jrfang%peruvian.utah.edu@cs.utah.edu (05/31/90)
Hi,
  We have an assignment in this quarter about backward chaining. I try to 
use Turbo Prolog, but it seems has many troubles in it. 
/* Things that can be asked of the user are recorded as:
         askable(<goal>).
   Rules are recorded as:
         rule(<name>, <lhs-goal>, [<rhs-goal-1>, ..., <rhs-goal-n>]).
   Queries are written as:
         [<goal-1>, ..., <goal-n>] */
/* The empty query is always successful. */
backward([]).
/* A singleton query can be answered by the user if it is askable. */
backward([Goal]) :-
  askable(Goal),
  askUser(Goal).
/* A singleton query can be expanded if a rule is applicable. */
backward([Goal]) :-
  rule(_, Goal, Condition),
  backward(Condition).
/* A compound query can be solved recursively. */
backward([Goal | Goals]) :-
  \+(Goals = []),
  backward([Goal]),
  backward(Goals).
/* We assume that Goal is variable free.  This succeeds if the user says
   yes, explains and retries if the user says why,  and fails otherwise. */
askUser(Goal) :-
  write('Is this true: '),
  write(Goal),
  nl,
  read(X),
  (X = yes; (X = why, write('Unknown'), nl, askUser(Goal, Why))).
/* Now some sample program rules. */
rule(r1, isMammal(X), [hasHair(X), warmBlooded(X)]).
rule(r2, isBird(X), [hasFeathers(X), laysEggs(X)]).
rule(r4, isCat(X), [isMammal(X), purrs(X)]).
rule(r5, isRobin(X), [isBird(X), canFly(X)]).
rule(r5, isEmu(X), [isBird(X), cantFly(X)]).
askable(hasHair(_)).
askable(warmBlooded(_)).
askable(hasFeathers(_)).
askable(laysEggs(_)).
askable(purrs(_)).
askable(canFly(_)).
askable(cantFly(_)).
How can I transfer the clause like
  rule(r1, isMammal(X), [hasHair(X), warmBlooded(X)]).
into Turbo Prolog? It seems in Turbo Prolog does not have the form like
(..[..[..]..]) (not list).
Thank!!!
--------