Resolution with Symmetry Rule Applied to Linear Equations

This paper considers the length of resolution proofs when using Krishnamurthy's classic symmetry rules. We show that inconsistent linear equation systems of bounded width over a fixed finite field $\mathbb{F}_p$ with $p$ a prime have, in their standard encoding as CNFs, polynomial length resolutions when using the local symmetry rule (SRC-II). As a consequence it follows that the multipede instances for the graph isomorphism problem encoded as CNF formula have polynomial length resolution proofs. This contrasts exponential lower bounds for individualization-refinement algorithms on these graphs. For the Cai-F\"urer-Immerman graphs, for which Tor\'an showed exponential lower bounds for resolution proofs (SAT 2013), we also show that already the global symmetry rule (SRC-I) suffices to allow for polynomial length proofs.Comment: 18 pages, to be published in STACS 202

Exponential Separations Using Guarded Extension Variables

We study the complexity of proof systems augmenting resolution with inference rules that allow, given a formula ? in conjunctive normal form, deriving clauses that are not necessarily logically implied by ? but whose addition to ? preserves satisfiability. When the derived clauses are allowed to introduce variables not occurring in ?, the systems we consider become equivalent to extended resolution. We are concerned with the versions of these systems without new variables. They are called BC?, RAT?, SBC?, and GER?, denoting respectively blocked clauses, resolution asymmetric tautologies, set-blocked clauses, and generalized extended resolution. Each of these systems formalizes some restricted version of the ability to make assumptions that hold "without loss of generality," which is commonly used informally to simplify or shorten proofs. Except for SBC?, these systems are known to be exponentially weaker than extended resolution. They are, however, all equivalent to it under a relaxed notion of simulation that allows the translation of the formula along with the proof when moving between proof systems. By taking advantage of this fact, we construct formulas that separate RAT? from GER? and vice versa. With the same strategy, we also separate SBC? from RAT?. Additionally, we give polynomial-size SBC? proofs of the pigeonhole principle, which separates SBC? from GER? by a previously known lower bound. These results also separate the three systems from BC? since they all simulate it. We thus give an almost complete picture of their relative strengths

Exponential separations using guarded extension variables

We study the complexity of proof systems augmenting resolution with inference rules that allow, given a formula $\Gamma$ in conjunctive normal form, deriving clauses that are not necessarily logically implied by $\Gamma$ but whose addition to $\Gamma$ preserves satisfiability. When the derived clauses are allowed to introduce variables not occurring in $\Gamma$, the systems we consider become equivalent to extended resolution. We are concerned with the versions of these systems without new variables. They are called BC${}^-$, RAT${}^-$, SBC${}^-$, and GER${}^-$, denoting respectively blocked clauses, resolution asymmetric tautologies, set-blocked clauses, and generalized extended resolution. Each of these systems formalizes some restricted version of the ability to make assumptions that hold "without loss of generality," which is commonly used informally to simplify or shorten proofs. Except for SBC${}^-$, these systems are known to be exponentially weaker than extended resolution. They are, however, all equivalent to it under a relaxed notion of simulation that allows the translation of the formula along with the proof when moving between proof systems. By taking advantage of this fact, we construct formulas that separate RAT${}^-$ from GER${}^-$ and vice versa. With the same strategy, we also separate SBC${}^-$ from RAT${}^-$. Additionally, we give polynomial-size SBC${}^-$ proofs of the pigeonhole principle, which separates SBC${}^-$ from GER${}^-$ by a previously known lower bound. These results also separate the three systems from BC${}^-$ since they all simulate it. We thus give an almost complete picture of their relative strengths

Automated Reasoning

This volume, LNAI 13385, constitutes the refereed proceedings of the 11th International Joint Conference on Automated Reasoning, IJCAR 2022, held in Haifa, Israel, in August 2022. The 32 full research papers and 9 short papers presented together with two invited talks were carefully reviewed and selected from 85 submissions. The papers focus on the following topics: Satisfiability, SMT Solving,Arithmetic; Calculi and Orderings; Knowledge Representation and Jutsification; Choices, Invariance, Substitutions and Formalization; Modal Logics; Proofs System and Proofs Search; Evolution, Termination and Decision Prolems. This is an open access book

LIPIcs, Volume 251, ITCS 2023, Complete Volume

LIPIcs, Volume 251, ITCS 2023, Complete Volum