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Index Set (recursion Theory)
In computability theory, index sets describe classes of computable functions; specifically, they give all indices of functions in a certain class, according to a fixed Gödel numbering of partial computable functions. Definition Let \varphi_e be a computable enumeration of all partial computable functions, and W_ be a computable enumeration of all c.e. sets. Let \mathcal be a class of partial computable functions. If A = \ then A is the index set of \mathcal. In general A is an index set if for every x,y \in \mathbb with \varphi_x \simeq \varphi_y (i.e. they index the same function), we have x \in A \leftrightarrow y \in A. Intuitively, these are the sets of natural numbers that we describe only with reference to the functions they index. Index sets and Rice's theorem Most index sets are non-computable, aside from two trivial exceptions. This is stated in Rice's theorem: Let \mathcal be a class of partial computable functions with its index set C. Then C is computable if an ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Computability Theory
Computability theory, also known as recursion theory, is a branch of mathematical logic, computer science, and the theory of computation that originated in the 1930s with the study of computable functions and Turing degrees. The field has since expanded to include the study of generalized computability and definable set, definability. In these areas, computability theory overlaps with proof theory and effective descriptive set theory. Basic questions addressed by computability theory include: * What does it mean for a function (mathematics), function on the natural numbers to be computable? * How can noncomputable functions be classified into a hierarchy based on their level of noncomputability? Although there is considerable overlap in terms of knowledge and methods, mathematical computability theorists study the theory of relative computability, reducibility notions, and degree structures; those in the computer science field focus on the theory of computational complexity theory ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Computable Function
Computable functions are the basic objects of study in computability theory. Informally, a function is ''computable'' if there is an algorithm that computes the value of the function for every value of its argument. Because of the lack of a precise definition of the concept of algorithm, every formal definition of computability must refer to a specific model of computation. Many such models of computation have been proposed, the major ones being Turing machines, register machines, lambda calculus and general recursive functions. Although these four are of a very different nature, they provide exactly the same class of computable functions, and, for every model of computation that has ever been proposed, the computable functions for such a model are computable for the above four models of computation. The Church–Turing thesis is the unprovable assertion that every notion of computability that can be imagined can compute only functions that are computable in the above sense. ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Computably Enumerable
In computability theory, a set ''S'' of natural numbers is called computably enumerable (c.e.), recursively enumerable (r.e.), semidecidable, partially decidable, listable, provable or Turing-recognizable if: *There is an algorithm such that the set of input numbers for which the algorithm halts is exactly ''S''. Or, equivalently, *There is an enumeration algorithm, algorithm that enumerates the members of ''S''. That means that its output is a list of all the members of ''S'': ''s''1, ''s''2, ''s''3, ... . If ''S'' is infinite, this algorithm will run forever, but each element of S will be returned after a finite amount of time. Note that these elements do not have to be listed in a particular way, say from smallest to largest. The first condition suggests why the term ''semidecidable'' is sometimes used. More precisely, if a number is in the set, one can ''decide'' this by running the algorithm, but if the number is not in the set, the algorithm can run forever, and no inf ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Rice's Theorem
In computability theory, Rice's theorem states that all non-trivial semantic properties of programs are undecidable problem, undecidable. A ''semantic'' property is one about the program's behavior (for instance, "does the program halting problem, terminate for all inputs?"), unlike a syntactic property (for instance, "does the program contain an if-then-else statement?"). A ''non-trivial'' property is one which is neither true for every program, nor false for every program. The theorem generalizes the undecidability of the halting problem. It has far-reaching implications on the feasibility of static program analysis, static analysis of programs. It implies that it is impossible, for example, to implement a tool that checks whether any given program is correctness (computer science), correct, or even executes without error (it is possible to implement a tool that always overestimates or always underestimates, so in practice one has to decide what is less of a problem). The theorem ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Arithmetical Hierarchy
In mathematical logic, the arithmetical hierarchy, arithmetic hierarchy or Kleene–Mostowski hierarchy (after mathematicians Stephen Cole Kleene and Andrzej Mostowski) classifies certain sets based on the complexity of formulas that define them. Any set that receives a classification is called arithmetical. The arithmetical hierarchy was invented independently by Kleene (1943) and Mostowski (1946).P. G. Hinman, ''Recursion-Theoretic Hierarchies'' (p.89), Perspectives in Logic, 1978. Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg, ISBN 3-540-07904-1. The arithmetical hierarchy is important in computability theory, effective descriptive set theory, and the study of formal theories such as Peano arithmetic. The Tarski–Kuratowski algorithm provides an easy way to get an upper bound on the classifications assigned to a formula and the set it defines. The hyperarithmetical hierarchy and the analytical hierarchy extend the arithmetical hierarchy to classify additional formulas and set ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Many-one Reduction
In computability theory and computational complexity theory, a many-one reduction (also called mapping reduction) is a reduction that converts instances of one decision problem (whether an instance is in L_1) to another decision problem (whether an instance is in L_2) using a computable function. The reduced instance is in the language L_2 if and only if the initial instance is in its language L_1. Thus if we can decide whether L_2 instances are in the language L_2, we can decide whether L_1 instances are in the language L_1 by applying the reduction and solving for L_2. Thus, reductions can be used to measure the relative computational difficulty of two problems. It is said that L_1 reduces to L_2 if, in layman's terms L_2 is at least as hard to solve as L_1. This means that any algorithm that solves L_2 can also be used as part of a (otherwise relatively simple) program that solves L_1. Many-one reductions are a special case and stronger form of Turing reductions. With many-one ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Halting Problem
In computability theory (computer science), computability theory, the halting problem is the problem of determining, from a description of an arbitrary computer program and an input, whether the program will finish running, or continue to run forever. The halting problem is ''Undecidable problem, undecidable'', meaning that no general algorithm exists that solves the halting problem for all possible program–input pairs. The problem comes up often in discussions of computability since it demonstrates that some functions are mathematically Definable set, definable but not Computable function, computable. A key part of the formal statement of the problem is a mathematical definition of a computer and program, usually via a Turing machine. The proof then shows, for any program that might determine whether programs halt, that a "pathological" program exists for which makes an incorrect determination. Specifically, is the program that, when called with some input, passes its own s ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
