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Jan A. Bergstra

Publications and source records attributed to Jan A. Bergstra.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
arXiv2025

Fracterm Calculus for Partial Meadows

Partial algebras and datatypes are discussed with the use of signatures that allow partial functions, and a three-valued short-circuit (sequential) first order logic with a Tarski semantics. The propositional part of this logic is also known as McCarthy calculus and has been studied extensively. Axioms for the fracterm calculus of partial meadows are given. The case is made that in this way a rather natural formalisation of fields with division operator is obtained. It is noticed that the logic thus obtained cannot express that division by zero must be undefined. An interpretation of the three-valued sequential logic into $\bot$-enlargements of partial algebras is given, for which it is concluded that the consequence relation of the former logic is semi-computable, and that the $\bot$-enlargement of a partial meadow is a common meadow.

cs.LO↗
arXiv2025

Conditional logic as a short-circuit logic

Three-valued conditional logic (CL) is defined by Guzmán and Squier (1990), and based on McCarthy's noncommutative connectives, axiomatises a short-circuit logic (SCL) that defines more identities than three-valued MSCL (Memorising SCL, which also has a two-valued variant). This follows from the fact that the definable connective that prescribes full left-sequential conjunction is commutative in CL. We show that in CL, the full left-sequential connectives and negation define Bochvar's three-valued strict logic. We observe that CL also has a two-valued variant of which the full left-sequential connectives and negation define a commutative logic that is weaker than propositional logic because the absorption laws do not hold. Next, we show that the original, equational axiomatisation of CL is not independent and give several alternative, independent axiomatisations.

cs.LO↗
arXiv2021

Division by zero in common meadows

Common meadows are fields expanded with a total inverse function. Division by zero produces an additional value denoted with "a" that propagates through all operations of the meadow signature (this additional value can be interpreted as an error element). We provide a basis theorem for so-called common cancellation meadows of characteristic zero, that is, common meadows of characteristic zero that admit a certain cancellation law.

math.RA↗
arXiv2021

Datatype defining rewrite systems for naturals and integers

A datatype defining rewrite system (DDRS) is an algebraic (equational) specification intended to specify a datatype. When interpreting the equations from left-to-right, a DDRS defines a term rewriting system that must be ground-complete. First we define two DDRSs for the ring of integers, each comprising twelve rewrite rules, and prove their ground-completeness. Then we introduce natural number and integer arithmetic specified according to unary view, that is, arithmetic based on a postfix unary append constructor (a form of tallying). Next we specify arithmetic based on two other views: binary and decimal notation. The binary and decimal view have as their characteristic that each normal form resembles common number notation, that is, either a digit, or a string of digits without leading zero, or the negated versions of the latter. Integer arithmetic in binary and decimal notation is based on (postfix) digit append functions. For each view we define a DDRS, and in each case the resulting datatype is a canonical term algebra that extends a corresponding canonical term algebra for natural numbers. Then, for each view, we consider an alternative DDRS based on tree constructors that yields comparable normal forms, which for that view admits expressions that are algorithmically more involved. For all DDRSs considered, ground-completeness is proven.

cs.LO↗
arXiv2020

Sumterms, Summands, Sumtuples, and Sums and the Meta-arithmetic of Summation

Sumterms are introduced as syntactic entities, and sumtuples are introduced as semantic entities. Equipped with these concepts a new description is obtained of the notion of a sum as (the name for) a role which can be played by a number. Sumterm splitting operators are introduced and it is argued that without further precautions the presence of these operators gives rise to instance of the so-called sum splitting paradox. A survey of solutions to the sum splitting paradox is given.

math.HO↗
arXiv2020

Candidate Software Process Flaws for the Boeing 737 Max MCAS Algorithm and Risks for a Proposed Upgrade

By reasoning about the claims and speculations promised as part of the public discourse, we analyze the hypothesis that flaws in software engineering played a critical role in the Boeing 737 MCAS incidents. We use promise-based reasoning to discuss how, from an outsider's perspective, one may assemble clues about what went wrong. Rather than looking for a Rational Alternative Design (RAD), as suggested by Wendel, we look for candidate flaws in the software process. We describe four such potential flaws. Recently, Boeing has circulated information on its envisaged MCAS algorithm upgrade. We cast this as a promise to resolve the flaws, i.e. to provide a RAD for the B737 Max. We offer an assessment of B-Max-New based on the public discourse.

