Abstract

. This paper presents techniques to guide equational reasoning in a goal directed way. Suggested by rippling methods developed in the field of inductive theorem proving we use annotated terms to represent syntactical differences of formulas. Based on these annotations and on hierarchies of function symbols we define different abstractions of formulas which are used for planning of proofs. Rippling techniques are used to refine single planning steps, e.g. the application of a bridge lemma, on a next planning level. Fachbeitrag. Keywords: Automated reasoning, Theorem Proving, Rippling 1 Introduction Heuristics for judging similarities between formulas and subsequently reducing differences have been applied to automated deduction since the 1950s, when Newell, Shaw, and Simon built their first "logic machine" [NSS63]. Since the later 60s, a similar theme of difference identification and reduction appears in the field of resolution theorem proving [Mor69], [Dig85], [BS88]. Partial unifica...

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