Abstract
Resolution is a sound and complete algorithm for propositional logic: a formula in clausal form is unsatisfiable if and only if the algorithm reports that it is unsatisfiable. For propositional logic, the algorithm is also a decision procedure for unsatisfiability because it is guaranteed to terminate. When generalized to first-order logic, resolution is still sound and complete, but it is not a decision procedure because the algorithm may not terminate.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
M. Fitting. First-Order Logic and Automated Theorem Proving (Second Edition). Springer, 1996.
J.W. Lloyd. Foundations of Logic Programming (Second Edition). Springer, Berlin, 1987.
D.W. Loveland. Automated Theorem Proving: A Logical Basis. North-Holland, Amsterdam, 1978.
A. Martelli and U. Montanari. An efficient unification algorithm. ACM Transactions on Programming Languages and Systems, 4:258–282, 1982.
J.A. Robinson. A machine-oriented logic based on the resolution principle. Journal of the ACM, 12:23–41, 1965.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2012 Springer-Verlag London
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Ben-Ari, M. (2012). First-Order Logic: Resolution. In: Mathematical Logic for Computer Science. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-4129-7_10
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-4129-7_10
Publisher Name: Springer, London
Print ISBN: 978-1-4471-4128-0
Online ISBN: 978-1-4471-4129-7
eBook Packages: Computer ScienceComputer Science (R0)