inference rule

1 definition found

inference rule - Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (26 May 2007) :

  inference rule
  
     <logic> A procedure which combines known facts to produce
     ("infer") new facts.  For example, given that
  
     	1. Socrates is a man and that
     	2. all men are motal,
  
     we can infer that Socrates is mortal.  This uses the rule
     known as "modus ponens" which can be written in Boolean algebra
      as
  
     	(A & A => B) => B
  
     (if proposition A is true, and A implies B, then B is true).
  
     Or given that,
  
     	1. Either Denis is programming or Denis is sad and
     	2. Denis is not sad,
  
     we can infer that Denis is programming.  This rule can be
     written
  
     	((A OR B) & not B) => A
  
     (If either A is true or B is true (or both), and B is false,
     then A must be true).
  
     (1994-10-31)