InductionProof by Induction
Separate Compilation
For this Require Export command to work, Coq needs to be
able to find a compiled version of Basics.v, called Basics.vo,
in a directory associated with the prefix LF. This file is
analogous to the .class files compiled from .java source files
and the .o files compiled from .c files.
First create a file named _CoqProject containing the following
line (if you obtained the whole volume "Logical Foundations" as a
single archive, a _CoqProject should already exist and you can
skip this step):
-Q . LF
This maps the current directory (".", which contains Basics.v,
Induction.v, etc.) to the prefix (or "logical directory")
"LF". PG and CoqIDE read _CoqProject automatically, so they
know to where to look for the file Basics.vo corresponding to
the library LF.Basics.
Once _CoqProject is thus created, there are various ways to
build Basics.vo:
If you have trouble (e.g., if you get complaints about missing
identifiers later in the file), it may be because the "load path"
for Coq is not set up correctly. The Print LoadPath. command
may be helpful in sorting out such issues.
In particular, if you see a message like
Compiled library Foo makes inconsistent assumptions over
library Bar
check whether you have multiple installations of Coq on your
machine. It may be that commands (like coqc) that you execute
in a terminal window are getting a different version of Coq than
commands executed by Proof General or CoqIDE.
One more tip for CoqIDE users: If you see messages like Error:
Unable to locate library Basics, a likely reason is
inconsistencies between compiling things within CoqIDE vs using
coqc from the command line. This typically happens when there
are two incompatible versions of coqc installed on your
system (one associated with CoqIDE, and one associated with coqc
from the terminal). The workaround for this situation is
compiling using CoqIDE only (i.e. choosing "make" from the menu),
and avoiding using coqc directly at all.
- In Proof General: The compilation can be made to happen
automatically when you submit the Require line above to PG,
by setting the emacs variable coq-compile-before-require to
t. You can also use the menu option "Coq -> Auto
Compilation -> Compile Before Require".
- In CoqIDE: Open Basics.v; then, in the "Compile" menu, click
on "Compile Buffer".
- From the command line: Generate a Makefile using the
coq_makefile utility, that comes installed with Coq (if you
obtained the whole volume as a single archive, a Makefile
should already exist and you can skip this step):
- Another common reason is that the library Bar was modified and recompiled without also recompiling Foo which depends on it. Recompile Foo, or everything if too many files are affected. (Using the third solution above: make clean; make.)
Proof by Induction
... can't be done in the same simple way. Just applying
reflexivity doesn't work, since the n in n + 0 is an arbitrary
unknown number, so the match in the definition of + can't be
simplified.
Proof.
intros n.
simpl. (* Does nothing! *)
Abort.
And reasoning by cases using destruct n doesn't get us much
further: the branch of the case analysis where we assume n = 0
goes through fine, but in the branch where n = S n' for some n' we
get stuck in exactly the same way.
Theorem add_0_r_secondtry : ∀ n:nat,
n + 0 = n.
Proof.
intros n. destruct n as [| n'] eqn:E.
- (* n = 0 *)
reflexivity. (* so far so good... *)
- (* n = S n' *)
simpl. (* ...but here we are stuck again *)
Abort.
We could use destruct n' to get one step further, but,
since n can be arbitrarily large, we'll never get all the there
if we just go on like this.
To prove interesting facts about numbers, lists, and other
inductively defined sets, we often need a more powerful reasoning
principle: induction.
Recall (from high school, a discrete math course, etc.) the
principle of induction over natural numbers: If P(n) is some
proposition involving a natural number n and we want to show
that P holds for all numbers n, we can reason like this:
In Coq, the steps are the same: we begin with the goal of proving
P(n) for all n and break it down (by applying the induction
tactic) into two separate subgoals: one where we must show P(O)
and another where we must show P(n') → P(S n'). Here's how
this works for the theorem at hand:
- show that P(O) holds;
- show that, for any n', if P(n') holds, then so does P(S n');
- conclude that P(n) holds for all n.
Theorem add_0_r : ∀ n:nat, n + 0 = n.
Proof.
intros n. induction n as [| n' IHn'].
- (* n = 0 *) reflexivity.
