Instantiation of Existentially Quantified Variables in Inductive Specification Proofs

Abstract. We present an automatic approach for instantiating existentially quantified variables in inductive specifications proofs. Our approach uses first-order meta-variables in place of existentially quantified variables and combines logical proof search with rippling techniques. We avoid the non-termination problems which usually occur in the presence of existentially quantified variables. Moreover, we are able to synthesize conditional substitutions for the meta-variables. We illustrate our approach by discussing the specification of the integer square root.

• Type: Conference
• Year: 1998
• Where: AISC
• Authors: Brigitte Pientka, Christoph Kreitz
• Keywords: AISC 1998, Artificial Intelligence, Combines Logical Proof, Existentially Quantified, Inductive Specifications Proofs