Generating Theorems by Generating Proof Structures

Abstract: We address generating theorems from a given set of axioms, without proof goal, aiming at value from a mathematical point of view or as lemmas for automated proving. As benchmark, we convert a fragment of the Metamath database set.mm. Our techniques are centered on proof terms and condensed detachment, which ties in with approaches to automated first-order proving by proof structure enumeration, and links to Metamath as well as to formulas-as-types. Our methods for generating theorems are based on partitioning the set of proof terms into inductively characterized levels. We study two ideas for improvement: Lemma synthesis by DAG compression of proof term sets and incorporating combinators into proof term construction.