Finding the Hardest Formulas for Resolution (Extended Abstract)

A CNF formula is harder than another CNF formula with the same number of clauses if it requires a longer resolution proof. We introduce resolution hardness numbers; they give for m=1,2,... the length of a shortest proof of a hardest formula on m clauses. We compute the first ten resolution hardness numbers, along with the corresponding hardest formulas. To achieve this, we devise a candidate filtering and symmetry breaking search scheme for limiting the number of potential candidates for hardest formulas, and an efficient SAT encoding for computing a shortest resolution proof of a given candidate formula.