Skip to main content
Log in

Comparing parameter schemes for propositional reasoning: An empirical study

  • Published:
Journal of Automated Reasoning Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Complete propositional reasoning is impractical as a tool in artificial intelligence, because it is computationally intractable. Most current approaches to limited propositional reasoning cannot easily be adjusted to use more (or less) time to prove more (fewer) theorems when the task requires it. This difficulty can be solved byparameterizing the reasoner: designing in a ‘power dial’ giving the user fine control over cost and performance. System designers face the significant problem of choosing the best parameter scheme to use. This paper proposes an empirical methodology for comparing parameter schemes and illustrates its use in comparing eight such schemes for a given complete, resolution-based propositional reasoner. From the data, a clear choice emerges as the most preferable of the eight.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • ChangC.-L. and LeeR. C.,Symbolic Logic and Mechanical Theorem Proving, Academic Press, New York (1973).

    Google Scholar 

  • deKleerJ., ‘A comparison of ATMS and CSP techniques’, inProceedings of the eleventh International Joint Conference on Artificial Intelligence, pp. 290–296. Morgan Kaufmann, Palo Alto, CA (1989).

    Google Scholar 

  • GalilZ., ‘On resolution with clauses of bounded size’,SIAM Computing 6(3), 444–459 (1977).

    MATH  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  • Goldberg, A., ‘Average case complexity of the satisfiability problem’, inProc. Fourth Workshop on Automated Deduction, pp. 1–6 (1979).

  • HallR. J., LathropR. H., and KirkR. S., ‘A multiple representation approach to understanding the time behavior of digital circuits’, inProc. Sixth National Conference on Artificial Intelligence, pp. 799–803. Morgan Kaufman, Los Altos, CA (1987).

    Google Scholar 

  • Haralick, R. M. and Shapiro, L. G., ‘The consistent labelling problem: parts i and ii’,IEEE Trans. Pattern Anal. and Machine Intel. PAMI-1(2),PAMI-2(3) (1979, 1980).

  • LovelandD. W.,Automated Theorem Proving: A Logical Basis, Fundamental Studies in Computer Science, Vol. 6, North-Holland, Amsterdam (1978).

    Google Scholar 

  • MackworthA. K., ‘Consistency in networks of relations’,Artificial Intelligence 8, pp 99–118 (1977).

    Article  MATH  Google Scholar 

  • McAllester, D. A.,An Outlook on Truth Maintenance. Memorandom AIM-551. Artificial Intelligence Lab., Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1980).

  • MichalskiR. S. and WinstonP. H., ‘Variable precision logic’,Artificial Intelligence 29, 121–146 (1986).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • ReiterR. and deKleerJ., ‘Foundations of assumption-based truth maintenance systems: preliminary report’, inProc. Sixth National Conference on Artificial Intelligence, Morgan Kaufmann, Los Altos, CA (1987).

    Google Scholar 

  • RichC. ‘The layered architecture of a system for reasoning about programs’, inProc. Ninth International Joint Conference on Artificial Intelligence, pp. 540–546. Morgan Kaufman, Los Altos, CA (1985).

    Google Scholar 

  • StickelM. E. ‘AProlog technology theorem prover: implementation by an extendedProlog compiler’,J. Automated Reasoning 4 353–380 (1988).

    Article  MATH  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  • TisonP., ‘Generalization of consensus theory and application to the minimization of boolean functions’,IEEE Transactions on Electronic Computers EC-16(4), 446–456 (1967).

    MATH  Google Scholar 

  • UrquhartA., ‘Hard examples for resolution’,J. ACM 34, 1 209–219 (1987).

    Article  MATH  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Hall, R.J. Comparing parameter schemes for propositional reasoning: An empirical study. J Autom Reasoning 8, 367–394 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02341855

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02341855

Key words

Navigation