110 research outputs found
Cylindrical algebraic decomposition with equational constraints
Cylindrical Algebraic Decomposition (CAD) has long been one of the most
important algorithms within Symbolic Computation, as a tool to perform
quantifier elimination in first order logic over the reals. More recently it is
finding prominence in the Satisfiability Checking community as a tool to
identify satisfying solutions of problems in nonlinear real arithmetic.
The original algorithm produces decompositions according to the signs of
polynomials, when what is usually required is a decomposition according to the
truth of a formula containing those polynomials. One approach to achieve that
coarser (but hopefully cheaper) decomposition is to reduce the polynomials
identified in the CAD to reflect a logical structure which reduces the solution
space dimension: the presence of Equational Constraints (ECs).
This paper may act as a tutorial for the use of CAD with ECs: we describe all
necessary background and the current state of the art. In particular, we
present recent work on how McCallum's theory of reduced projection may be
leveraged to make further savings in the lifting phase: both to the polynomials
we lift with and the cells lifted over. We give a new complexity analysis to
demonstrate that the double exponent in the worst case complexity bound for CAD
reduces in line with the number of ECs. We show that the reduction can apply to
both the number of polynomials produced and their degree.Comment: Accepted into the Journal of Symbolic Computation. arXiv admin note:
text overlap with arXiv:1501.0446
A "Piano Movers" Problem Reformulated
It has long been known that cylindrical algebraic decompositions (CADs) can
in theory be used for robot motion planning. However, in practice even the
simplest examples can be too complicated to tackle. We consider in detail a
"Piano Mover's Problem" which considers moving an infinitesimally thin piano
(or ladder) through a right-angled corridor.
Producing a CAD for the original formulation of this problem is still
infeasible after 25 years of improvements in both CAD theory and computer
hardware. We review some alternative formulations in the literature which use
differing levels of geometric analysis before input to a CAD algorithm. Simpler
formulations allow CAD to easily address the question of the existence of a
path. We provide a new formulation for which both a CAD can be constructed and
from which an actual path could be determined if one exists, and analyse the
CADs produced using this approach for variations of the problem.
This emphasises the importance of the precise formulation of such problems
for CAD. We analyse the formulations and their CADs considering a variety of
heuristics and general criteria, leading to conclusions about tackling other
problems of this form.Comment: 8 pages. Copyright IEEE 201
Truth Table Invariant Cylindrical Algebraic Decomposition by Regular Chains
A new algorithm to compute cylindrical algebraic decompositions (CADs) is
presented, building on two recent advances. Firstly, the output is truth table
invariant (a TTICAD) meaning given formulae have constant truth value on each
cell of the decomposition. Secondly, the computation uses regular chains theory
to first build a cylindrical decomposition of complex space (CCD) incrementally
by polynomial. Significant modification of the regular chains technology was
used to achieve the more sophisticated invariance criteria. Experimental
results on an implementation in the RegularChains Library for Maple verify that
combining these advances gives an algorithm superior to its individual
components and competitive with the state of the art
Formulating problems for real algebraic geometry
We discuss issues of problem formulation for algorithms in real algebraic
geometry, focussing on quantifier elimination by cylindrical algebraic
decomposition. We recall how the variable ordering used can have a profound
effect on both performance and output and summarise what may be done to assist
with this choice. We then survey other questions of problem formulation and
algorithm optimisation that have become pertinent following advances in CAD
theory, including both work that is already published and work that is
currently underway. With implementations now in reach of real world
applications and new theory meaning algorithms are far more sensitive to the
input, our thesis is that intelligently formulating problems for algorithms,
and indeed choosing the correct algorithm variant for a problem, is key to
improving the practical use of both quantifier elimination and symbolic real
algebraic geometry in general.Comment: To be presented at The "Encuentros de \'Algebra Computacional y
Aplicaciones, EACA 2014" (Meetings on Computer Algebra and Applications) in
Barcelon
Choosing a variable ordering for truth-table invariant cylindrical algebraic decomposition by incremental triangular decomposition
Cylindrical algebraic decomposition (CAD) is a key tool for solving problems
in real algebraic geometry and beyond. In recent years a new approach has been
developed, where regular chains technology is used to first build a
decomposition in complex space. We consider the latest variant of this which
builds the complex decomposition incrementally by polynomial and produces CADs
on whose cells a sequence of formulae are truth-invariant. Like all CAD
algorithms the user must provide a variable ordering which can have a profound
impact on the tractability of a problem. We evaluate existing heuristics to
help with the choice for this algorithm, suggest improvements and then derive a
new heuristic more closely aligned with the mechanics of the new algorithm
The Potential and Challenges of CAD with Equational Constraints for SC-Square
Cylindrical algebraic decomposition (CAD) is a core algorithm within Symbolic
Computation, particularly for quantifier elimination over the reals and
polynomial systems solving more generally. It is now finding increased
application as a decision procedure for Satisfiability Modulo Theories (SMT)
solvers when working with non-linear real arithmetic. We discuss the potentials
from increased focus on the logical structure of the input brought by the SMT
applications and SC-Square project, particularly the presence of equational
constraints. We also highlight the challenges for exploiting these: primitivity
restrictions, well-orientedness questions, and the prospect of incrementality.Comment: Accepted into proceedings of MACIS 201
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