resolution
     n 1: a formal expression by a meeting; agreed to by a vote [syn:
          declaration, resolve]
     2: the ability of a microscope or telescope to measure the
        angular separation of images that are close together [syn:
         resolving power]
     3: the trait of being resolute; firmness of purpose; "his
        resoluteness carried him through the battle"; "it was his
        unshakeable resolution to finish the work" [syn: resoluteness,
         firmness, resolve] [ant: irresoluteness]
     4: finding a solution to a problem [syn: solving]
     5: something settled or resolved; the outcome of decision
        making; "the finally reached a settlement with the union";
        "they never did achieve a final resolution of their
        differences"; "he needed to grieve before he could achieve
        a sense of closure" [syn: settlement, closure]
     6: analysis into clear-cut components [syn: resolving]
     7: (computer science) the number of pixels per square inch on a
        computer-generated display; the greater the resolution,
        the better the picture
     8: the subsidence of swelling or others signs of inflammation
        (especially in a lung)
     9: (music) a dissonant chord is followed by a consonant chord
        [ant: preparation]
     10: a statement that solves a problem or explains how to solve
         the problem; "they were trying to find a peaceful
         solution"; "the answers were in the back of the book";
         "he computed the result to four decimal places" [syn: solution,
          answer, result, solvent]
     11: a decision to do something or to behave in a certain manner;
         "he always wrote down his New Year's resolutions"

Resolution \Res`o*lu"tion\ (-l?"sh?n), n. [F. r['e]solution. L.
   resolutio a loosening, solution. See Resolve.]
   1. The act, operation, or process of resolving. Specifically:
      (a) The act of separating a compound into its elements or
          component parts.
      (b) The act of analyzing a complex notion, or solving a
          vexed question or difficult problem.

                The unraveling and resolution of the
                difficulties that are met with in the execution
                of the design are the end of an action.
                                                  --Dryden.

   2. The state of being relaxed; relaxation. [Obs.]

   3. The state of being resolved, settled, or determined;
      firmness; steadiness; constancy; determination.

            Be it with resolution then to fight.  --Shak.

   4. That which is resolved or determined; a settled purpose;
      determination. Specifically: A formal expression of the
      opinion or will of an official body or a public assembly,
      adopted by vote; as, a legislative resolution; the
      resolutions of a public meeting.

   5. The state of being resolved or firm in opinion or thought;
      conviction; assurance. [Obs.]

            Little resolution and certainty there is as touching
            the islands of Mauritania.            --Holland.

   6. (Math.) The act or process of solving; solution; as, the
      resolution of an equation or problem.

   7. (Med.) A breaking up, disappearance; or termination, as of
      a fever, a tumor, or the like.

   8. (Mus.) The passing of a dissonant into a consonant chord
      by the rising or falling of the note which makes the
      discord.

   Joint resolution. See under Joint, a.

   Resolution of a force or motion (Mech.), the separation
      of a single force or motion into two or more which have
      different directions, and, taken together, are an
      equivalent for the single one; -- the opposite of
      composition of a force.

   Resolution of a nebula (Astron.), the exhibition of it to
      the eye by a telescope of such power as to show it to be
      composed of small stars.

   Syn: Decision; analysis; separation; disentanglement;
        dissolution; resolvedness; resoluteness; firmness;
        constancy; perseverance; steadfastness; fortitude;
        boldness; purpose; resolve. See Decision.

resolution

        1. <hardware> the maximum number of pixels that can be
        displayed on a monitor, expressed as (number of horizontal
        pixels) x (number of vertical pixels), i.e., 1024x768.  The
        ratio of horizontal to vertical resolution is usually 4:3, the
        same as that of conventional television sets.

        2. <logic> A mechanical method for proving statements of
        first order logic, introduced by J. A. Robinson in 1965.
        Resolution is applied to two clauses in a sentence.  It
        eliminates, by unification, a literal that occurs
        "positive" in one and "negative" in the other to produce a new
        clause, the resolvent.

        For example, given the sentence:

        	(man(X) => mortal(X))  AND  man(socrates).

        The literal "man(X)" is "negative".  The literal
        "man(socrates)" could be considered to be on the right hand
        side of the degenerate implication

        	True => man(socrates)

        and is therefore "positive".  The two literals can be unified
        by the binding X = socrates.

        The truth table for the implication function is

        	A | B | A => B
        	--+---+-------
        	F | F |   T
        	F | T |   T
        	T | F |   F
        	T | T |   T

        (The implication only fails if its premise is true but its
        conclusion is false).  From this we can see that

        	A => B   ==   (NOT A) OR B

        Which is why the left hand side of the implication is said to
        be negative and the right positive.  The sentence above could
        thus be written

        	((NOT man(socrates)) OR mortal(socrates))
        	AND
        	man(socrates)

        Distributing the AND over the OR gives

        	((NOT man(socrates)) AND man(socrates))
        	OR
        	mortal(socrates) AND man(socrates)

        And since (NOT A) AND A == False, and False OR A == A we can
        simplify to just

        	mortal(socrates) AND man(socrates)

        So we have proved the new literal, mortal(socrates).

        Resolution with backtracking is the basic control mechanism
        of Prolog.

        See also modus ponens, SLD Resolution.

        3. <networking> address resolution.

        (1996-02-09)