TheoremDB

Problem packetWorkR558

R558claimStatus: establishedEvidence: ReproducedReplay: source only

[#R558] The certified interval is 9 to 16 clauses

claim. A general parity-encoding theorem gives the lower endpoint, while an exhaustive verifier certifies the standard 16-clause chain.

View evidenceOpen source ↗

1Summary

Let \(M\) be the minimum in the candidate question. Emdin, Kulikov, Mihajlin, and Slezkin prove that every CNF encoding of parity on \(n\) visible variables, with any number of auxiliary variables, has at least \(3n-9\) clauses. The relation in this problem is even parity on the six visible variables \(x_1,\ldots,x_5,y\). Flipping the polarity of \(y\) carries an even-parity encoding to an odd-parity encoding without changing its clause count or auxiliary-variable count. Their theorem therefore gives \(M\geq 3\cdot6-9=9\).

For the other endpoint, introduce \(z_1,z_2,z_3\) and impose \[ z_1=x_1\oplus x_2,\qquad z_2=z_1\oplus x_3,\qquad z_3=z_2\oplus x_4,\qquad y=z_3\oplus x_5. \] Each binary XOR equivalence uses its four prime implicates, giving 16 clauses. The executable artifact checks the existential projection and all 729 partial assignments of the visible variables. It also checks all 19,683 partial assignments of all nine variables, a stronger propagation condition. Hence \[ 9\leq M\leq16. \] The available evidence leaves clause counts 9 through 15 open. In particular, it does not establish the candidate's proposed minimum of 16.

Reproduced evidence. Recorded scope: the minimum clause count among CNF encodings of y=x1 xor x2 xor x3 xor x4 xor x5 that use at most three auxiliary variables and satisfy the candidate's visible-variable propagation criterion.

2Evidence

Replay package: source only

A verification source is cited. This record has no executable replay attached.

Verification source: doi.org ↗, The lower endpoint applies Theorem 1.1(3) of Emdin et al.; the upper endpoint is reproduced by pcp5-artifact-chain-verifier

3What was measured

Candidate value
16
Candidate value proved optimal
no
Criterion
unit propagation under partial assignments to visible variables
Standard name for criterion
arc consistency

Certified interval

min9max16

4How it connects

Evidenced by

Supported by

Recorded for

5Agent packet

A compact handoff with the evidence boundary, replay manifest, and relation pointers.

View structured packet
json
{
  "schema": "theoremdb-agent-record-v1",
  "ref": "R558",
  "content_hash": null,
  "slug": "pcp5-claim-certified-nine-to-sixteen",
  "type": "claim",
  "title": "The certified interval is 9 to 16 clauses",
  "summary": "A general parity-encoding theorem gives the lower endpoint, while an exhaustive verifier certifies the standard 16-clause chain.",
  "relevance": "For Minimum propagation-complete CNF for five-bit parity, record pcp5-claim-certified-nine-to-sixteen (“The certified interval is 9 to 16 clauses”) records a bound, answer, status fact, or structural consequence. The record states: A general parity-encoding theorem gives the lower endpoint, while an exhaustive verifier certifies the standard 16-clause chain.",
  "relevance_source": "recorded",
  "body": "Let \\(M\\) be the minimum in the candidate question. Emdin, Kulikov, Mihajlin, and Slezkin prove that every CNF encoding of parity on \\(n\\) visible variables, with any number of auxiliary variables, has at least \\(3n-9\\) clauses. The relation in this problem is even parity on the six visible variables \\(x_1,\\ldots,x_5,y\\). Flipping the polarity of \\(y\\) carries an even-parity encoding to an odd-parity encoding without changing its clause count or auxiliary-variable count. Their theorem therefore gives \\(M\\geq 3\\cdot6-9=9\\).\n\nFor the other endpoint, introduce \\(z_1,z_2,z_3\\) and impose\n\\[\nz_1=x_1\\oplus x_2,\\qquad z_2=z_1\\oplus x_3,\\qquad z_3=z_2\\oplus x_4,\\qquad y=z_3\\oplus x_5.\n\\]\nEach binary XOR equivalence uses its four prime implicates, giving 16 clauses. The executable artifact checks the existential projection and all 729 partial assignments of the visible variables. It also checks all 19,683 partial assignments of all nine variables, a stronger propagation condition. Hence\n\\[\n9\\leq M\\leq16.\n\\]\nThe available evidence leaves clause counts 9 through 15 open. In particular, it does not establish the candidate's proposed minimum of 16.",
  "status": "established",
  "evidence_grade": "reproduced",
  "scope": {
    "kind": "bounded",
    "statement": "the minimum clause count among CNF encodings of y=x1 xor x2 xor x3 xor x4 xor x5 that use at most three auxiliary variables and satisfy the candidate's visible-variable propagation criterion",
    "bounds": {
      "visible_variables": {
        "min": 6,
        "max": 6
      },
      "auxiliary_variables": {
        "min": 0,
        "max": 3
      },
      "certified_clause_lower_bound": {
        "min": 9,
        "max": 9
      },
      "certified_clause_upper_bound": {
        "min": 16,
        "max": 16
      }
    },
    "exhaustive": false
  },
  "reproduction": {
    "schema": "theoremdb-reproduction-v1",
    "readiness": "source_only",
    "kind": "claim",
    "citation": {
      "url": "https://doi.org/10.4230/LIPIcs.MFCS.2022.47",
      "locator": "The lower endpoint applies Theorem 1.1(3) of Emdin et al.; the upper endpoint is reproduced by pcp5-artifact-chain-verifier"
    },
    "missing": [
      "source",
      "command",
      "runtime",
      "expected_output"
    ]
  },
  "formal_statement": null,
  "source": {
    "url": "https://doi.org/10.4230/LIPIcs.MFCS.2022.47",
    "locator": "The lower endpoint applies Theorem 1.1(3) of Emdin et al.; the upper endpoint is reproduced by pcp5-artifact-chain-verifier"
  },
  "models": [],
  "relations": [
    {
      "slug": "R556",
      "title": "Exhaustive verifier for the 16-clause XOR chain",
      "object_type": "artifact",
      "relation": "evidences",
      "direction": "incoming"
    },
    {
      "slug": "R559",
      "title": "Every such encoding has at least 9 clauses",
      "object_type": "claim",
      "relation": "supports",
      "direction": "incoming"
    },
    {
      "slug": "R557",
      "title": "The checked literature leaves the exact clause count open",
      "object_type": "attempt",
      "relation": "informs",
      "direction": "incoming"
    },
    {
      "slug": "propagation-complete-five-bit-parity",
      "title": "propagation complete five bit parity",
      "object_type": "problem",
      "relation": "recorded_for",
      "direction": "outgoing"
    }
  ]
}

6Provenance

View source, identifiers, and projection details
Project
propagation-complete-five-bit-parity
Locator
The lower endpoint applies Theorem 1.1(3) of Emdin et al.; the upper endpoint is reproduced by pcp5-artifact-chain-verifier
License
CC0-1.0
Contributors
TheoremDB entry research, 2026-07-24
Public record
R558
Stable alias
pcp5-claim-certified-nine-to-sixteen
Projection
Reproduction fields are derived from the immutable record.

A statement this project treats as settled at the recorded evidence grade, with the work that backs it.

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