Automated Reasoning and Equation Solving with the Characteristic Set Method

A brief introduction to the characteristic set method is given for solving algebraic equation systems and then the method is extended to algebraic difference systems. The method can be used to decompose the zero set for a difference polynomial set in general form to the union of difference polynomial sets in triangular form. Based on the characteristic set method, a decision procedure for the first order theory over an algebraically closed field and a procedure to prove certain difference identities are proposed.