Set Builder Notation: POS_λ(\alpha) Explained

AI Thread Summary
The discussion centers on the interpretation of the set-builder notation POS_λ(α), which combines λ-neutral clauses with λ-positive clauses while excluding all λ terms from those clauses. Participants clarify that the notation uses brackets to indicate the exclusion of the unit clause {λ} and emphasize the importance of correctly understanding set operations in this context. The expression A - B is highlighted as a method for removing elements from sets, specifically illustrating how to exclude λ from the set κ. The conversation reflects a deeper exploration of the terminology and rules surrounding CNF formulas and their manipulation. Overall, the discussion enhances comprehension of set-builder notation in relation to logical clauses.
gnome
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How would you describe this set in plain English:
\text{POS}_\lambda(\alpha) = \alpha_\lambda^0 \cup \{\kappa - \{\lambda\}|\kappa \in \alpha_\lambda^+\}

where:
\lambda is a literal
\kappa is an \vee clause with the set \kappa = \vee_{j\leq m}\;\lambda_j represented as \kappa = \{\lambda_j|j \leq m \}
\{\lambda\} is a unit clause consisting of just a single literal \lambda
a CNF formula \alpha is a set \alpha = \wedge_{i\leq n}\;\kappa_i represented as \alpha = \{\kappa_i|i \leq n \}

a clause \kappa is called \lambda-positive if \lambda \in \kappa
a clause \kappa is called \lambda-negative if \neg \lambda \in \kappa
a clause \kappa is called \lambda-neutral if \kappa is neither \lambda-positive nor \lambda-negative
if \alpha is a set of clauses, \alpha_\lambda^+ is the set of \lambda-positive clauses of \alpha, \alpha_\lambda^- is the set of \lambda-negative clauses of \alpha, and \alpha_\lambda^0 is the set of \lambda-neutral clauses of \alpha.


At first, I was reading \text{POS}_\lambda(\alpha) as the union of the \lambda-neutral clauses of \alpha with the \lambda-positive clauses of \alpha but excluding the unit clause \{\lambda\}. But apparently it is intended to be read as the union of the \lambda-neutral clauses of \alpha with the \lambda-positive clauses of \alpha but with ALL of the \lambda terms EXCLUDED from those clauses.

WHY is it read that way? Or, to put it another way, why was it not written as \text{POS}_\lambda(\alpha) = \alpha_\lambda^0 \cup \{\kappa - \lambda|\kappa \in \alpha_\lambda^+\}. (Why did they put their \lambda in brackets {}?) And how would you write set-builder notation for "the \lambda-positive clauses of \alpha but excluding just the unit clause \{\lambda\}."

This comes from Computability, Complexity and Languages by Davis, Sigal and Weyuker, section 12.4, discussion of the Davis-Putnam rules for algorithms to manipulate CNF formulas.
 
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Bleh, one day I'll learn this terminology.

The expression A - B is the set formed from everything in the set A that is not in the set B. Thus, to "remove" the element λ from the set κ, you have to subtract off the singleton set containing λ.
 
Hmmm...

It becomes surprisingly clear when you put it that way.

Thanks.
 
I was reading documentation about the soundness and completeness of logic formal systems. Consider the following $$\vdash_S \phi$$ where ##S## is the proof-system making part the formal system and ##\phi## is a wff (well formed formula) of the formal language. Note the blank on left of the turnstile symbol ##\vdash_S##, as far as I can tell it actually represents the empty set. So what does it mean ? I guess it actually means ##\phi## is a theorem of the formal system, i.e. there is a...

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