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Abstract for PhD Dissertation Oral Exam (May 19, 1976)

Title: Discovery in Mathematics as Heuristic Search

Douglas B. Lenat
Computer Science Department


A computer  program has been  written which  creatively uses a  large
network  of  concepts,  techniques, and  data  to  enlarge that  same
knowledge base.   The  subject matter  was chosen  to be  "elementary
mathematics," and the program manages to do some rudimentary research
in number theory.

The  representation  of  concepts  as  active,  structured  knowledge
modules provides  a  definite "space"  for  the program  to  explore.
Hundreds of  "local" heuristic rules are relied  upon, to effectively
guide the investigations.