This book presents an intuitive picture-oriented approach to the formative processes technique and to its applications. In the first part the authors introduce basic set-theoretic terminology and properties, the decision problem in set theory, and formative processes. The second part of the book is devoted to applications of the technique of formative processes to decision problems. All chapters contain exercises and the book is appropriate for researchers and graduate students in the area of computer science logic.

"Set Theory for Computing" provides a comprehensive account of set-oriented symbolic manipulation methods suitable for automated reasoning. Its main objective is twofold: 1) to provide a flexible formalization for a variety of set languages, and 2) to clarify the semantics of set constructs firmly established in modern specification languages and in the programming practice. Topics include: semantic unification, decision algorithms, modal logics, declarative programming, tableau-based proof techniques, and theory-based theorem proving. The style of presentation is self-contained, rigorous and accurate. Some familiarity with symbolic logic is helpful but not a requirement. This book is a useful resource for all advanced students, professionals, and researchers in computing sciences, artificial intelligence, automated reasoning, logic, and computational mathematics. It will serve to complement their intuitive understanding of set concepts with the ability to master them by symbolic and logically based algorithmic methods and deductive techniques.

This book presents an intuitive picture-oriented approach to the formative processes technique and to its applications. In the first part the authors introduce basic set-theoretic terminology and properties, the decision problem in set theory, and formative processes. The second part of the book is devoted to applications of the technique of formative processes to decision problems. All chapters contain exercises and the book is appropriate for researchers and graduate students in the area of computer science logic.

This must-read text presents the pioneering work of the late Professor Jacob (Jack) T. Schwartz on computational logic and set theory and its application to proof verification techniques, culminating in the AEtnaNova system, a prototype computer program designed to verify the correctness of mathematical proofs presented in the language of set theory. Topics and features: describes in depth how a specific first-order theory can be exploited to model and carry out reasoning in branches of computer science and mathematics; presents an unique system for automated proof verification in large-scale software systems; integrates important proof-engineering issues, reflecting the goals of large-scale verifiers; includes an appendix showing formalized proofs of ordinals, of various properties of the transitive closure operation, of finite and transfinite induction principles, and of Zorn's lemma."

This must-read text presents the pioneering work of the late Professor Jacob (Jack) T. Schwartz on computational logic and set theory and its application to proof verification techniques, culminating in the AEtnaNova system, a prototype computer program designed to verify the correctness of mathematical proofs presented in the language of set theory. Topics and features: describes in depth how a specific first-order theory can be exploited to model and carry out reasoning in branches of computer science and mathematics; presents an unique system for automated proof verification in large-scale software systems; integrates important proof-engineering issues, reflecting the goals of large-scale verifiers; includes an appendix showing formalized proofs of ordinals, of various properties of the transitive closure operation, of finite and transfinite induction principles, and of Zorn's lemma.

An up-to-date and comprehensive account of set-oriented symbolic manipulation and automated reasoning methods. This book is of interest to graduates and researchers in theoretical computer science and computational logic and automated reasoning.