (Skolem) formulas are restricted with respect to the arguments of their atomic subformulas. Before stating our theorem, we must introduce some notation.Let x, y1, y2, be distinct variables (we shall use v1, v2, ··· and w1, w2, ··· as metavariables ranging over these variables), and for each i ≥ 1 let Y(i) be the set {y1, ···, yi}. An atomic formula Pv1 ··· vk will be said to be {v1, ···, vk}-based. For any n ≥ 1, p ≥ 1, and any subsets Y1, ··· Yp of Y(n), let C(n, Y1, ···, Yp) be the class of all those closed formulas with prefix ∀y1 ··· ∀yn∃x such that each atomic subformula not containing the variable x is Yi-based for some i, 1 ≤ i ≤ p.

Conservative reduction classes of Krom formulas

1982 ◽  
Vol 47 (1) ◽  
pp. 110-130 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stål O. Aanderaa ◽  
Egon Börger ◽  
Harry R. Lewis
Keyword(s):  
Normal Form ◽  
Decision Problem ◽  
Conjunctive Normal Form ◽  
Satisfiability Problem ◽  
Quantification Theory ◽  
Finite Models ◽  
Reduction Class

AbstractA Krom formula of pure quantification theory is a formula in conjunctive normal form such that each conjunct is a disjunction of at most two atomic formulas or negations of atomic formulas. Every class of Krom formulas that is determined by the form of their quantifier prefixes and which is known to have an unsolvable decision problem for satisfiability is here shown to be a conservative reduction class. Therefore both the general satisfiability problem, and the problem of satisfiability in finite models, can be effectively reduced from arbitrary formulas to Krom formulas of these several prefix types.

On formulas with valid cases

1956 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 148-148
Author(s):  
W. V. Quine
Keyword(s):  
Atomic Formula ◽  
Quantification Theory ◽  
Truth Value ◽  
The One ◽  
Do So

Commonly, when we succeed in showing a formula of quantification theory to be consistent, we do so by producing a true interpretation. Sometimes we achieve the same effect without even exceeding the resources of quantification theory itself: we show a formula consistent by producing a valid formula from it by substitution. Example: ‘(∃x)Fx ⊃ (x)(∃y) (Gxy ▪ Fy)’ is seen consistent by noting its valid substitution case ‘(∃x)Fx ⊃ (x)(∃y)(Fx ∨ Fy ▪ Fy)’. How generally available is this latter method? I shall show that it is available if and only if the formula whose consistency is shown is satisfiable in a one-member universe.The “only if” part is immediate. For, if ψ is a substitution case of ϕ, then ϕ is satisfiable wherever ψ is; and ψ, if valid, is satisfiable in a one-member universe.Conversely, suppose a true interpretation of ϕ in a one-member universe. Each predicate letter of ϕ is thereby interpreted outright as true or false, in effect, since there is no varying the values of ‘x’, ‘y’, etc. Now form ψ from ϕ by substitution as follows: change each atomic formula ϕi(e.g. ‘Fx’, ‘Fy’, ‘Gxy’) to ⌜ϕi⊃ϕi⌝ if its predicate letter is one that was interpreted as true, or to ⌜ϕi ▪ − ⊃ϕi⌝ if its predicate letter is one that was interpreted as false. Clearly ψ under all interpretations even in large universes, will receive the truth value that ϕ received under the supposed interpretation in the one-member universe. So ψ is valid.

The finite controllability of the Maslov case

1974 ◽  
Vol 39 (3) ◽  
pp. 509-518 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stål Aanderaa ◽  
Warren D. Goldfarb
Keyword(s):  
Atomic Formula ◽  
Finite Model ◽  
Quantification Theory ◽  
Maslov Class

