The BKR Decision Procedure for Univariate Real Arithmetic

Katherine Kosaian 🌐, Yong Kiam Tan 🌐 and André Platzer 🌐

April 24, 2021

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Abstract

We formalize the univariate case of Ben-Or, Kozen, and Reif's decision procedure for first-order real arithmetic (the BKR algorithm). We also formalize the univariate case of Renegar's variation of the BKR algorithm. The two formalizations differ mathematically in minor ways (that have significant impact on the multivariate case), but are quite similar in proof structure. Both rely on sign-determination (finding the set of consistent sign assignments for a set of polynomials). The method used for sign-determination is similar to Tarski's original quantifier elimination algorithm (it stores key information in a matrix equation), but with a reduction step to keep complexity low.

License

BSD License

Topics

Session BenOr_Kozen_Reif