Formalizing Wu-Ritt Method in Lean 4
This work provides a foundational, machine-checked formalization of a key algebraic algorithm, enabling certified polynomial system solving and geometric theorem proving.
The authors formalize the Wu-Ritt characteristic set method for triangular decomposition of polynomial systems in the Lean 4 theorem prover, proving termination and correctness of the algorithms. This provides a machine-checked verification of the method.
We formalize the Wu-Ritt characteristic set method for the triangular decomposition of polynomial systems in the Lean 4 theorem prover. Our development includes the core algebraic notions of the method, such as polynomial initials, orders, pseudo-division, pseudo-remainders with respect to a polynomial or a triangular set, and standard and weak ascending sets. On this basis, we formalize algorithms for computing basic sets, characteristic sets, and zero decompositions, and prove their termination and correctness. In particular, we formalize the well-ordering principle relating a polynomial system to its characteristic set and verify that zero decomposition expresses the zero set of the original system as a union of zero sets of triangular sets away from the zeros of the corresponding initials. This work provides a machine-checked verification of Wu-Ritt's method in Lean 4 and establishes a foundation for certified polynomial system solving and geometric theorem proving.