Some Properties of Conversion

Author(s): Alonzo Church and J. B. Rosser

Source: Transactions of the American Mathematical Society, Vol. 39, No. 3 (May, 1936), pp.
472-482
Published by: American Mathematical Society
Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/1989762 .
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 SOME PROPERTIES OF CONVERSION*
BY
ALONZO CHURCH AND J. B. ROSSER

Our purposeis to establishthe propertiesof conversionwhichare ex-

pressedin Theorems1 and 2 below.We shallconsiderfirstconversion defined
by Church'sRulesI, II, IIIt and shallthenextendourresultsto severalother
kindsofconversion.:
1. Conversiondefinedby Church'sRules I, II, III. In our studyof con-
versionwe are particularly in the effects
interested of Rules II and III and
considerthatapplicationsof Rule I, thoughoftennecessaryto preventcon-
fusionoffreeand boundvariables,do notessentially changethestructure of
a formula. Hencewe shallomitmentionofapplicationsofRule I wheneverit
seemsthatno essentialambiguity willresult.Thus whenwe speakofreplac-
{
ing Xx.MI (N) ? by S xMI it shallbe understoodthatany applicationsof I
are made whichare neededto make this substitution an applicationof II.
Alsowe maywriteboundvariablesas unchangedthroughout discussions even
thoughtacitapplicationsofI in thediscussionmayhave changedthem.
A conversion in whichIII is not used and II is used exactlyonce willbe
calleda reduction.If II is notusedand III is usedexactlyonce,theconversion
willbe called an expansion."A imrB," read "A is immediately reducibleto
B," shall mean that it is possibleto go fromA to B by a singlereduction.
"A red B," read "A is reducibleto B," shallmean that it is possibleto go
fromA to B by one or morereductions."A conv-IB," read "A conv B by
applicationsofI only,"shallmeanjust that(including thecaseofa zeronum-
berof applications)."A conv-I-II B," read "A conv B by applicationsof I
* Presentedto the Society,April20, 1935; receivedby the editorsJune4, 1935.
t By Church'sruleswe shall mean the rulesof proceduregivenin A. Church,A setofpostulates
forthefoundation oflogic,Annalsof Mathematics,(2), vol. 33 (1932), pp. 346-366 (see pp. 355-356),
as modifiedby S. C. Kleene,Proofbycases informallogic,AnnalsofMathematics,(2), vol. 35 (1934),
pp. 529-544 (see p. 530). We assume familiarity withthe materialon pp. 349-355 of Church'spaper
and in ??1, 2, 3, 5 of Kleene's paper. We shall referto the latterpaper as "Kleene."
I The authorsare indebtedto Dr. S. C. Kleene forassistancein the preparationof this paper,
in particularforthe detectionofan errorin the firstdraftofit and forthe suggestionofan improve-
mentin theproofofTheorem2.
? Note carefullythe conventionat the beginningof ?3, Kleene, whichwe shall constantlyuse.
|| Our use of "conv" allows us to write"A conv B" even in the case that no applicationsof J,
II, or III are made in goingfromA to B and A is the same as B. But we write"A red B" only if
thereis at least one reductionin the processof goingfromA to B by applicationsof I and II, and
use the notation"A conv-I-II B" ifwe wishto allow thepossibilityofno reductions.

472

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 SOME PROPERTIES OF CONVERSION 473

and II only," shall mean just that (includingthe case of a zero number of
applications).
We shall say that we contractor performa contractionon {Xx.M } (N) if
we replace it by S 'MI.
It is possible to visualize the process of conversionby drawinga broken
line in which the segmentscorrespondto successive steps of the conversion,
horizontalsegmentsindicatingapplications of I, segmentsof negative slope
applications of II, and segmentsof positive slope applications of III. Thus,
in the figureA1 conv A2 and B1 conv B2 each by a single use of I, A2 conv A3
and B2 conv B3 each by a single use of III, and A7 conv A8 and C1 conv C2
each by a singleuse of II. The dotted lines representvarious alternativecon-
versions to the conversiongiven by the solid line.

