THE LOGIC THEORY MACHINE: A MODEL HEURISTIC PROGRAM,

Abstract

This Memorandum contains a highly detailed program listing for the Logic Theory Machine (LT), a computer program written in Information Processing Language-V (IPL-V), and developed especially for use as a pedagogical model. The text portions of the Memorandum expand upon the documentation in the listing, tracing program flow, analyzing routines utilized, and providing insight into the structure and the development of the program. LT was originally programmed in an early version of IPL by Newell, Shaw, and Simon to derive proofs of logic expressions in the sentential calculus of Whitehead and Russell. In rewriting the program for use as a teaching aid, a new method of replacement on subexpressions has been included, and many minor changes effecting improvements in clarity have been incorporated. Features of the code that were unjustifiably hard to explain have been simplified. The Memorandum defines LT's activity in terms of problem solving, and then a representation of the defined problem is given in terms of IPL-V. Finally, what LT does is discussed in terms of process hierarchies which operate on the lists structure representations of logic expressions. (Author)

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jun 01, 1963
Accession Number
AD0453449

Entities

People

  • Einar Stefferud

Organizations

  • RAND Corporation

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Calculus
  • Computer Programs
  • Computers
  • Hierarchies
  • Information Processing
  • Language
  • Nomenclature
  • Words (Language)

Readers

  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Computer Science.
  • Theoretical Analysis.