Homogeneous length functions on Groups: Intertwined computer & human proofs

Abstract

We describe a case of an interplay between human and computer proving which played a role in the discovery of an interesting mathematical result. The unusual feature of the use of computers here was that a computer generated but human readable proof was read, understood, generalized and abstracted by mathematicians to obtain the key lemma in an interesting mathematical result.

to appear in Journal of Automated Reasoning