A-6 At

A A4

B, B2 ,,

C2 C3

A conversionin which no expansions followany reductionswill be called

peak and one in which no reductionsfollowany expansions will be called a
valley.The central theoremof this paper states that if A conv B, there is a
conversionfromA to B which is a valley. We prove it by means of a lemma
which states that a peak in which there is a single reductioncan always be
replaced by a valley. Then the theorembecomes obvious. For example, in
the conversionpictured by the solid line in the figurewe replace the peak
A1A2... A8 by the valley A1B1B2B3A8, then the peak B2B3A8A9by the valley
B2A9,then the peak A10All .. A14by the valley A10C1C2C3A14, getting the
valley A1B1B2A9A1oC1C2C3A14.
Suppose that a formulaA has parts {Xx1.M2 } (N1) whichmay or may not
be parts of each other (cf. Kleene 2VIII (p. 532)). We suppose that, if p-q,
{Ixp. Mp} (Np) is not the same part as {XXq. Mq } (Nq), thoughit may be the
same formula.The {xxj. M, } (Ni) need not be all of thepartsof A whichhave
the form{Xy. P } (Q). We shall definethe residualsof the {Xx2.Mj } (Ni) after
a sequence of applications of I and II (these residuals being certain well-
formedparts of the formulawhichresultsfromthe sequence of applicationsof

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474 ALONZO CHURCH AND J. B. ROSSER [May

I and II). If no applications of I or II occur, each part {Xxi.Mj } (Nj) is its

own residual. If a seriesofapplicationsofI occur,theneach part {Xx1.Mj I (N1)
is changed into a part {Xyi.MJ } (NJ) of the resultingformulaand this part
Xyi.MJ } (NJ) is the residual of {Xx1.M1} (Nj) in the resultingformula.
Clearly the residuals of two parts coincide only if the parts coincide. Next
considerthe case wherea singlereductionoccurs. Let {Xx.M } (N) be the part
of A which is contractedin performingthe reductionand A' be the formula
resultingfrom A by the reduction.Let { xp.Mp } (Np) be an arbitraryone
of the { Xx1.Mj } (Nj).
Case 1. Let {Xxp.Mp}(Np) not be part of {Xx.M}(N). Then either (a)
{Xx.M} (N) has no part in common with {Xxp.M,} (Np) or else (b)
{Xx. M} (N) is part of {Xxp.Mp} (Np) (by Kleene 2VIII). If (a) holds,
then under the reductionfromA to A', {Xxp.Mp } (Np) goes into a definite
part of A' which we shall call the residual in A' of { xp. Mp } (Np). In this
case the residual of {Axpx. Mp } (Np) is the same formulaas {Xxp.Mp } (Np). If
(b) holdsthen {Xx.M } (N) is parteitherofMp or of Np since {Xxp.Mp} (Np)
is not part of {Xx.M} (N) (see Kleene, 2X and 2XII). Hence if we contract
{Xx. M }(N) we performa reductionon the formula { xp.Mp } (Np) which
carriesit into a formula {IXx' . Mp' } (Np). Then the reductionfromA to A'
can be consideredas consistingof the replacementof the part {Xxp.Mp } (Np)
of A by {Ix<' . Mp' } (Np) and this particularoccurrenceof { Xx<'. Mp } (Np')
in A' is called the residual in A' of {Xxp.Mp} (Np).
Case 2. Let {Xxp.Mp}(Np) be part of {Xx.M}(N). By Kleene 2X this
case breaks up into threesubcases.
(a) Let {Xxp.Mp } (Np) be { Xx.M } (N). Then we say that { xpx. Mp } (Np)
has no residual in A'.
(b) Let {Xxp.Mp } (Np) be part of Xx.M and hence part of M (by Kleene
2XII). Let M' be the resultof replacingall freex's of M except those occur-
ringin {Xxp. Mp } (Np) by N. Underthesechangesthepart {Xxp.Mp } (Np) of
Mgoes into a definitepart of M' whichwe shall denotealso by {Xxxp. Mp } (Np),
since it is the same formula. If now we replace { xp.Mp} (Np) in M' by
XxP. Mp } (Np) |, M' becomes SN MI and we denote by S {xXxp.M, I (N,) I
the particularoccurrenceof S {' Xxp.Mp } (Np) Iin SzXMI that resultedfromre-
placing {Xxp.Mp } (Np) in M' by the formulaS {xXxp.Mp } (Np) . Now there-
sidual in A' of { xp,.Mp } (Np) in A is definedto be the part SN{IXxp.Mp } (Np)|
in the particular occurrence of S xMI in A' that resulted from replacing
{Xx. M} (N) in A by SNxMI.
(c) Let {Xxp.Mp } (Np) be part of N. And let {XYi. Pi} (Qi) respectively
stand forthe particularoccurrencesof the formula {Xxp.Mp } (Np) in S xNMI