In this paper we show the finite controllability of the Maslov class of formulas of pure quantification theory (specified immediately below). That is, we show that every formula in the class has a finite model if it has a model at all. A signed atomic formula is an atomic formula or the negation of one; a binary disjunction is a disjunction of the form A1 ⋁ A2, where A1 and A2 are signed atomic formulas; and a formula is Krom if it is a conjunction of binary disjunctions. Finally, a prenex formula is Maslov if its prefix is ∃···∃∀···∀∃···∃ and its matrix is Krom.A number of decidability results have been obtained for formulas classified along these lines. It is a consequence of Theorems 1.7 and 2.5 of [4] that the following are reduction classes (for satisfiability): the class of Skolem formulas, that is, prenex formulas with prefixes ∀···∀∃···∃, whose matrices are conjunctions one conjunct of which is a ternary disjunction and the rest of which are binary disjunctions; and the class of Skolem formulas containing identity whose matrices are Krom. Moreover, the following results (for pure quantification theory, that is, without identity) are derived in [1] and [2]: the classes of prenex formulas with Krom matrices and prefixes ∃∀∃∀, or prefixes ∀∃∃∀, or prefixes ∀∃∀∀ are all reduction classes, while formulas with Krom matrices and prefixes ∀∃∀ comprise a decidable class. The latter class, however, is not finitely controllable, for it contains formulas satisfiable only over infinite universes. The Maslov class was shown decidable by Maslov in [11].

Prefix classes of Krom formulas

1973 ◽  
Vol 38 (4) ◽  
pp. 628-642 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stål O. Aanderaa ◽  
Harry R. Lewis
Keyword(s):  
Decision Problem ◽  
Decision Problems ◽  
Quantification Theory

In this paper we consider decision problems for subclasses of Kr, the class of those formulas of pure quantification theory whose matrices are conjunctions of binary disjunctions of signed atomic formulas. If each of Q1, …, Qn is an ∀ or an ∃, then let Q1 … Qn be the class of those closed prenex formulas with prefixes of the form (Q1x1)… (Qnxn). Our results may then be stated as follows:Theorem 1. The decision problem for satisfiability is solvable for the class ∀∃∀ ∩ Kr.Theorem 2. The classes ∀∃∀∀ ∩ Kr and ∀∀∃∀ ∩ Kr are reduction classes for satisfiability.Maslov [11] showed that the class ∃…∃∀…∀∃…∃ ∩ Kr is solvable, while the first author [1, Corollary 4] showed ∃∀∃∀ ∩ Kr and ∀∃∃∀ ∩ Kr to be reduction classes. Thus the only prefix subclass of Kr for which the decision problem remains open is ∀∃∀∃…∃∩ Kr.The class ∀∃∀ ∩ Kr, though solvable, contains formulas whose only models are infinite (e.g., (∀x)(∃u)(∀y)[(Pxy ∨ Pyx) ∧ (¬ Pxy ∨ ¬Pyu)], which can be satisfied over the integers by taking P to be ≥). This is not the case for Maslov's class ∃…∃∀…∀∃…∃ ∩ Kr, which contains no formula whose only models are infinite ([2] [5]).Theorem 1 was announced in [1, Theorem 4], but the proof sketched there is defective: Lemma 4 (p. 17) is incorrectly stated. Theorem 2 was announced in [9].

On the Gödel class with identity

1981 ◽  
Vol 46 (2) ◽  
pp. 354-364 ◽  
Author(s):  
Warren D. Goldfarb
Keyword(s):  
Recursive Function ◽  
Decision Problem ◽  
Decision Procedure ◽  
Finite Model ◽  
Quantification Theory ◽  
Free Variables ◽  
Primitive Recursive

The Gödel Class is the class of prenex formulas of pure quantification theory whose prefixes have the form ∀y1∀y2∃x1 … ∃xn. The Gödel Class with Identity, or GCI, is the corresponding class of formulas of quantification theory extended by inclusion of the identity-sign “ = ”. Although the Gödel Class has long been kndwn to be solvable, the decision problem for the Gödel Class with Identity is open. In this paper we prove that there is no primitive recursive decision procedure for the GCI, or, indeed, for the subclass of the GCI containing just those formulas with prefixes ∀y1∀y2∃x.Throughout this paper we take quantification theory to include, aside from logical signs, infinitely many k-place predicate letters for each k > 0, but no function signs or constants. Moreover, by “prenex formula” we include only those without free variables. A decision procedure for a class of formulas is a recursive function that carries a formula in the class to 0 if the formula is satisfiable and to 1 if not. A class is solvable iff there exists a decision procedure for it. A class is finitely controllable iff every satisfiable formula in the class has a finite model. Since we speak only of effectively specified classes, finite controllability implies solvability (but not conversely).The GCI has a curious history. Gödel showed the Gödel Class (without identity) solvable in 1932 [4] and finitely controllable in 1933 [5].

