Towards a geometry deductive database prover

Abstract

The Geometry Automated-Theorem-Provers (GATP) based on the deductive database method use a data-based search strategy to improve the efficiency of forward chaining. An implementation of such a method is expected to be able to efficiently prove a large set of geometric conjectures, producing readable proofs. The number of conjectures a given implementation can prove will depend on the set of inference rules chosen, the deductive database method is not a decision procedure. Using an approach based in an SQL database library and using an in-memory database, the implementation described in this paper tries to achieve the following goals. Efficiency in the management of the inference rules, the set of already known facts and the new facts discovered, by the use of the efficient data manipulation techniques of the SQL library. Flexibility, by transforming the inference rules in SQL data manipulation language queries, will open the possibility of meta-development of GATP based on a provided set of rules. Natural language and visual renderings, possible by the use of a synthetic forward chaining method. Implemented as an open source library, that will open its use by third-party programs, e.g. the dynamic geometry systems.