A Denotational Semantics Approach to Functional and Logic Programming
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Operational Semantics Page 1
Operational Semantics Page 1 Operational Semantics Class notes for a lecture given by Mooly Sagiv Tel Aviv University 24/5/2007 By Roy Ganor and Uri Juhasz Reference Semantics with Applications, H. Nielson and F. Nielson, Chapter 2. http://www.daimi.au.dk/~bra8130/Wiley_book/wiley.html Introduction Semantics is the study of meaning of languages. Formal semantics for programming languages is the study of formalization of the practice of computer programming. A computer language consists of a (formal) syntax – describing the actual structure of programs and the semantics – which describes the meaning of programs. Many tools exist for programming languages (compilers, interpreters, verification tools, … ), the basis on which these tools can cooperate is the formal semantics of the language. Formal Semantics When designing a programming language, formal semantics gives an (hopefully) unambiguous definition of what a program written in the language should do. This definition has several uses: • People learning the language can understand the subtleties of its use • The model over which the semantics is defined (the semantic domain) can indicate what the requirements are for implementing the language (as a compiler/interpreter/…) • Global properties of any program written in the language, and any state occurring in such a program, can be understood from the formal semantics • Implementers of tools for the language (parsers, compilers, interpreters, debuggers etc) have a formal reference for their tool and a formal definition of its correctness/completeness -
Basic Structures: Sets, Functions, Sequences, and Sums 2-2
CHAPTER Basic Structures: Sets, Functions, 2 Sequences, and Sums 2.1 Sets uch of discrete mathematics is devoted to the study of discrete structures, used to represent discrete objects. Many important discrete structures are built using sets, which 2.2 Set Operations M are collections of objects. Among the discrete structures built from sets are combinations, 2.3 Functions unordered collections of objects used extensively in counting; relations, sets of ordered pairs that represent relationships between objects; graphs, sets of vertices and edges that connect 2.4 Sequences and vertices; and finite state machines, used to model computing machines. These are some of the Summations topics we will study in later chapters. The concept of a function is extremely important in discrete mathematics. A function assigns to each element of a set exactly one element of a set. Functions play important roles throughout discrete mathematics. They are used to represent the computational complexity of algorithms, to study the size of sets, to count objects, and in a myriad of other ways. Useful structures such as sequences and strings are special types of functions. In this chapter, we will introduce the notion of a sequence, which represents ordered lists of elements. We will introduce some important types of sequences, and we will address the problem of identifying a pattern for the terms of a sequence from its first few terms. Using the notion of a sequence, we will define what it means for a set to be countable, namely, that we can list all the elements of the set in a sequence. -
Denotational Semantics
Denotational Semantics CS 6520, Spring 2006 1 Denotations So far in class, we have studied operational semantics in depth. In operational semantics, we define a language by describing the way that it behaves. In a sense, no attempt is made to attach a “meaning” to terms, outside the way that they are evaluated. For example, the symbol ’elephant doesn’t mean anything in particular within the language; it’s up to a programmer to mentally associate meaning to the symbol while defining a program useful for zookeeppers. Similarly, the definition of a sort function has no inherent meaning in the operational view outside of a particular program. Nevertheless, the programmer knows that sort manipulates lists in a useful way: it makes animals in a list easier for a zookeeper to find. In denotational semantics, we define a language by assigning a mathematical meaning to functions; i.e., we say that each expression denotes a particular mathematical object. We might say, for example, that a sort implementation denotes the mathematical sort function, which has certain properties independent of the programming language used to implement it. In other words, operational semantics defines evaluation by sourceExpression1 −→ sourceExpression2 whereas denotational semantics defines evaluation by means means sourceExpression1 → mathematicalEntity1 = mathematicalEntity2 ← sourceExpression2 One advantage of the denotational approach is that we can exploit existing theories by mapping source expressions to mathematical objects in the theory. The denotation of expressions in a language is typically defined using a structurally-recursive definition over expressions. By convention, if e is a source expression, then [[e]] means “the denotation of e”, or “the mathematical object represented by e”. -
Quantum Weakest Preconditions
