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Towards a deductive database for small simple groups

Published:01 October 1991Publication History
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Abstract

This particular study investigates the application of Prolog and the associated technology of deductive databases to the realm of modern algebra. A relatively small, yet diverse, collection of information was chosen for the feasibility study. The 56 non-abelian simple groups of order less than one million have been studied in depth. In print are several tables of information such as minimal generating pairs, presentations, character tables, and maximal subgroups. The information is very heterogeneous in nature, involving formulae, tables, lists, arbitrary precision integers, character strings, irrational numbers, and rules for deducing information from the given facts.While very much a feasibility study, the work to date demonstrates that the Prolog deductive database technology is appropriate. More primitive data types, such as irrational numbers, infinite precision numbers, and tables would improve the efficiency of Prolog in this domain. More work categorizing user queries and incorporating the necessary facts and rules to answer them is required.

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            cover image ACM SIGSAM Bulletin
            ACM SIGSAM Bulletin  Volume 25, Issue 4
            Oct. 1991
            24 pages
            ISSN:0163-5824
            DOI:10.1145/122508
            Issue’s Table of Contents

            Copyright © 1991 Authors

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            Association for Computing Machinery

            New York, NY, United States

            Publication History

            • Published: 1 October 1991

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