Accession Number:

ADB031358

Title:

Axiomatic Analysis

Descriptive Note:

Final rept. Aug 1977-Sep 1978

Corporate Author:

HIGHER ORDER SOFTWARE INC CAMBRIDGE MA

Personal Author(s):

Report Date:

1978-09-01

Pagination or Media Count:

239.0

Abstract:

The basic concepts of the HOS systems theory and design methodology are developed. Notions like structure, data type, variable, value, function, tree, node, data structure, primitive operations, and universal primitive operations are elaborated and a distinction is drawn between a theory as a discovery procedure and as a set of constraints. Functions, algebras, and control maps are discussed in connection with data type specification, and the potential use of HOS in artificial intelligence and cognitive modelling is explored, including the possible use of HOS as a model for lexical semantics. Some mathematical results relating the HOS primitive control structures to mathematical category theory are derived and the relevance of the theory of fuzzy sets and fuzzy logic to the BMD environment is examined. Four notational frameworks for specifying BMD-related systems and requirements are compared and evaluated along the dimensions of expressive power and perspicuity.

Descriptors:

• *SYSTEMS ANALYSIS
• *SYSTEMS MANAGEMENT
• ALGEBRAIC FUNCTIONS
• DESIGN TO COST
• FUNCTIONS(MATHEMATICS)
• MATHEMATICAL LOGIC

Subject Categories:

• Statistics and Probability

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE