The Boolean Solution Problem from the Perspective of Predicate Logic (Abstract)

Finding solution values for unknowns in Boolean equations was, along with second-order quantifier elimination, a principal reasoning mode in the Algebra of Logic of the 19th century. Schröder [19] investigated it as Auflösungsproblem (solution problem). It is closely related to the modern notion of Boolean unification. For a given formula that contains unknowns formulas are sought such that after substituting the unknowns with them the given formula becomes valid or, dually, unsatisfiable. Of interest are also most general solutions, condensed representations of all solution substitutions. A central technique there is the method of successive eliminations, which traces back to Boole. Schröder investigated reproductive solutions as most general solutions, anticipating the concept of most general unifier. A comprehensive modern formalization based on this material, along with historic remarks, is presented by Rudeanu [17] in the framework of Boolean algebra. In automated reasoning variants of these techniques have been considered mainly in the late 80s and early 90s with the motivation to enrich Prolog and constraint processing by Boolean unification with respect to propositional formulas handled as terms [14,6,15,16,10,11]. The Π2 -completeness of Boolean unification with constants was proven only later in [10,11] and seemingly independently in [1]. Schröder’s results were developed further by Löwenheim [12,13]. A generalization of Boole’s method beyond propositional logic to relational monadic formulas has been presented by Behmann in the early 1950s [3,4]. Recently the complexity of Boolean unification in a predicate logic setting has been investigated for some formula classes, in particular for quantifier-free first-order formulas [8]. A brief discussion of Boolean reasoning in comparison with predicate logic can be found in [5]. Here we remodel the solution problem formally along with basic classical results and some new generalizations in the framework of first-order logic extended by second-order quantification. The main thesis of this work is that it is possible and useful to apply second-order quantification consequently throughout the formalization. What otherwise would require meta-level notation is then expressed just with formulas. As will be shown, classical results can be reproduced in this framework in a way such that applicability beyond propositional logic, possible algorithmic variations, as well as connections with second-order quantifier elimination and Craig interpolation become visible. The envisaged application scenario is to let solving “solution problems”, or Boolean equation solving, on the basis of predicate logic join reasoning modes 99