Related papers: From Quantifier Depth to Quantifier Number: Separa…
We prove near-optimal trade-offs for quantifier depth versus number of variables in first-order logic by exhibiting pairs of $n$-element structures that can be distinguished by a $k$-variable first-order sentence but where every such…
Given two structures $G$ and $H$ distinguishable in $\fo k$ (first-order logic with $k$ variables), let $A^k(G,H)$ denote the minimum alternation depth of a $\fo k$ formula distinguishing $G$ from $H$. Let $A^k(n)$ be the maximum value of…
In 1981, Neil Immerman described a two-player game, which he called the "separability game" \cite{Immerman81}, that captures the number of quantifiers needed to describe a property in first-order logic. Immerman's paper laid the groundwork…
We study multi-structural games, played on two sets $\mathcal{A}$ and $\mathcal{B}$ of structures. These games generalize Ehrenfeucht-Fra\"{i}ss\'{e} games. Whereas Ehrenfeucht-Fra\"{i}ss\'{e} games capture the quantifier rank of a…
The number of quantifiers needed to express first-order (FO) properties is captured by two-player combinatorial games called multi-structural games. We analyze these games on binary strings with an ordering relation, using a technique we…
For any fixed positive integer $k$, let $\alpha_{k}$ denote the smallest $\alpha \in (0,1)$ such that the random graph sequence $\left\{G\left(n, n^{-\alpha}\right)\right\}$ does not satisfy the zero-one law for the set $\mathcal{E}_{k}$ of…
The number of quantifiers needed to express first-order properties is captured by two-player combinatorial games called multi-structural (MS) games. We play these games on linear orders and strings, and introduce a technique we call…
For fragments L of first-order logic (FO) with counting quantifiers, we consider the definability problem, which asks whether a given L-formula can be equivalently expressed by a formula in some fragment of L without counting, and the more…
Let $D(G)$ be the minimum quantifier depth of a first order sentence $\Phi$ that defines a graph $G$ up to isomorphism. Let $D_0(G)$ be the version of $D(G)$ where we do not allow quantifier alternations in $\Phi$. Define $q_0(n)$ to be the…
For every $q\in \mathbb N$ let $\textrm{FO}_q$ denote the class of sentences of first-order logic FO of quantifier rank at most $q$. If a graph property can be defined in $\textrm{FO}_q$, then it can be decided in time $O(n^q)$. Thus,…
Alternating quantifier depth is a natural measure of difficulty required to express first order logical sentences. We define a sequence of first order properties on rooted, locally finite trees in a recursive manner, and provide rigorous…
We indicate a way of distinguishing between structures, for which, two structures are said to be separable.Being separable implies being non-isomorphic. We show that for any first order theory $T$ in a countable language, if it has an…
We investigate the quantifier alternation hierarchy in first-order logic on finite words. Levels in this hierarchy are defined by counting the number of quantifier alternations in formulas. We prove that one can decide membership of a…
We identify complete fragments of the Simple Theory of Types with Infinity ($\mathrm{TSTI}$) and Quine's $\mathrm{NF}$ set theory. We show that $\mathrm{TSTI}$ decides every sentence $\phi$ in the language of type theory that is in one of…
We consider the fragment F of first order arithmetic in which quantification is restricted to ''for all but finitely many.'' We show that the integers form an F-elementary substructure of the real numbers. Consequently, the F-theory of…
We introduce tree-width for first order formulae \phi, fotw(\phi). We show that computing fotw is fixed-parameter tractable with parameter fotw. Moreover, we show that on classes of formulae of bounded fotw, model checking is fixed…
Recently, the separated fragment (SF) has been introduced and proved to be decidable. Its defining principle is that universally and existentially quantified variables may not occur together in atoms. The known upper bound on the time…
We show that on graphs with n vertices, the 2-dimensional Weisfeiler-Leman algorithm requires at most O(n^2/log(n)) iterations to reach stabilization. This in particular shows that the previously best, trivial upper bound of O(n^2) is…
The main purpose of this paper is to show that we can exploit the difference ($l_1$-norm and $l_2$-norm) in the probability calculation between quantum and probabilistic computations to claim the difference in their space efficiencies. It…
We investigate the following problem: given a sample of classified strings, find a first-order sentence of minimal quantifier rank that is consistent with the sample. We represent strings as successor string structures, that is, finite…