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Verifying the Unification Algorithm in LCF

Lawrence C. Paulson
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Abstract

Manna and Waldinger's theory of substitutions and unification has been verified using the Cambridge LCF theorem prover. A proof of the monotonicity of substitution is presented in detail, as an example of interaction with LCF. Translating the theory into LCF's domain-theoretic logic is largely straightforward. Well-founded induction on a complex ordering is translated into nested structural inductions. Correctness of unification is expressed using predicates for such properties as idempotence and most-generality. The verification is presented as a series of lemmas. The LCF proofs are compared with the original ones, and with other approaches. It appears difficult to find a logic that is both simple and flexible, especially for proving termination.

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Lawrence C. Paulson. 2000-09-29. Verifying the Unification Algorithm in LCF. https://arxiv.org/abs/cs/9301101

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