Quantum Weakest Preconditions Ellie D’Hondt ∗ Prakash Panangaden †‡ Abstract We develop a notion of predicate transformer and, in particular, the weak- est precondition, appropriate for quantum computation. We show that there is a Stone-type duality between the usual state-transformer semantics and the weakest precondition semantics. Rather than trying to reduce quantum com- putation to probabilistic programming we develop a notion that is directly taken from concepts used in quantum computation. The proof that weak- est preconditions exist for completely positive maps follows from the Kraus representation theorem. As an example we give the semantics of Selinger’s language in terms of our weakest preconditions. 1 Introduction Quantum computation is a field of research that is rapidly acquiring a place as a significant topic in computer science. To be sure, there are still essential tech- nological and conceptual problems to overcome in building functional quantum computers. Nevertheless there are fundamental new insights into quantum com- putability [Deu85, DJ92], quantum algorithms [Gro96, Gro97, Sho94, Sho97] and into the nature of quantum mechanics itself [Per95], particularly with the emer- gence of quantum information theory [NC00]. These developments inspire one to consider the problems of programming full-fledged general purpose quantum computers. Much of the theoretical re- search is aimed at using the new tools available - superposition, entanglement and linearity - for algorithmic efficiency. However, the fact that quantum algorithms are currently done at a very low level only - comparable to classical computing 60 years ago - is a much less explored aspect of the field. The present paper is ∗Centrum Leo Apostel , Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium, [email protected]. -
Domain and Range of a Function
4.1 Domain and Range of a Function How can you fi nd the domain and range of STATES a function? STANDARDS MA.8.A.1.1 MA.8.A.1.5 1 ACTIVITY: The Domain and Range of a Function Work with a partner. The table shows the number of adult and child tickets sold for a school concert. Input Number of Adult Tickets, x 01234 Output Number of Child Tickets, y 86420 The variables x and y are related by the linear equation 4x + 2y = 16. a. Write the equation in function form by solving for y. b. The domain of a function is the set of all input values. Find the domain of the function. Domain = Why is x = 5 not in the domain of the function? 1 Why is x = — not in the domain of the function? 2 c. The range of a function is the set of all output values. Find the range of the function. Range = d. Functions can be described in many ways. ● by an equation ● by an input-output table y 9 ● in words 8 ● by a graph 7 6 ● as a set of ordered pairs 5 4 Use the graph to write the function 3 as a set of ordered pairs. 2 1 , , ( , ) ( , ) 0 09321 45 876 x ( , ) , ( , ) , ( , ) 148 Chapter 4 Functions 2 ACTIVITY: Finding Domains and Ranges Work with a partner. ● Copy and complete each input-output table. ● Find the domain and range of the function represented by the table. 1 a. y = −3x + 4 b. y = — x − 6 2 x −2 −10 1 2 x 01234 y y c. -
Adaptive Lower Bound for Testing Monotonicity on the Line
Adaptive Lower Bound for Testing Monotonicity on the Line Aleksandrs Belovs∗ Abstract In the property testing model, the task is to distinguish objects possessing some property from the objects that are far from it. One of such properties is monotonicity, when the objects are functions from one poset to another. This is an active area of research. In this paper we study query complexity of ε-testing monotonicity of a function f :[n] → [r]. All our lower bounds are for adaptive two-sided testers. log r • We prove a nearly tight lower bound for this problem in terms of r. TheboundisΩ log log r when ε =1/2. No previous satisfactory lower bound in terms of r was known. • We completely characterise query complexity of this problem in terms of n for smaller values of ε. The complexity is Θ ε−1 log(εn) . Apart from giving the lower bound, this improves on the best known upper bound. Finally, we give an alternative proof of the Ω(ε−1d log n−ε−1 log ε−1) lower bound for testing monotonicity on the hypergrid [n]d due to Chakrabarty and Seshadhri (RANDOM’13). 1 Introduction The framework of property testing was formulated by Rubinfeld and Sudan [19] and Goldreich et al. [16]. A property testing problem is specified by a property P, which is a class of functions mapping some finite set D into some finite set R, and proximity parameter ε, which is a real number between 0 and 1. An ε-tester is a bounded-error randomised query algorithm which, given oracle access to a function f : D → R, distinguishes between the case when f belongs to P and the case when f is ε-far from P. -
Basic Concepts of Set Theory, Functions and Relations 1. Basic