- (* n = S n' *) simpl. rewrite → IHn'. reflexivity. Qed.
Like destruct, the induction tactic takes an as...
clause that specifies the names of the variables to be introduced
in the subgoals. Since there are two subgoals, the as... clause
has two parts, separated by |. (Strictly speaking, we can omit
the as... clause and Coq will choose names for us. In practice,
this is a bad idea, as Coq's automatic choices tend to be
confusing.)
In the first subgoal, n is replaced by 0. No new variables
are introduced (so the first part of the as... is empty), and
the goal becomes 0 = 0 + 0, which follows by simplification.
In the second subgoal, n is replaced by S n', and the
assumption n' + 0 = n' is added to the context with the name
IHn' (i.e., the Induction Hypothesis for n'). These two names
are specified in the second part of the as... clause. The goal
in this case becomes S n' = (S n') + 0, which simplifies to
S n' = S (n' + 0), which in turn follows from IHn'.
Theorem minus_n_n : ∀ n,
minus n n = 0.
Proof.
(* WORKED IN CLASS *)
intros n. induction n as [| n' IHn'].
- (* n = 0 *)
simpl. reflexivity.
- (* n = S n' *)
simpl. rewrite → IHn'. reflexivity. Qed.
(The use of the intros tactic in these proofs is actually
redundant. When applied to a goal that contains quantified
variables, the induction tactic will automatically move them
into the context as needed.)
Exercise: 2 stars, standard, especially useful (basic_induction)
Prove the following using induction. You might need previously proven results.Theorem mul_0_r : ∀ n:nat,
n × 0 = 0.
Proof.
(* FILL IN HERE *) Admitted.
Theorem plus_n_Sm : ∀ n m : nat,
S (n + m) = n + (S m).
Proof.
(* FILL IN HERE *) Admitted.
Theorem add_comm : ∀ n m : nat,
n + m = m + n.
Proof.
(* FILL IN HERE *) Admitted.
Theorem add_assoc : ∀ n m p : nat,
n + (m + p) = (n + m) + p.
Proof.
(* FILL IN HERE *) Admitted.
☐
Exercise: 2 stars, standard (double_plus)
Consider the following function, which doubles its argument:
Use induction to prove this simple fact about double:
Exercise: 2 stars, standard, optional (even_S)
One inconvenient aspect of our definition of even n is the recursive call on n - 2. This makes proofs about even n harder when done by induction on n, since we may need an induction hypothesis about n - 2. The following lemma gives an alternative characterization of even (S n) that works better with induction:Exercise: 1 star, standard, optional (destruct_induction)
Briefly explain the difference between the tactics destruct and induction.(* Do not modify the following line: *)
Definition manual_grade_for_destruct_induction : option (nat×string) := None.
☐
Proofs Within Proofs
Theorem mult_0_plus' : ∀ n m : nat,
(0 + n) × m = n × m.
Proof.
intros n m.
assert (H: 0 + n = n). { reflexivity. }
rewrite → H.
reflexivity. Qed.
The assert tactic introduces two sub-goals. The first is
the assertion itself; by prefixing it with H: we name the
assertion H. (We can also name the assertion with as just as
we did above with destruct and induction, i.e., assert (0 + n
= n) as H.) Note that we surround the proof of this assertion
with curly braces { ... }, both for readability and so that,
when using Coq interactively, we can see more easily when we have
finished this sub-proof. The second goal is the same as the one
at the point where we invoke assert except that, in the context,
we now have the assumption H that 0 + n = n. That is,
assert generates one subgoal where we must prove the asserted
fact and a second subgoal where we can use the asserted fact to
make progress on whatever we were trying to prove in the first
place.
For example, suppose we want to prove that (n + m) + (p + q)
= (m + n) + (p + q). The only difference between the two sides of
the = is that the arguments m and n to the first inner +
are swapped, so it seems we should be able to use the
commutativity of addition (add_comm) to rewrite one into the
other. However, the rewrite tactic is not very smart about
where it applies the rewrite. There are three uses of + here,
and it turns out that doing rewrite → add_comm will affect
only the outer one...
Theorem plus_rearrange_firsttry : ∀ n m p q : nat,
(n + m) + (p + q) = (m + n) + (p + q).
