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Question

Match List-I with List-II:

Where L1: Regular language

L2: Context-free language

L3: Recursive language

L4: Recursively enumerable language

List-1

List-2

(a) L' 3 U L 4

(i) Context-free language

(b) L' 2 U L 3

(ii) Recursively enumerable language

(c) L 1* ∩ L 2

(iii) Recursive language

Choose the correct from those given below: 

The correct answer is

(a)-(ii); (b)-(iii); (c)-(i)

Understanding Formal Language Classes and Closure Properties

This question asks us to match combinations of operations on different types of formal languages with the resulting language classes. We are given four main language classes:

  • L1: Regular language
  • L2: Context-free language (CFL)
  • L3: Recursive language
  • L4: Recursively enumerable language (RE)

These classes form a hierarchy, where Regular ⊆ CFL ⊆ Recursive ⊆ RE. Each class has specific closure properties under various set operations like union, intersection, complement, and Kleene star.

Closure Properties of Language Classes

Let's quickly review the relevant closure properties for these language classes:

Operation Regular (L1) CFL (L2) Recursive (L3) RE (L4)
Union (∪) Closed Closed Closed Closed
Intersection (∩) Closed Not Closed Closed Closed
Complement (') Closed Not Closed (Complement of CFL is Recursive) Closed Not Closed
Kleene Star (*) Closed Closed Closed Closed

Now let's analyze each expression given in List-I.

Analyzing List-I Expressions

(a) L'₃ ∪ L₄

  • L₃ is a Recursive language.
  • The complement of a Recursive language (L'₃) is always a Recursive language. This is because the class of Recursive languages is closed under complement.
  • L₄ is a Recursively enumerable language (RE).
  • We need to find the class of L'₃ ∪ L₄, which is the union of a Recursive language and an RE language.
  • The union of any two Recursively enumerable languages is Recursively enumerable. Since Recursive languages are a subclass of RE languages, the union of a Recursive language and an RE language is always a Recursively enumerable language.

Thus, L'₃ ∪ L₄ is a Recursively enumerable language.

This matches with (ii) Recursively enumerable language.

(b) L'₂ ∪ L₃

  • L₂ is a Context-free language (CFL).
  • The complement of a Context-free language (L'₂) is not necessarily Context-free. A known property is that the complement of a Context-free language is always a Recursive language.
  • L₃ is a Recursive language.
  • We need to find the class of L'₂ ∪ L₃, which is the union of a Recursive language (L'₂) and a Recursive language (L₃).
  • The union of any two Recursive languages is always a Recursive language. This is because the class of Recursive languages is closed under union.

Thus, L'₂ ∪ L₃ is a Recursive language.

This matches with (iii) Recursive language.

(c) L₁* ∩ L₂

  • L₁ is a Regular language.
  • The Kleene star of a Regular language (L₁*) is always a Regular language. This is because the class of Regular languages is closed under Kleene star.
  • L₂ is a Context-free language (CFL).
  • We need to find the class of L₁* ∩ L₂, which is the intersection of a Regular language (L₁*) and a Context-free language (L₂).
  • The intersection of a Regular language and a Context-free language is always a Context-free language.

Thus, L₁* ∩ L₂ is a Context-free language.

This matches with (i) Context-free language.

Summary of Matchings

  • (a) L'₃ ∪ L₄ corresponds to (ii) Recursively enumerable language.
  • (b) L'₂ ∪ L₃ corresponds to (iii) Recursive language.
  • (c) L₁* ∩ L₂ corresponds to (i) Context-free language.
List-I Resulting Language Class List-II
(a) L'₃ ∪ L₄ Recursively enumerable (ii)
(b) L'₂ ∪ L₃ Recursive (iii)
(c) L₁* ∩ L₂ Context-free (i)

Comparing our matchings with the given options, the correct choice is (a)-(ii); (b)-(iii); (c)-(i).

Revision Table: Formal Language Properties

Property Regular CFL Recursive RE
Recognized by Finite Automata (DFA/NFA) Pushdown Automata (PDA) Turing Machine (decides) Turing Machine (accepts)
Decidable? (Membership) Yes Yes Yes No (partially)
Closed under Union Yes Yes Yes Yes
Closed under Intersection Yes No Yes Yes
Closed under Complement Yes No (complement is Recursive) Yes No
Closed under Kleene Star Yes Yes Yes Yes

Additional Information: Hierarchy and Properties

The hierarchy of these language classes is strict: Regular ⊊ CFL ⊊ Recursive ⊊ RE ⊊ All Languages.

  • Regular Languages: Simplest class, recognized by finite automata. Can be described by regular expressions.
  • Context-Free Languages: More powerful, recognized by pushdown automata. Described by context-free grammars. Used widely in parsing programming languages.
  • Recursive Languages: Decidable languages. For any string, a Turing Machine can halt and tell whether the string is in the language or not.
  • Recursively Enumerable Languages: Recognizable languages. For strings in the language, a Turing Machine will halt and accept. For strings not in the language, the Turing Machine might halt and reject, or it might loop forever.

Understanding the closure properties is crucial for determining the class of a language resulting from operations on known language classes. For example, while CFLs are not closed under intersection, the intersection of a CFL and a Regular language *is* always a CFL. Similarly, while CFLs are not closed under complement, their complements fall into the Recursive language class.

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Important Questions from Context Free Languages - Teaching

  1. Consider the following statements about Context Free Language (CFL):

    Statement I: CFL is closed under homomorphism.

    Statement II: CFL is closed under complement.

    Which of the following is correct?

  2. How can the decision algorithm be constructed for deciding whether context-free language L is finite?

    (a) By Constructing redundant CFG in CNF generating language L

    (b) By constructing non-redundant CFG G in CNF generating language L

    (c) By constructing non-redundant CFG in CNF generating language L-{∧} (∧ stands for null)

    Which of the following is correct?

  3. Which of the following statements is true ?

  4. Consider the following statements with respect to the language L = {a nb n|n≥ 0}

    S 1: L 2is context free language

    S 2: L kis context-free language for any given k ≥ 1

    S 3: L̅ and L* are context free languages

    Which one of the following is correct?

  5. Consider the following languages:

    \({L_1} = \left\{ {{a^n}{b^n}{c^m}} \right\} \cup \left\{ {{a^n}{b^m}{c^m}} \right\},\;n,\;m \ge 0\)

    \({L_2} = \{ w{w^R}|w \in \left\{ {a,\;b} \right\}*\}\) Where R represents reversible operation.

    Which one of the following is (are) inherently ambiguous language(s)?
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