cs.CY↗
arXiv2019

Adams Conditioning and Likelihood Ratio Transfer Mediated Inference

Bayesian inference as applied in a legal setting is about belief transfer and involves a plurality of agents and communication protocols. A forensic expert (FE) may communicate to a trier of fact (TOF) first its value of a certain likelihood ratio with respect to FE's belief state as represented by a probability function on FE's proposition space. Subsequently FE communicates its recently acquired confirmation that a certain evidence proposition is true. Then TOF performs likelihood ratio transfer mediated reasoning thereby revising their own belief state. The logical principles involved in likelihood transfer mediated reasoning are discussed in a setting where probabilistic arithmetic is done within a meadow, and with Adams conditioning placed in a central role.

cs.AI↗
arXiv2019

Meadow based Fracterm Theory

Fracterms are introduced as a proxy for fractions. A precise definition of fracterms is formulated and on that basis reasonably precise definitions of various classes of fracterms are given. In the context of the meadow of rational numbers viewing fractions as fracterms provides an adequate theory of fractions. A very different view on fractions is that fractions are values, i.e. rational numbers. Fracterms are used to provide a range of intermediate definitions between these two definitions of fractions

math.HO↗
arXiv2019

Equational Axioms for Expected Value Operators

An equational axiomatisation of probability functions for one-dimensional event spaces in the language of signed meadows is expanded with conditional values. Conditional values constitute a so-called signed vector meadow. In the presence of a probability function, equational axioms are provided for expected value, variance, covariance, and correlation squared, each defined for conditional values. Finite support summation is introduced as a binding operator on meadows which simplifies formulating requirements on probability mass functions with finite support. Conditional values are related to probability mass functions and to random variables. The definitions are reconsidered in a finite dimensional setting.

math.LO↗
arXiv2019

Quantitative Expressiveness of Instruction Sequence Classes for Computation on Single Bit Registers

The number of instructions of an instruction sequence is taken for its logical SLOC, and is abbreviated with LLOC. A notion of quantitative expressiveness is based on LLOC and in the special case of operation over a family of single bit registers a collection of elementary properties are established. A dedicated notion of interface is developed and is used for stating relevant properties of classes of instruction sequences

cs.PL↗
arXiv2018

Propositional logic with short-circuit evaluation: a non-commutative and a commutative variant

Short-circuit evaluation denotes the semantics of propositional connectives in which the second argument is evaluated only if the first argument does not suffice to determine the value of the expression. Short-circuit evaluation is widely used in programming, with sequential conjunction and disjunction as primitive connectives. We study the question which logical laws axiomatize short-circuit evaluation under the following assumptions: compound statements are evaluated from left to right, each atom (propositional variable) evaluates to either true or false, and atomic evaluations can cause a side effect. The answer to this question depends on the kind of atomic side effects that can occur and leads to different "short-circuit logics". The basic case is FSCL (free short-circuit logic), which characterizes the setting in which each atomic evaluation can cause a side effect. We recall some main results and then relate FSCL to MSCL (memorizing short-circuit logic), where in the evaluation of a compound statement, the first evaluation result of each atom is memorized. MSCL can be seen as a sequential variant of propositional logic: atomic evaluations cannot cause a side effect and the sequential connectives are not commutative. Then we relate MSCL to SSCL (static short-circuit logic), the variant of propositional logic that prescribes short-circuit evaluation with commutative sequential connectives. We present evaluation trees as an intuitive semantics for short-circuit evaluation, and simple equational axiomatizations for the short-circuit logics mentioned that use negation and the sequential connectives only.

cs.LO↗
arXiv2017

Evaluation trees for proposition algebra

Proposition algebra is based on Hoare's conditional connective, which is a ternary connective comparable to if-then-else and used in the setting of propositional logic. Conditional statements are provided with a simple semantics that is based on evaluation trees and that characterizes so-called free valuation congruence: two conditional statements are free valuation congruent if, and only if, they have equal evaluation trees. Free valuation congruence is axiomatized by the four basic equational axioms of proposition algebra that define the conditional connective. Valuation congruences that identify more conditional statements than free valuation congruence are repetition-proof, contractive, memorizing, and static valuation congruence. Each of these valuation congruences is characterized using a transformation on evaluation trees: two conditional statements are C-valuation congruent if, and only if, their C-transformed evaluation trees are equal. These transformations are simple and natural, and only for static valuation congruence a slightly more complex transformation is used. Also, each of these valuation congruences is axiomatized in proposition algebra. A spin-off of our approach can be called "normalization functions for proposition algebra": for each valuation congruence C considered, two conditional statements are C-valuation congruent if, and only if, the C-normalization function returns equal images.

