Foundations of automated reasoning: which program by Allen Newell and Herbert A. Simon proved theorems in Whitehead and Russell's Principia Mathematica, marking a milestone in early AI?

Introduction / Context:
Early AI explored symbolic reasoning—getting computers to manipulate formal symbols to derive conclusions. A landmark achievement was a program that proved theorems in Principia Mathematica, demonstrating that automated reasoning could discover proofs comparable to human logicians in a formal system.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The task is theorem proving in a foundational mathematical text.
• We must identify the specific Newell and Simon program responsible.
• Several famous systems are listed as distractors.

Concept / Approach:
The Logic Theorist (1956) is historically credited as one of the first AI programs. It searched the space of possible proofs and found elegant derivations, sometimes shorter than those published, validating the idea that symbolic search plus heuristics could automate nontrivial reasoning tasks.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:
AI histories consistently cite Logic Theorist as proving several Principia theorems, cementing its status in the field’s origin story.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• General Problem Solver: broader framework developed later; not the specific Principia achievement.
• Elementary Perceiver, Boolean Algebra: do not name the landmark program in question.
• None: incorrect because Logic Theorist is correct.

Common Pitfalls:
Confusing Logic Theorist with GPS due to overlapping authorship and time period.

Final Answer:
Logic Theorist