Symbolic Computing - Theory and Applications

In very broad set theoretic terms to filter is to separate to partition a given set of entities into disjoint subsets based on whether they have or do not have a stipulated property. One could in principle conceive of a ''Boolean Genie'' as it were that could instantly appear on our rubbing the Alladin''s Lamp and as instantly carry out the partitioning if at all possible by examining the entities all at once for the stipulated property. In the absence of the Lamp however we must be content with a more earthly procedure for such a partitioning one that is a function of time and space and which depends for its realization on a physical device be it a sieve an electronic circuit or a computer.