Point-and-write --- Documenting Formal Mathematics by Reference

TL;DR

This paper presents a lightweight, web-based system for integrating formal mathematical content into informal writings through RDF-based representations, exporting formal library data, and referencing formal texts in informal narratives.

Contribution

It introduces a novel three-stage mechanism for embedding formal mathematics into informal documents, demonstrated within the Agora collaborative platform.

Findings

Successful implementation within the Agora Wiki

Enhanced referencing of formal mathematics in informal texts

Facilitates collaboration on formalized mathematics

Abstract

This paper describes the design and implementation of mechanisms for light-weight inclusion of formal mathematics in informal mathematical writings, particularly in a Web-based setting. This is conceptually done in three stages: (i) by choosing a suitable representation layer (based on RDF) for encoding the information about available resources of formal mathematics, (ii) by exporting this information from formal libraries, and (iii) by providing syntax and implementation for including formal mathematics in informal writings. We describe the use case of an author referring to formal text from an informal narrative, and discuss design choices entailed by this use case. Furthermore, we describe an implementation of the use case within the Agora prototype: a Wiki for collaborating on formalized mathematics.