Ling 310, adapted from UMass Ling 409, Partee lecture notes March 1, 2006 p. 1 Basic Concepts of Set Theory, Functions and Relations 1. Basic Concepts of Set Theory........................................................................................................................1 1.1. Sets and elements ...................................................................................................................................1 1.2. Specification of sets ...............................................................................................................................2 1.3. Identity and cardinality ..........................................................................................................................3 1.4. Subsets ...................................................................................................................................................4 1.5. Power sets .............................................................................................................................................4 1.6. Operations on sets: union, intersection...................................................................................................4 1.7 More operations on sets: difference, complement...................................................................................5 1.8. Set-theoretic equalities ...........................................................................................................................5 Chapter 2. Relations and Functions ..................................................................................................................6 -
Module 1 Lecture Notes
Module 1 Lecture Notes Contents 1.1 Identifying Functions.............................1 1.2 Algebraically Determining the Domain of a Function..........4 1.3 Evaluating Functions.............................6 1.4 Function Operations..............................7 1.5 The Difference Quotient...........................9 1.6 Applications of Function Operations.................... 10 1.7 Determining the Domain and Range of a Function Graphically.... 12 1.8 Reading the Graph of a Function...................... 14 1.1 Identifying Functions In previous classes, you should have studied a variety basic functions. For example, 1 p f(x) = 3x − 5; g(x) = 2x2 − 1; h(x) = ; j(x) = 5x + 2 x − 5 We will begin this course by studying functions and their properties. As the course progresses, we will study inverse, composite, exponential, logarithmic, polynomial and rational functions. Math 111 Module 1 Lecture Notes Definition 1: A relation is a correspondence between two variables. A relation can be ex- pressed through a set of ordered pairs, a graph, a table, or an equation. A set containing ordered pairs (x; y) defines y as a function of x if and only if no two ordered pairs in the set have the same x-coordinate. In other words, every input maps to exactly one output. We write y = f(x) and say \y is a function of x." For the function defined by y = f(x), • x is the independent variable (also known as the input) • y is the dependent variable (also known as the output) • f is the function name Example 1: Determine whether or not each of the following represents a function. Table 1.1 Chicken Name Egg Color Emma Turquoise Hazel Light Brown George(ia) Chocolate Brown Isabella White Yvonne Light Brown (a) The set of ordered pairs of the form (chicken name, egg color) shown in Table 1.1. -
Operational Semantics with Hierarchical Abstract Syntax Graphs*
Operational Semantics with Hierarchical Abstract Syntax Graphs* Dan R. Ghica Huawei Research, Edinburgh University of Birmingham, UK This is a motivating tutorial introduction to a semantic analysis of programming languages using a graphical language as the representation of terms, and graph rewriting as a representation of reduc- tion rules. We show how the graphical language automatically incorporates desirable features, such as a-equivalence and how it can describe pure computation, imperative store, and control features in a uniform framework. The graph semantics combines some of the best features of structural oper- ational semantics and abstract machines, while offering powerful new methods for reasoning about contextual equivalence. All technical details are available in an extended technical report by Muroya and the author [11] and in Muroya’s doctoral dissertation [21]. 1 Hierarchical abstract syntax graphs Before proceeding with the business of analysing and transforming the source code of a program, a com- piler first parses the input text into a sequence of atoms, the lexemes, and then assembles them into a tree, the Abstract Syntax Tree (AST), which corresponds to its grammatical structure. The reason for preferring the AST to raw text or a sequence of lexemes is quite obvious. The structure of the AST incor- porates most of the information needed for the following stage of compilation, in particular identifying operations as nodes in the tree and operands as their branches. This makes the AST algorithmically well suited for its purpose. Conversely, the AST excludes irrelevant lexemes, such as separators (white-space, commas, semicolons) and aggregators (brackets, braces), by making them implicit in the tree-like struc- ture. -
Making Classes Provable Through Contracts, Models and Frames
