Changes to the Mathematical Language of Event-B

This document describes the evolution of the Event-B mathematical language that will soon take place. The previous version of the language will still be supported.

Identity and Projections

Three operators were still unary while they could be atomic:

• the identity relation $\id$
• the first projection $\prjone$
• the second projection $\prjtwo$

These operators are defined as follows:

$\begin{matrix} E\mapsto F &\in\id(S) && E\in S\;\land\; F = E\\ (E\mapsto F)\mapsto G &\in\prjone(r) && E\mapsto F\in r\;\land\; G = E\\ (E\mapsto F)\mapsto G &\in\prjtwo(r) && E\mapsto F\in r\;\land\; G = F . \end{matrix}$

If we drop the parameter, we get much more straightforward definitions that capture the essence of the operator. The new definitions are

$\begin{matrix} E\mapsto F &\in\id && E = F\\ (E\mapsto F)\mapsto G &\in\prjone && E = G\\ (E\mapsto F)\mapsto G &\in\prjtwo && F = G . \end{matrix}$

We have the following equivalence between the old and the new versions of the operators

$\begin{matrix} \textbf{Old Version} & \textbf{New Version}\\ \id(S) & S\domres id\\ \prjone(r) & r\domres\prjone\\ \prjtwo(r) & r\domres\prjtwo . \end{matrix}$

Moreover, in the case where the parameter is not needed, then it can be dropped altogether: no domain restriction is needed. For instance, to express that a relation $r$ is irreflexive, one would now write $r\binter\id = \emptyset$.

Partition

A new partition predicate is introduced. It is intended to provide an easier way to enter enumerated sets, while getting rid of the $\frac{n(n-1)}{2}$ axioms needed to express pairwise distinctness (or disjointness). The partition operator is defined as follows:

$\begin{array}{ll}
 partition(E_0, E_1, \ldots, E_n)\defi &
  E_0 = E_1\bunion \cdots\bunion E_n \\ &
  \;\land\; E_1\binter E_2=\emptyset
  \;\land\;\cdots
  \;\land\; E_{n-1}\binter E_n = \emptyset \\ &
  (\;\land\; i \ne j \limp E_i \binter E_j = \emptyset ) \\
 \end{array}$

where the $E_i$ are expressions bearing the same type.

Then, we can enter into a context :

$\begin{array}{ll}
    \mathsf{set}  & S\\
    \mathsf{constant}  & a_1\\
    \vdots & \vdots\\
    \mathsf{constant}  & a_n\\
    \mathsf{axiom}  & partition(S, \{a_1\}, \ldots, \{a_n\})
  \end{array}$

which is a particular case of a set being defined by listing all its elements.

Operator Associativity

Operators used to build sets of relations or functions, viz.

• relation
• total relation
• surjective relation
• total surjective relation
• partial function
• total function
• partial injection
• total injection
• partial surjection
• total surjection
• bijection

have no more relative priorities and lose associativity. Instead, users have to make it explicit by entering parenthesis in formulas.