Symbolic Differentiation in Prolog: Elegant DCGs and Efficient Tabling
2025-03-12
This article demonstrates symbolic differentiation using Prolog and its powerful definite clause grammars (DCGs). It begins by explaining fundamental calculus concepts, particularly the definition and rules of differentiation. A mathematical expression parser is then constructed using DCGs, transforming string-based expressions into abstract syntax trees (ASTs). To address left recursion, tabling is employed for efficiency. Finally, simplification rules refine the derivative results. The process highlights Prolog's strengths in symbolic computation, showcasing its elegance and efficiency.
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Symbolic Differentiation