Algorithms for SAT/TAUT decision based on various measures

We investigate algorithms deciding propositional tautologies for DNF and coNP--complete subclasses given by restrictions on the number of occurrences of literals. Especially polynomial use of resolution for reductions in combination with a new combinatorial principle called "Generalized Sign Principle" is studied. Upper bounds on time complexity are given with exponential part 2 ff\Delta(F ) where the measure (F ) for a clause set F either is the number n(F ) of variables, the number `(F ) of literal occurrences or the number k(F ) of clauses. ff is called a "power coefficient" for the class of formulas under consideration w.r.t. measure . Power coefficients are derived with the help of a method estimating the size of trees, which is also used to find "good" branching rules. Under natural conditions power coefficients ff; fi; fl for n; k; ` respectively fulfill ff fi fl. We obtain the following power coefficients. - 0:1112 for DNF w.r.t. ` - 0:3334 for DNF w.r.t. k These result..