Algorithmic Introduction of Quantified Cuts

Abstract

We describe a method for inverting Gentzen's cut-elimination in classical first-order logic. Our algorithm is based on first computign a compressed representation of the terms present in the cut-free proof and then cut-formulas that realize such a compression. Finally, a proof using these cut-formulas is constructed. This method allows an exponential compression of proof length. It can be applied to the output of automated theorem provers, which typically produce analytic proofs. An implementation is available on the web and described in this paper.