Pure literal elimination is a technique used in propositional logic to simplify logical expressions. It involves identifying a literal that appears in a formula and can be assigned a truth value without affecting the overall truth of the expression. By removing this literal, the formula becomes simpler while retaining its logical equivalence. This method is particularly useful in automated theorem proving and logic programming. It helps reduce the complexity of logical formulas, making it easier to analyze and solve problems. Pure literal elimination is often applied in conjunction with other techniques, such as resolution and backtracking, to enhance efficiency in logical reasoning tasks.