Relating description complexity to entropy

We demonstrate novel links between entropy and description complexity, a notion referring to the minimal formula length for specifying given properties. Let PLC denote propositional logic with the ability to count assignments, and let PLC 1 be the fragment that counts only to one, essentially quantifying assignments. In the finite, PLC 1 is expressively complete for specifying sets of variable assignments, while PLC is expressively complete for multisets. We show that for both logics, the model classes with maximal Boltzmann entropy are the ones with maximal description complexity. Concerning PLC, we show that expected Boltzmann entropy is asymptotically equivalent to expected description complexity multiplied by the number of proposition symbols considered. For contrast, we prove this link breaks for first-order logic over vocabularies with higher-arity relations. Our results relate to links between Kolmogorov complexity and entropy, providing analogous results in the logic-based scenario with relational structures classified by formulas of different sizes.

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Publication Details

Journal
Journal of Computer and System Sciences
Published
2024-12-11
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcss.2024.103615
Primary Topic
AI-based Problem Solving and Planning
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00

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article

Relating description complexity to entropy

Miikka Vilander, Antti Kuusisto, Reijo Jaakkola
Journal of Computer and System Sciences
AI-based Problem Solving and Planning
article

Relating description complexity to entropy

Miikka Vilander, Antti Kuusisto, Reijo Jaakkola
article en

Abstract

We demonstrate novel links between entropy and description complexity, a notion referring to the minimal formula length for specifying given properties. Let PLC denote propositional logic with the ability to count assignments, and let PLC 1 be the fragment that counts only to one, essentially quantifying assignments. In the finite, PLC 1 is expressively complete for specifying sets of variable assignments, while PLC is expressively complete for multisets. We show that for both logics, the model classes with maximal Boltzmann entropy are the ones with maximal description complexity. Concerning PLC, we show that expected Boltzmann entropy is asymptotically equivalent to expected description complexity multiplied by the number of proposition symbols considered. For contrast, we prove this link breaks for first-order logic over vocabularies with higher-arity relations. Our results relate to links between Kolmogorov complexity and entropy, providing analogous results in the logic-based scenario with relational structures classified by formulas of different sizes.

Journal of Computer and System SciencesVol. 149
University of Helsinki (FI), Tampere University (FI), Helsinki Institute of Physics (FI)
Academy of Finland
Openalex Percentile: Top 79%
AI-based Problem Solving and Planning
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