Abstract
This paper presents a principle for using locations in logical expressions to guide the process of building proofs. Using a sequent-style presentation of theorem provers, we annotate the inference rules to specify an algorithm that associates the construction of a proof tree to a location within a goal sequent. This principle provides a natural and effective use of the mouse in the user-interface of computer proof assistants. The implementation of the algorithm in a variety of theorem provers is discussed.
Keywords
- Inference Rule
- Induction Rule
- Logical Connective
- Proof Assistant
- Proof Tree
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.
This work was supported in part by the “Types for Proofs and Programs” Esprit Basic Research Action, by SERC grant GR/G 33837 and a grant from DSTO Australia.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.
Buying options
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
A. Bonadio, E. Warren. Theorist Reference Manual, Prescience Corp. 814 Castro St. San Francisco, 1989
G. Boudol “Computational semantics of term rewriting systems”, in Algebraic Methods in Semantics, M. Nivat, J. C. Reynolds eds., Cambridge University Press, 1985.
“The Centaur 1.3 Manual”, I. Jacobs, ed., available from INRIA-Sophia-Antipolis, January 1993.
G. Dowek, A. Felty, H. Herbelin, G. Huet, C. Paulin-Mohring, B. Werner, The Coq Proof Assistant User's Guide, INRIA Technical Report no. 134, December 1991.
A. Felty, Specifying and Implementing Theorem Provers in a Higher-Order Logic Programming Language, PhD Thesis, University of Pennsylvania, August 1989.
J. Grundy, “Window Inference in the HOL System”, in Proceeding of the 1991 International Workshop on the HOL Theorem Proving System and its Applications, M. Archer, J. J. Joyce, K. N. Levitt, P. J. Windley, eds., IEEE Computer Society Press, 1991.
M.J.C. Gordon, “HOL: A Proof Generating System for Higher-Order Logic”, in VLSI Specification, Verification and Synthesis, G. Birtwistle, P. A. Subrahmanyam, eds., Kluwer Academic Publishers, 1988.
L.C. Paulson, “Isabelle: The next 700 theorem provers”, in Logic and Computer Science, P. Odifreddi, ed., pp. 361–386, Academic Press, 1990.
B. W. Char et al., MAPLE: reference manual: 5th edition, Springer-Verlag, 1992.
R.L. Constable, S.F. Allen, H.M. Bromley, W.R. Cleaveland, J.F. Cremer, R.W. Harper, D.J. Howe, T.B. Knoblock, N.P. Mendler, P. Panangaden, J.T. Sasaki, J.T.Smith, Implementing Mathematics with the Nuprl Proof Development System Prentice-Hall, 1986.
Paracomp Inc. Milo User's Guide, 123 Townsend St., Suite 310, San Francisco, 1988.
L. Paulson, Logic and computation: interactive proof with Cambridge LCF, Cambridge University Press, 1987.
G. Sundholm, “Systems of Deduction”, in Handbook of Philosophical Logic, Vol. I, D. Gabbay and F. Guenthner, eds., pp. 133–188, D. Reidel Publishing Company, 1983
B. Ritchie, The design and implementation of an interactive proof editor, PhD Thesis, University of Edinburgh, Nov. 1988. G. Sundholm, “Systems of Deduction”, in Handbook of Philosophical Logic,Vol. I, D. Gabbay, F. Guenthner, eds., D. Reidel Publishing Company, 1983.
M.E. Szabo, G. Gentzen, The Collected papers of Gerhard Gentzen, North-Holland, 1969.
L. Théry, Y. Bertot, G. Kahn, “Real Theorem Provers Deserve Real User-Interfaces”, in Proceedings of the Fifth ACM SIGSOFT Symposium on Software Development Environments, Tyson's Corner, Va, USA, Software Engineering Notes, Vol. 17, no. 5, ACM Press, 1992.
S. Wolfram, Mathematica: a system for doing mathematics by computer, Addison-Wesley, 1988.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1994 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
About this paper
Cite this paper
Bertot, Y., Kahn, G., Théry, L. (1994). Proof by pointing. In: Hagiya, M., Mitchell, J.C. (eds) Theoretical Aspects of Computer Software. TACS 1994. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 789. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-57887-0_94
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-57887-0_94
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
Print ISBN: 978-3-540-57887-1
Online ISBN: 978-3-540-48383-0
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive