Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology

B.Sc. Special Honours Degree

in
Information Technology

End-Term Examination
Year 4, Semester 1 (2008)

Artificial Intelligence & Expert Systems (408)

Duration: 3 Hour

Friday, 25th April 2008

(Time 9.00 a.m – 12.00 noon)

Instruction to Candidates:
 This paper has 5 questions. Answer All Questions.
 Total Marks 100.
 This paper contains 4 pages with Cover Pager.
Question 1 (20 Marks)
a) Briefly describe Uninformed Search and Informed Search. Give 2 examples for
each type.
(6 marks)

b) Define what it means for a search algorithm to be complete and to be optimal.

(4 marks)

c) Define what it means for heuristic faction to be admissible.

(4 marks)

d) Describe the evaluation function of the A* search algorithm.

(6 marks)

Question 2 (20 Marks)

1. Convert each of the following English sentences into Predicate Logic , using
reasonably named predicates, functions, and constants.

a) Mary is tall and Bill is not.

b) Some dogs are tiny.
c) All of Picasso’s paintings are valuable.
d) Someone in Colombo likes pizza.
e) Everyone who likes ham also likes cheese

(10 marks)

2. Are the following sentences valid? Justify your answer using a truth table.

(i). [ (P  Q)  (Q  R) ]  (P  R)

(ii). [ (P  Q)  (Q  R) ]  (P  R)

(10 marks)

2
Question 3 (20 Marks)

Consider the following Prolog code:

ancestor(X,Z) :- parent(X,Z).
ancestor(X,Z) :- parent(X,Y), ancestor(Y,Z).

parent(alex, barbara).
parent(barbara, colin).
parent(colin, dolores).
parent(dolores, eric).

a) Complete the Visual Prolog program using the above code.

(10 marks)

b) What are the possible solutions to the GOAL, ancestor(X, eric)?

(10 marks)

Question 4 (20 Marks)

a) Describe an Expert System using suitable diagrams.

(5 marks)

b) Briefly describe Five (05) advantages of an Expert system.

(5 marks)

c) Compare & contrast a conventional program against an Expert system.

(5 marks)

d) Describe Knowledge Engineer’s responsibilities in the process of building an expert

system.
(5 marks)

3
Question 5 (20 Marks)

a) Briefly describe four (04) factors that need to be considered before building an
Expert System.
(4 marks)

b) Describe the operation of a Rule Based Expert System using a suitable diagram.

(8 marks)

c) Assume an Expert System consists of following rules and a basic fact.

If elephant(X) THEN mammal(X)

IF mammal(X) THEN animal(X)
elephant (Clyde)

Organize the above knowledge in a Rule based Expert System as explained in the
above b).
What can you guess about the Clyde? Show all steps involved in the process of
inference the conclusion.
(8 marks)