×

Ground interpolation for the theory of equality. (English) Zbl 1239.03022

Summary: Given a theory \(T\) and two formulas \(A\) and \(B\) jointly unsatisfiable in \(T\), a theory interpolant of \(A\) and \(B\) is a formula \(I\) such that (i) its non-theory symbols are shared in both \(A\) and \(B\), (ii) it is entailed by \(A\) in \(T\), and (iii) it is unsatisfiable with \(B\) in \(T\). Theory interpolation has found several successful applications in model checking. We present a novel method for computing interpolants for ground formulas in the theory of equality. The method produces interpolants from colored congruence graphs representing derivations in that theory. These graphs can be produced by conventional congruence closure algorithms in a straightforward manner. By working with graphs, rather than at the level of individual proof steps, we are able to derive interpolants that are pleasingly simple (conjunctions of Horn clauses) and smaller than those generated by other tools. Our interpolation method can be seen as a theory-specific implementation of a cooperative interpolation game between two provers. We present a generic version of the interpolation game, parametrized by the theory \(T\), and define a general method to extract runs of the game from proofs in \(T\) and then generate interpolants from these runs.

MSC:

03C40 Interpolation, preservation, definability
03B70 Logic in computer science

Software:

SMT-LIB; SIMPLIFY; FOCI; DPT
Full Text: DOI