A proof-theoretic approach to hierarchical math library organization

Abstract

The relationship between theorems and lemmas in mathematical reasoning is often vague. No system existe that formalizes the structure of theorems in a mathematical library. Nevertheless, the decisions we make in creating lemmas provide an inherent hierarchical structure to the statements we prove. In this paper, we develop a formal system that organizes theorems based on scope. Lemmas are simply theorems with a local scope. We develop a representation of proofs that captures scope and present a set of proof rules to create and reorganize the scopes of theorems and lemmas. The representation and rules allow systems for formalized mathematics to more accurately reflect the natural structure of mathematical knowledge. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2006.