The decision problem for formulas in prenex conjunctive normal form with binary disjunctions

1970 ◽  
Vol 35 (2) ◽  
pp. 210-216 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. R. Krom
Keyword(s):  
Normal Form ◽  
Positive Solution ◽  
Decision Problem ◽  
Conjunctive Normal Form ◽  
Decision Problems ◽  
First Order ◽  
Reduction Class ◽  
Image Position ◽  
Positive Integers ◽  
Order Predicate Calculus

In [8] S. J. Maslov gives a positive solution to the decision problem for satisfiability of formulas of the formin any first-order predicate calculus without identity where h, k, m, n are positive integers, αi, βi are signed atomic formulas (atomic formulas or negations of atomic formulas), and ∧, ∨ are conjunction and disjunction symbols, respectively (cf. [6] for a related solvable class). In this paper we show that the decision problem is unsolvable for formulas that are like those considered by Maslov except that they have prefixes of the form ∀x∃y1 … ∃yk∀z. This settles the decision problems for all prefix classes of formulas for formulas that are in prenex conjunctive normal form in which all disjunctions are binary (have just two terms). In our concluding section we report results on decision problems for related classes of formulas including classes of formulas in languages with identity and we describe some special properties of formulas in which all disjunctions are binary including a property that implies that any proof of our result, that a class of formulas is a reduction class for satisfiability, is necessarily indirect. Our proof is based on an unsolvable combinatorial tag problem.

A decidable subclass of the minimal Gödel class with identity

1984 ◽  
Vol 49 (4) ◽  
pp. 1253-1261 ◽  
Author(s):  
Warren D. Goldfarb ◽  
Yuri Gurevich ◽  
Saharon Shelah
Keyword(s):  
Decision Problem ◽  
Existential Quantifier ◽  
Quantification Theory

The minimal Gödel class with identity (MGCI) is the class of closed, prenex quantificational formulas whose prefixes have the form ∀x1∀x2∃x3 and whose matrices contain arbitrary predicate letters and the identity sign “=”, but contain no function signs or individual constants. The MGCI was shown undecidable (for satisfiability) in 1983 [Go2]; this both refutes a claim of Gödel's [Gö, p. 443] and settles the decision problem for all prefix-classes of quantification theory with identity.In this paper, we show the decidability of a natural subclass of the MGCI. The formulas in this subclass can be thought of as exploiting only half of the power of the existential quantifier. That is, since an MGCI formula has prefix ∀x1∀x2∃x3, in general its truth in a model requires for any elements a and b, the existence of both a witness for and a witness for . The formulas we consider demand less: they require, for any elements a and b, a witness for the unordered pair {a, b}, that is, a witness either for or for .

Special Cases of the Decision Problem

1951 ◽  
Vol 49 (22) ◽  
pp. 203-221 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alonzo Church
Keyword(s):  
Decision Problem ◽  
Special Cases

scholarly journals Algebraic Solution to Constrained Bi-Criteria Decision Problem of Rating Alternatives through Pairwise Comparisons

Mathematics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 303
Author(s):  
Nikolai Krivulin
Keyword(s):  
Decision Problem ◽  
Optimization Problem ◽  
Pareto Frontier ◽  
Sufficient Conditions ◽  
Approximation Error ◽  
Optimal Solution ◽  
Algebraic Solution ◽  
Pairwise Comparisons ◽  
Logarithmic Scale ◽  
Idempotent Algebra

We consider a decision-making problem to evaluate absolute ratings of alternatives from the results of their pairwise comparisons according to two criteria, subject to constraints on the ratings. We formulate the problem as a bi-objective optimization problem of constrained matrix approximation in the Chebyshev sense in logarithmic scale. The problem is to approximate the pairwise comparison matrices for each criterion simultaneously by a common consistent matrix of unit rank, which determines the vector of ratings. We represent and solve the optimization problem in the framework of tropical (idempotent) algebra, which deals with the theory and applications of idempotent semirings and semifields. The solution involves the introduction of two parameters that represent the minimum values of approximation error for each matrix and thereby describe the Pareto frontier for the bi-objective problem. The optimization problem then reduces to a parametrized vector inequality. The necessary and sufficient conditions for solutions of the inequality serve to derive the Pareto frontier for the problem. All solutions of the inequality, which correspond to the Pareto frontier, are taken as a complete Pareto-optimal solution to the problem. We apply these results to the decision problem of interest and present illustrative examples.

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