Inductive proof search modulo

摘要

We present an original narrowing-based proof search method for inductive theorems in equational rewrite theories given by a rewrite system R and a set E of equalities. It has the specificity to be grounded on deduction modulo and to rely on narrowing to provide both induction variables and instantiation schemas. Whenever the equational rewrite system (R, E) has good properties of termination, sufficient completeness, and when E is constructor and variable preserving, narrowing at defined-innermost positions leads to consider only unifiers which are constructor substitutions. This is especially interesting for associative and associative-commutative theories for which the general proof search system is refined. The method is shown to be sound and refutationally correct and complete. A major feature of our approach is to provide a constructive proof in deduction modulo for each successful instance of the proof search procedure.