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Embedding complex decision procedures inside an interactive theorem prover

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Abstract

As is well known, it is important to enrich the basic deductive machinery of an interactive theorem prover with complex decision procedures. Previous work pointed out that one of the most difficult problems is the integration of these decision procedures with the rest of the system. In particular, they should be flexible enough to be effectively usable when building new proof strategies. This paper describes a hierarchical and modular structure of procedures which can be either invoked individually or jointly with the others. To each combination of procedures, there corresponds a proof strategy particularly effective for a given class of formulae. Moreover, the functionalities provided by the procedures can be exploited in an effective way by user-defined proof strategies, whose design and mechanization are therefore greatly simplified. The implementation of the procedures is described and the problems faced in embedding them inside the GETFOL system are discussed.

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Armando, A., Giunchiglia, E. Embedding complex decision procedures inside an interactive theorem prover. Ann Math Artif Intell 8, 475–502 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01530803

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