View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by CiteSeerX DISS. ETH NO. 17610 Making classes provable through contracts, models and frames A dissertation submitted to the SWISS FEDERAL INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY ZURICH (ETH Zurich)¨ for the degree of Doctor of Sciences presented by Bernd Schoeller Diplom-Informatiker, TU Berlin born April 5th, 1974 citizen of Federal Republic of Germany accepted on the recommendation of Prof. Dr. Bertrand Meyer, examiner Prof. Dr. Martin Odersky, co-examiner Prof. Dr. Jonathan S. Ostroff, co-examiner 2007 ABSTRACT Software correctness is a relation between code and a specification of the expected behavior of the software component. Without proper specifica- tions, correct software cannot be defined. The Design by Contract methodology is a way to tightly integrate spec- ifications into software development. It has proved to be a light-weight and at the same time powerful description technique that is accepted by software developers. In its more than 20 years of existence, it has demon- strated many uses: documentation, understanding object-oriented inheri- tance, runtime assertion checking, or fully automated testing. This thesis approaches the formal verification of contracted code. It conducts an analysis of Eiffel and how contracts are expressed in the lan- guage as it is now. It formalizes the programming language providing an operational semantics and a formal list of correctness conditions in terms of this operational semantics. It introduces the concept of axiomatic classes and provides a full library of axiomatic classes, called the mathematical model library to overcome prob- lems of contracts on unbounded data structures. -
Denotational Semantics
Denotational Semantics 8–12 lectures for Part II CST 2010/11 Marcelo Fiore Course web page: http://www.cl.cam.ac.uk/teaching/1011/DenotSem/ 1 Lecture 1 Introduction 2 What is this course about? • General area. Formal methods: Mathematical techniques for the specification, development, and verification of software and hardware systems. • Specific area. Formal semantics: Mathematical theories for ascribing meanings to computer languages. 3 Why do we care? • Rigour. specification of programming languages . justification of program transformations • Insight. generalisations of notions computability . higher-order functions ... data structures 4 • Feedback into language design. continuations . monads • Reasoning principles. Scott induction . Logical relations . Co-induction 5 Styles of formal semantics Operational. Meanings for program phrases defined in terms of the steps of computation they can take during program execution. Axiomatic. Meanings for program phrases defined indirectly via the ax- ioms and rules of some logic of program properties. Denotational. Concerned with giving mathematical models of programming languages. Meanings for program phrases defined abstractly as elements of some suitable mathematical structure. 6 Basic idea of denotational semantics [[−]] Syntax −→ Semantics Recursive program → Partial recursive function Boolean circuit → Boolean function P → [[P ]] Concerns: • Abstract models (i.e. implementation/machine independent). Lectures 2, 3 and 4. • Compositionality. Lectures 5 and 6. • Relationship to computation (e.g. operational semantics). Lectures 7 and 8. 7 Characteristic features of a denotational semantics • Each phrase (= part of a program), P , is given a denotation, [[P ]] — a mathematical object representing the contribution of P to the meaning of any complete program in which it occurs. • The denotation of a phrase is determined just by the denotations of its subphrases (one says that the semantics is compositional). -
The Domain of Solutions to Differential Equations
connect to college success™ The Domain of Solutions To Differential Equations Larry Riddle available on apcentral.collegeboard.com connect to college success™ www.collegeboard.com The College Board: Connecting Students to College Success The College Board is a not-for-profit membership association whose mission is to connect students to college success and opportunity. Founded in 1900, the association is composed of more than 4,700 schools, colleges, universities, and other educational organizations. Each year, the College Board serves over three and a half million students and their parents, 23,000 high schools, and 3,500 colleges through major programs and services in college admissions, guidance, assessment, financial aid, enrollment, and teaching and learning. Among its best-known programs are the SAT®, the PSAT/NMSQT®, and the Advanced Placement Program® (AP®). The College Board is committed to the principles of excellence and equity, and that commitment is embodied in all of its programs, services, activities, and concerns. Equity Policy Statement The College Board and the Advanced Placement Program encourage teachers, AP Coordinators, and school administrators to make equitable access a guiding principle for their AP programs. The College Board is committed to the principle that all students deserve an opportunity to participate in rigorous and academically challenging courses and programs. All students who are willing to accept the challenge of a rigorous academic curriculum should be considered for admission to AP courses. The Board encourages the elimination of barriers that restrict access to AP courses for students from ethnic, racial, and socioeconomic groups that have been traditionally underrepresented in the AP Program.