Description
1 Background
In this assignment you will write a LISP program to solve the satisfiability
(SAT) problem. In particular, given a propositional sentence ∆ in conjunctive normal form (CNF), you will decide whether ∆ is satisfiable. The SAT
problem can be easily formulated as a constraint satisfaction problem (CSP).
Conjunctive Normal Form (CNF): A propositional sentence ∆ is in
CNF if and only if it is a conjunction of clauses, where a clause is a disjunction of literals (a literal is a variable or its negation).
Example 1 The following sentence ∆ is a CNF with three clauses, which
is defined over binary variables X, Y, and Z.
∆ = (X ∨ ¬Y ∨ Z) ∧ ¬X ∧ (¬Y ∨ ¬Z)
Clauses:
(1) X ∨ ¬Y ∨ Z
(2) ¬X
(3) ¬Y ∨ ¬Z
Variables: X, Y, Z
Literals: X, ¬Y, Z, ¬X, ¬Z
Satifiability (SAT): A CNF is satisfiable if and only if there exists a complete variable assignment that satisfies the CNF (otherwise, it is unsatisfiable). In this case, the corresponding variable assignment is called a model
of the CNF. A CNF is satisfied if and only if each of its clauses is satisfied.
Example 2 ∆ from Example 1 is T rue given the variable assignment
ω = {X = F alse, Y = F alse, Z = T rue}.
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Therefore, ∆ is satisfiable, and the complete variable assignment ω is a
model of ∆ (note that there is another model of ∆).
In this homework, given a propositional sentence in CNF, you need to
decide whether this sentence is satisfiable or not. We refer to this problem
as the SAT problem.
SAT as a constraint satisfaction problem (CSP): Basically, variables
of the CNF will correspond to the variables of the CSP, each having a
domain with two values (i.e., True and False), and each clause of the CNF
will represent a constraint of the CSP. Then a solution to the CSP will
correspond to a model of the CNF, and vice versa.
2 Your task
In this assignment, your task is to treat the SAT as a CSP and solve it using
backtracking search while detecting states that violate constraints. You are
encouraged to use techniques discussed in class to improve the performance
of backtracking search, such as variable ordering and forward checking in
particular.
Representation of CNF in LISP: You are supposed to represent a CNF
in LISP as follows:
• A variable is an integer indexing from 1 to n, where n is the number
of variables of the CNF. So, a positive literal can be represented by
a positive integer. Respectively, a negative literal can be represented
by a negative integer. (e.g., Positive literal of variable 2 is 2, and the
negative literal of variable 2 is -2).
• A clause is a list of integers. For example, the list(1 -2 3) represents
the clause (1 ∨ ¬2 ∨ 3). Note that a unit clause is also represented as
a list, e.g., the list (−2) represents the unit clause -2.
• A CNF is a list of lists.
Example 3 ∆ from Example 1 will be represented by the list
((1 -2 3) (-1) (-2 -3))
where variables X, Y and Z are indexed by 1, 2, and 3, respectively.
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Function signature: Given this representation, your top-level function
must have the following signature:
(defun sat? (n delta)…)
where n is an integer and delta is a CNF defined over n variables. If delta is
satisfiable, function sat? returns a list of n integers, representing a model
of delta, otherwise it returns NIL.
When a CNF has more than one model, sat? can return any of the
models, and the order of literals in the model is arbitrary.
Example 4
(sat? 3 ’((1 -2 3) (-1) (-2 -3))) returns (-1 -2 3)
Explanation:
• For CNF (X ∨ ¬Y ∨ Z) ∧ ¬X ∧ (¬Y ∨ ¬Z), one of its model is {X =
F alse, Y = F alse, Z = T rue}, which can be represented by (-1 -2
3).
• The order of literals in the model is arbitrary, so (-2 -1 3) is also a
valid result to return.
• {X = F alse, Y = F alse, Z = F alse} also satisfies this CNF, so (-1
-2 -3) is a valid result, too.
Example 5
(sat? 1 ’((1) (-1))) returns NIL
Explanation: X ∧ ¬X is not satisfiable.
3 Reading CNF files to test your program
The following files coming with the assignment may help you test your program.
(1) Folder cnfs/: To help you test your program with bigger CNFs, We
provide you with some CNF files in DIMACS format (see below for details about this format), where the CNFs become harder as the number of
variables increases. See the folder cnfs/ coming with the assignment.
(2) hw4-skeleton.lsp: We provide you with the LISP code that can parse
the CNF files in DIMACS format in hw4-skeleton.lsp. In particular, after
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completing your sat? implementation, you can call solve-cnf to test your
program on the CNF files. Usage:
(solve-cnf <path-to-cnf-file>)
e.g.,(solve-cnf “./cnfs/f1/sat f1.cnf”)
DIMACS format: A common and easy way to represent CNFs is through
DIMACS file format. Consider the following CNF which is over binary
variables 1, 2, and 3:
(1 ∨ ¬2 ∨ 3) ∧ −1 ∧ (¬2 ∨ ¬3) ∧ 3
This CNF can be represented using DIMACS format as follows
1. c this is a comment line
2. p cnf 3 4
3. 1 -2 3 0
4. -1 0
5. -2 -3 0
6. 3 0
In general, a CNF file may start with a number of comment lines, where
each such line must begin with lowercase c. Next, we must have what is
known as the ”problem line”, which begins with lowercase p, followed by
cnf followed by the number of variables n, followed by the number of clauses
m. This followed by clause lines. A clause line is defined by listing clause
literals one by one, where a negative literal is preceded by a – sign. The
end of a clause is defined by 0. Note that variables are indexed from 1 to
n. There can also be comments in between clause lines. In this homework,
you can use the provided functions in hw4-skeleton.lsp to read and parse
DIMACS files.
4 Grading
Your submission will be evaluated by two measures: (i) correctness and (ii)
speed.
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(i) 75% of the grade will be based on correctness.
(ii) The last 25% will be based on whether you can correctly solve the SAT
problems in files f1, f2, f3, f4, and f5 within 10 minutes each (5 points for
each problem).
5 Submission & Rules
• Submit your commented LISP program in a file named hw4.lsp via
CCLE
• Your programs will be evaluated under CLISP interpreter. In order
to get any scores, you need to make sure the following LISP command
does not produce any errors in CLISP interpreter.
> (load “hw4.lsp”)
• The functions you are allowed to use are the same as those allowed in
past assignments.
• You are allowed to use as many helper functions as you want.
• All input to your function will be legal (i.e., you do not need to validate
inputs)
6 Honor Code
Remember that you cannot use any outside references for this or any assignment. However, you are allowed (and encourage) to experiment with actual
SAT solver (which can be found online). Obtaining test problems and testing SAT solver from the Internet are acceptable. It is not acceptable to
copy solution for any function you have to write. In general, any idea that
is not originally yours must be attributed to the appropriate sources. If you
have any questions, please contact the TA.
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