Proof.
intros n m p q.
(* We just need to swap (n + m) for (m + n)... seems
like add_comm should do the trick! *)
rewrite → add_comm.
(* Doesn't work... Coq rewrites the wrong plus! :-( *)
Abort.
To use add_comm at the point where we need it, we can introduce
a local lemma stating that n + m = m + n (for the particular m
and n that we are talking about here), prove this lemma using
add_comm, and then use it to do the desired rewrite.
Theorem plus_rearrange : ∀ n m p q : nat,
(n + m) + (p + q) = (m + n) + (p + q).
Proof.
intros n m p q.
assert (H: n + m = m + n).
{ rewrite → add_comm. reflexivity. }
rewrite → H. reflexivity. Qed.
Formal vs. Informal Proof
"_Informal proofs are algorithms; formal proofs are code."
Theorem add_assoc' : ∀ n m p : nat,
n + (m + p) = (n + m) + p.
Proof. intros n m p. induction n as [| n' IHn']. reflexivity.
simpl. rewrite → IHn'. reflexivity. Qed.
Coq is perfectly happy with this. For a human, however, it
is difficult to make much sense of it. We can use comments and
bullets to show the structure a little more clearly...
Theorem add_assoc'' : ∀ n m p : nat,
n + (m + p) = (n + m) + p.
Proof.
intros n m p. induction n as [| n' IHn'].
- (* n = 0 *)
reflexivity.
- (* n = S n' *)
simpl. rewrite → IHn'. reflexivity. Qed.
... and if you're used to Coq you may be able to step
through the tactics one after the other in your mind and imagine
the state of the context and goal stack at each point, but if the
proof were even a little bit more complicated this would be next
to impossible.
A (pedantic) mathematician might write the proof something like
this:
The overall form of the proof is basically similar, and of
course this is no accident: Coq has been designed so that its
induction tactic generates the same sub-goals, in the same
order, as the bullet points that a mathematician would write. But
there are significant differences of detail: the formal proof is
much more explicit in some ways (e.g., the use of reflexivity)
but much less explicit in others (in particular, the "proof state"
at any given point in the Coq proof is completely implicit,
whereas the informal proof reminds the reader several times where
things stand).
Theorem: Addition is commutative.
Proof: (* FILL IN HERE *)
- Theorem: For any n, m and p,
n + (m + p) = (n + m) + p.- First, suppose n = 0. We must show that
0 + (m + p) = (0 + m) + p. - Next, suppose n = S n', where
n' + (m + p) = (n' + m) + p.
(S n') + (m + p) = ((S n') + m) + p.
S (n' + (m + p)) = S ((n' + m) + p),
- First, suppose n = 0. We must show that
Exercise: 2 stars, advanced, especially useful (add_comm_informal)
Translate your solution for add_comm into an informal proof:(* Do not modify the following line: *)
Definition manual_grade_for_add_comm_informal : option (nat×string) := None.
☐
Exercise: 2 stars, standard, optional (eqb_refl_informal)
Write an informal proof of the following theorem, using the informal proof of add_assoc as a model. Don't just paraphrase the Coq tactics into English!☐
More Exercises
Exercise: 3 stars, standard, especially useful (mul_comm)
Use assert to help prove add_shuffle3. You don't need to use induction yet.Theorem add_shuffle3 : ∀ n m p : nat,
n + (m + p) = m + (n + p).
Proof.
(* FILL IN HERE *) Admitted.
Now prove commutativity of multiplication. You will probably
want to define and prove a "helper" theorem to be used
in the proof of this one. Hint: what is n × (1 + k)?
Exercise: 3 stars, standard, optional (more_exercises)
Take a piece of paper. For each of the following theorems, first think about whether (a) it can be proved using only simplification and rewriting, (b) it also requires case analysis (destruct), or (c) it also requires induction. Write down your prediction. Then fill in the proof. (There is no need to turn in your piece of paper; this is just to encourage you to reflect before you hack!)Check leb.
Theorem leb_refl : ∀ n:nat,
true = (n <=? n).
Proof.
(* FILL IN HERE *) Admitted.
Theorem zero_nbeq_S : ∀ n:nat,
0 =? (S n) = false.
