Formalizing Moessner’s theorem and generalizations in Nuprl

Se ha publicado un artículo de razonamiento formalizado en Nuplr titulado Formalizing Moessner’s theorem and generalizations in Nuprl.

Sus autores son

Su resumen es

Moessner’s theorem describes a procedure for generating a sequence of n integer sequences that lead unexpectedly to the sequence of nth powers 1^n, 2^n, 3^n, \dots. Several generalizations of Moessner’s theorem exist. Recently, Kozen and Silva gave an algebraic proof of a general theorem that subsumes Moessner’s original theorem and its known generalizations. In this note, we describe the formalization of this theorem that the first author did in Nuprl. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first existing machine formalization. On the one hand, the formalization remains remarkably close to the original proof. On the other hand, it leads to new insights in the proof, pointing to small gaps and ambiguities that would never raise any objections in pen and pencil proofs, but which must be resolved in machine formalization.

Formalization in PVS of balancing properties necessary for the security of the Dolev-Yao cascade protocol model

Se ha publicado en el JFR un artículo de razonamiento formalizado en PVS titulado Formalization in PVS of balancing properties necessary for the security of the Dolev-Yao cascade protocol model.

Sus autores son Mauricio Ayala Rincón y Yuri Santos Rêgo (de la Univ. de Brasilia).

Su resumen es

In this work, we present an algebraic approach for modeling the two-party cascade protocol of Dolev-Yao and for fully formalizing its security in the specification language of the Prototype Verification System PVS. Although cascade protocols could be argued to be a very limited model, it should be stressed here that they are the basis of more sophisticated protocols of great applicability, such as those which allow treatment of multiparty, tuples, nonces, name-stamps, signatures, etc. In the current algebraic approach, steps of the protocol are modeled in a monoid freely generated by the cryptographic operators. Words in this monoid are specified as finite sequences and the whole protocol as a finite sequence of protocol steps, that are functions from pairs of users to sequences of cryptographic operators. In a previous work, assuming that for balanced protocols admissible words produced by a potential intruder should be balanced, a formalization of the characterization of security of this kind of protocols was given in PVS. In this work, the previously assumed property is also formalized, obtaining in this way a complete formalization which mathematically guarantees the security of these protocols. Despite such property being relatively easy to specify, obtaining a complete formalization requires a great amount of effort, because several algebraic properties, that are related to the preservation of the balancing property of the admissible language of the intruder, should be formalized in the granularity of the underlying data structure (of finite sequences used in the specification). Among these properties, the most complex are related to the notion of linkage property, which allows for a systematic analysis of words of the admissible language of a potential saboteur, showing how he/she is unable to isolate private keys of other users under the assumption of balanced protocols. The difficulties that can arise in conducting this formalization are also presented in this work.

La teorías PVS correspondientes se encuentran en aquí.

Proof assistant based on didactic considerations

Se ha publicado un artículo sobre el uso de sistemas de razonamiento en la enseñanza de la lógica titulado Proof assistant based on didactic considerations.

Sus autores son Jorge Pais y Álvaro Tasistro (de la Universidad ORT Uruguay, Uruguay).

Su resumen es

We consider some issues concerning the role of Formal Logic in Software Engineering education, which lead us to promote the learning of formal proof through extensive, appropriately guided practice. To this end, we propose to adopt Natural Deduction as proof system and to make use of an adequate proof assistant to carry out formal proof on machine. We discuss some necessary characteristics of such proof assistant and subsequently present the design and implementation of our own version of it. This incorporates several novel features, such as the display and edition of derivations as trees, the use of meta-theorems (derived rules) as lemmas, and the possibility of maintaining a set of draft trees that can be inserted into the main derivation as needed. The assistant checks the validity of each edition operation as performed. So far, it has been implemented for propositional logic and (quite satisfactorily) put into practice in courses of Logic for Software Engineering and Information Systems programs.

El artículo se ha publicado en Journal of Universal Computer Science.

Theory exploration for interactive theorem proving

Se ha publicado un artículo sobre automatización del razonamiento titulado Theory exploration for interactive theorem proving.

Su autora es Moa Johansson (de la Universidad Técnica Chalmers en Gotemburgo, Suecia).

Su resumen es

Theory exploration is an automated reasoning technique for discovering and proving interesting properties about some set of given functions, constants and datatypes. In this note we describe ongoing work on integrating the HipSpec theory exploration system with the interactive prover Isabelle. We believe that such an integration would be beneficial for several reasons. In an interactive proof attempt a natural application would be to allow the user to ask for some suggestions of new lemmas that might help the current proof development. Theory exploration may also be used to automatically generate and prove some basic lemmas as a first step in a new theory development. Furthermore, when the theory exploration system is used as a stand-alone system, it should output a checkable proofs, for instance for Isabelle, so that sessions can be saved for future use.

El trabajo se presentó el 22 de julio en el AI4FM 2013 (4th International Workshop on Artifical Intelligence for Formal Methods).

From Tarski to Hilbert

Se ha publicado un artículo de razonamiento aproximado en Coq sobre geometría titulado From Tarski to Hilbert.

Sus autores son Gabriel Braun y Julien Narboux (de la Universidad de Estrasburgo, Francia).

Su resumen es

In this paper, we report on the formal proof that Hilbert’s axiom system can be derived from Tarski’s system. For this purpose we mechanized the proofs of the first twelve chapters of Schwabauser, Szmielew and Tarski’s book: Metamathematische Methoden in der Geometrie. The proofs are checked formally within classical logic using the Coq proof assistant. The goal of this development is to provide clear foundations for other formalizations of geometry and implementations of decision procedures.

El trabajo se ha presentado en el ADG 2012 (Automated Deduction in Geometry 2012)

El código de las correspondientes teorías en Coq se encuentra aquí y aquí.