Semantic Guidance in Prover9
Using finite interpretations (models, algebras)
to guide the search for a proof.
Evaluating a Clause in an Interpretation
- If all the symbols in the clause are interpreted,
the clause evaluates to TRUE or to FALSE.
- It can be expensive: If the interpretation has
n elements, and the clause has v variables,
there are nv instances to consider.
Semantic Restrictions on Inference Rules
(old method)
- Example: one parent must be false in the interpretation.
- Problems:
- blocks very useful clauses
- frequently incompatible with simplification strategies
Semantic Guidance
Non-standard Uses of Semantic Guidance
- Generate a lot of FALSE identities as candidates
to replace a quasi-identity (Kinyon).