Proof.
(* FILL IN HERE *) Admitted.
Theorem andb_false_r : ∀ b : bool,
andb b false = false.
Proof.
(* FILL IN HERE *) Admitted.
Theorem plus_ble_compat_l : ∀ n m p : nat,
n <=? m = true → (p + n) <=? (p + m) = true.
Proof.
(* FILL IN HERE *) Admitted.
Theorem S_nbeq_0 : ∀ n:nat,
(S n) =? 0 = false.
Proof.
(* FILL IN HERE *) Admitted.
Theorem mult_1_l : ∀ n:nat, 1 × n = n.
Proof.
(* FILL IN HERE *) Admitted.
Theorem all3_spec : ∀ b c : bool,
orb
(andb b c)
(orb (negb b)
(negb c))
= true.
Proof.
(* FILL IN HERE *) Admitted.
Theorem mult_plus_distr_r : ∀ n m p : nat,
(n + m) × p = (n × p) + (m × p).
Proof.
(* FILL IN HERE *) Admitted.
Theorem mult_assoc : ∀ n m p : nat,
n × (m × p) = (n × m) × p.
Proof.
(* FILL IN HERE *) Admitted.
☐
Exercise: 2 stars, standard, optional (add_shuffle3')
The replace tactic allows you to specify a particular subterm to rewrite and what you want it rewritten to: replace (t) with (u) replaces (all copies of) expression t in the goal by expression u, and generates t = u as an additional subgoal. This is often useful when a plain rewrite acts on the wrong part of the goal.Theorem add_shuffle3' : ∀ n m p : nat,
n + (m + p) = m + (n + p).
Proof.
(* FILL IN HERE *) Admitted.
☐
Exercise: 3 stars, standard, especially useful (binary_commute)
Recall the incr and bin_to_nat functions that you wrote for the binary exercise in the Basics chapter. Prove that the following diagram commutes:incr bin ----------------------> bin | | bin_to_nat | | bin_to_nat | | v v nat ----------------------> nat SThat is, incrementing a binary number and then converting it to a (unary) natural number yields the same result as first converting it to a natural number and then incrementing. Name your theorem bin_to_nat_pres_incr ("pres" for "preserves").
(* FILL IN HERE *)
(* Do not modify the following line: *)
Definition manual_grade_for_binary_commute : option (nat×string) := None.
☐
Exercise: 5 stars, advanced (binary_inverse)
This is a further continuation of the previous exercises about binary numbers. You may find you need to go back and change your earlier definitions to get things to work here.
Prove that, if we start with any nat, convert it to binary, and
convert it back, we get the same nat we started with. (Hint: If
your definition of nat_to_bin involved any extra functions, you
may need to prove a subsidiary lemma showing how such functions
relate to nat_to_bin.)
Theorem nat_bin_nat : ∀ n, bin_to_nat (nat_to_bin n) = n.
Proof.
(* FILL IN HERE *) Admitted.
(* Do not modify the following line: *)
Definition manual_grade_for_binary_inverse_a : option (nat×string) := None.
(b) One might naturally expect that we should also prove the
opposite direction -- that starting with a binary number,
converting to a natural, and then back to binary should yield
the same number we started with. However, this is not the
case! Explain (in a comment) what the problem is.
(* FILL IN HERE *)
(* Do not modify the following line: *)
Definition manual_grade_for_binary_inverse_b : option (nat×string) := None.
(c) Define a normalization function -- i.e., a function
normalize going directly from bin to bin (i.e., not by
converting to nat and back) such that, for any binary number
b, converting b to a natural and then back to binary yields
(normalize b). Prove it. (Warning: This part is a bit
tricky -- you may end up defining several auxiliary lemmas.
One good way to find out what you need is to start by trying
to prove the main statement, see where you get stuck, and see
if you can find a lemma -- perhaps requiring its own inductive
proof -- that will allow the main proof to make progress.) Don't
define this using nat_to_bin and bin_to_nat!
(* FILL IN HERE *)
(* Do not modify the following line: *)
Definition manual_grade_for_binary_inverse_c : option (nat×string) := None.
☐
(* 2021-03-18 17:23 *)