Show that the languages are undecidable

  • MHB
  • Thread starter mathmari
  • Start date
In summary, we have discussed the undecidability of the languages $H\cap U$ and $H\cup U$, where $H$ is the Halting Problem and $U$ is the Universal Language. We have shown that $U\subseteq H$, and therefore $H\cap U=U$ and $H\cup U=H$. Since both $U$ and $H$ are undecidable, it follows that $H\cap U$ and $H\cup U$ are also undecidable.
  • #1
mathmari
Gold Member
MHB
5,049
7
Hey! :eek:

Let $H$ be the Halting Problem and $U$ the Universal Language. I want to show that the languages $H\cap U$ and $H\cup U$ are undecidable.

We have the following:
The Universal Langauge is $U=\{(x,y) \mid M_x(y) \text{ accepts }\}$ and the Halting Problem is the language $H=\{(x,y) \mid M_x(y) \text{ halts }\}$.

When a TM halts, it can either accept or reject the input. So, we have that $U\subseteq H$, or not? (Wondering)

Therefore, we have that $H\cap U=U$ and $H\cup U=H$.

Since $U$ and $H$ are undecidable, it follows that the languages $H\cap U$ and $H\cup U$ are undecidable. Is this correct? (Wondering)
 
Physics news on Phys.org
  • #2
You are correct.
 
  • #3
Evgeny.Makarov said:
You are correct.

Thank you! (Smile)
 

FAQ: Show that the languages are undecidable

1. What does it mean for a language to be undecidable?

When a language is undecidable, it means that there is no algorithm or computer program that can determine whether a given string of symbols belongs to the language or not. In other words, there is no way to systematically and definitively determine if a string is a valid sentence in the language.

2. How can we prove that a language is undecidable?

One way to prove that a language is undecidable is by reducing it to a known undecidable problem. This means showing that if we had an algorithm to decide the language, we could use it to solve the known undecidable problem. Another way is by using the halting problem, which states that it is impossible to write a program that can determine if another program will halt or continue to run forever.

3. Are there any practical implications of a language being undecidable?

Yes, there are practical implications of a language being undecidable. For example, it means that there is no way to automatically check the correctness of a program written in that language. This can make it difficult to ensure that the program will behave as intended and can lead to errors and bugs.

4. Can a language be partially undecidable?

No, a language can only be either decidable or undecidable. This is because the definition of a decidable language is that there exists an algorithm for deciding it, while an undecidable language has no such algorithm. There is no in-between state of partial undecidability.

5. Are all programming languages undecidable?

No, not all programming languages are undecidable. Many commonly used programming languages, such as Java and Python, are decidable. However, there are some programming languages, such as Turing machines, that are inherently undecidable. It is important to note that the undecidability of a language does not affect its usefulness or practicality.

Similar threads

Replies
12
Views
3K
Replies
5
Views
2K
Replies
17
Views
4K
Replies
1
Views
500
Replies
5
Views
986
Replies
5
Views
955
Replies
1
Views
1K
Back
Top