The ROBDD size of simple CNF formulas

Michael Langberg, Amir Pnueli, Yoav Rodeh

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterpeer-review

Abstract

Reduced Ordered Binary Decision diagrams (ROBDDs) are nowadays one of the most common dynamic data structures for Boolean functions. Among the many areas of application are verification, model checking, and computer aided design. In the last few years, SAT checkers, based on the CNF representation of Boolean functions are getting more and more attention as an alternative to the ROBDD based methods. We show the difference between the CNF representation and the ROBDD representation in one of the most degenerate cases - random monotone 2CNF formulas. We examine this model and give almost matching lower and upper bounds for the ROBDD size in different cases, and show that as soon as the formulas are non-trivial the ROBDD size becomes exponential, thus showing perhaps one of the most fundamental advantages of SAT solvers over ROBDDs.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationLecture Notes in Computer Science (including subseries Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence and Lecture Notes in Bioinformatics)
EditorsDaniel Geist, Enrico Tronci
PublisherSpringer Verlag
Pages363-377
Number of pages15
ISBN (Print)354020363X
DOIs
StatePublished - 2003
Externally publishedYes

Publication series

NameLecture Notes in Computer Science (including subseries Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence and Lecture Notes in Bioinformatics)
Volume2860
ISSN (Print)0302-9743
ISSN (Electronic)1611-3349

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