cs.LO↗
arXiv2016

Probability functions in the context of signed involutive meadows

The Kolmogorov axioms for probability functions are placed in the context of signed meadows. A completeness theorem is stated and proven for the resulting equational theory of probability calculus. Elementary definitions of probability theory are restated in this framework.

math.LO↗
arXiv2016

Three Datatype Defining Rewrite Systems for Datatypes of Integers each extending a Datatype of Naturals

Integer arithmetic is specified according to three views: unary, binary, and decimal notation. The binary and decimal view have as their characteristic that each normal form resembles common number notation, that is, either a digit, or a string of digits without leading zero, or the negated versions of the latter. The unary view comprises a specification of integer arithmetic based on 0, successor function $S$, and predecessor function, with negative normal forms $-S^i(0)$. Integer arithmetic in binary and decimal notation is based on (postfix) digit append functions. For each view we define a ground-confluent and terminating datatype defining rewrite system (DDRS), and in each case the resulting datatype is a canonical term algebra that extends a corresponding canonical term algebra for natural numbers. Then, for each view, we consider an alternative DDRS based on tree constructors that yield comparable normal forms, which for that binary and decimal view admits expressions that are algorithmically more involved. These DDRSes are incorporated because they are closer to existing literature. For these DDRSes we also provide ground-completeness results. Finally, we define a DDRS for the ring of Integers (comprising fifteen rewrite rules) and prove its ground-completeness.

cs.LO↗
arXiv2016

Subvarieties of the variety of meadows

Meadows - commutative rings equipped with a total inversion operation - can be axiomatized by purely equational means. We study subvarieties of the variety of meadows obtained by extending the equational theory and expanding the signature.

math.RA↗
arXiv2016

A negative result on algebraic specifications of the meadow of rational numbers

$\mathbb{Q}_0$ - the involutive meadow of the rational numbers - is the field of the rational numbers where the multiplicative inverse operation is made total by imposing $0^{-1}=0$. In this note, we prove that $\mathbb{Q}_0$ cannot be specified by the usual axioms for meadows augmented by a finite set of axioms of the form $(1+ \cdots +1+x^2)\cdot (1+ \cdots +1 +x^2)^{-1}=1$.

math.RA↗
arXiv2016

Fracpairs and fractions over a reduced commutative ring

In the well-known construction of the field of fractions of an integral domain, division by zero is excluded. We introduce "fracpairs" as pairs subject to laws consistent with the use of the pair as a fraction, but do not exclude denominators to be zero. We investigate fracpairs over a reduced commutative ring (a commutative ring that has no nonzero nilpotent elements) and provide these with natural definitions for addition, multiplication, and additive and multiplicative inverse. We find that modulo a simple congruence these fracpairs constitute a "common meadow", which is a commutative monoid both for addition and multiplication, extended with a weak additive inverse, a multiplicative inverse except for zero, and an additional element "a" that is the image of the multiplicative inverse on zero and that propagates through all operations. Considering "a" as an error-value supports the intuition. The equivalence classes of fracpairs thus obtained are called common cancellation fractions (cc-fractions), and cc-fractions over the integers constitute a homomorphic pre-image of the common meadow Qa, the field Q of rational numbers expanded with an a-totalized inverse. Moreover, the initial common meadow is isomorphic to the initial algebra of cc-fractions over the integer numbers. Next, we define canonical term algebras for cc-fractions over the integers and some meadows that model the rational numbers expanded with a totalized inverse, and provide some negative results concerning their associated term rewriting properties. Then we consider reduced commutative rings in which the sum of two squares plus one cannot be a zero divisor: by extending the equivalence relation on fracpairs we obtain an initial algebra that is isomorphic to Qa. Finally, we express negative conjectures concerning alternative specifications for these (concrete) datatypes.

math.RA↗