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1936] SOME PROPERTIES OF CONVERSION 475

whichare the part {Xx,. Mp } (Np) in each of the particularoccurrencesof the

formulaN in S1'MI that resultedfromreplacingthe freex's of M by N. Now
the residuals in A' of {IXx.M,} (Np) in A are the parts {Xyi. Pi (Qi) in
the particular occurrenceof the formulaSI'MI in A' that resulted fromre-
placing {Xx.M}(N)inAbyS xMI
This completes the definitionof the residuals in A' of {Xxp.Mp I (Np)
in A in the case that A' is obtained fromA by a singlereduction.Clearly the
residualsin A' of {Xxp.Mp} (Np) in A (ifany) have the form{Xx. M} (N). Call
them {XYi. Pi } (Q ). Then if A' imr A ", the residualsin A " of {Xxp.Mp } (Np)
in A are definedto be the residualsin A" of the {Xyi%. pi } (Qi) in A'. We con-
tinue in this way, definingthe residuals after each successive reduction as
the residuals of the formulasthat were residuals before the reduction,and
noting that the residuals always have the form {Xx.MI (N). We also note
that a residual in B of the part {Xx.MI (N) in A cannot coincide with a
residual in B of the part {Xx'. M' } (N') in A unless I Xx.M} (N) coincides
with {Xx'.M'}(N').
We say that a sequence of reductionson A, say A imr A1imr A2imr
imr A,+,, is a sequenceof contractionson theparts {Xxi.Mj I (Nj) of A if the
reductionfromAi to Ai+, (i=O, , n; Ao the same as A) is a contraction
on one of the residuals in Ai of the {xxj. Mj 1(Nj). Moreover, if no residuals
of the {Xx1.Mj } (Nj) occur in A,+, we say that the sequence of contractions
on the {IXx.M1 1(Nj) terminatesand that A,+, is the result.
In some cases we wish to speak of a sequence of contractionson the parts
{Xxj. M } (Nj) of A where the set {Xx. Mj} (Nj) may be vacuous. To handle
this we shall agree that if the set {Xx. Mj (Nj) is vacuous, the sequence of
contractionsshall be a vacuous sequence of reductions.
LEMMA1. If {Xx . Mj 1(Nj) are parts of A, thena numberm can befound
such thatany sequenceof contractions on the {Xx1.Mj } (Nj) will terminateafter
at mostm contractions,and if A' and A" are tworesultsofterminating sequences
on the {xjx. Mj } (Nj), thenA' conv-IA".
of contractions
Proof by inductionon the numberof proper symbolsof A.
The lemma is true if A is a propersymbol,the numberm being 0.
Assume the lemma true forformulaswith n or less propersymbols.Let A
have n+ 1 proper symbols.
Case 1. A is Xx.M. Then all the parts {IXx.Mj } (Nj) of A must be parts
of M. However M has only n proper symbols and so we use the hypothesis
of the induction.
Case 2. A is {F } (X).
(a) {F} (X) is not one of the {IXx.M1} (Nj). Then any sequence of con-

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476 ALONZO CHURCH AND J. B. ROSSER [May

tractionson the parts {Xx1.Mj } (Nj) of A can be replaced* by two sequences

of contractionsperformedsuccessively,one on those of the {Xx1. M, } (Nj)
which are parts of F and one on those of the {Xxi. Mj } (Nj) which are parts
of X, in such a way that if the original sequence of contractionscarried
IF I (X) into {F' } (X') then the two sequences of contractionsby which it
is replaced carryF into F' and X into X' respectivelyand the total number
of contractionson residuals of parts of F or on residuals of parts of X is the
same as before.tThen we use the hypothesisof the induction,since F and X
each have n or less propersymbols.
(b) { F } (X) is one of the { Xx1.Mj I (Nj), say { Xx,.Mp } (Np). As long as
the residual of {Xx,. Mp } (Np) has not been contracted,the argumentof (a)
applies. Hence if any sequence of contr'actionson the {Xx1. M1} (Nj) of A
is continuedlong enough, the residual of {Xxp. Mp } (Np) must be contracted
(since we prove readily that one and only one residual of {Ixp. Mp } (Np)
occurs, until a contractionon the residual of {Ixp . Mp } (Np)). Let a sequence
of contractions,A, on the {Xx1. Mj } (Nj) consistof a sequence, 4, of contrac-
tions on the {Xx1. M, 1(Nj) which are differentfrom { xpx.Mp } (Np), a con-
traction, 3, on the residual of { xp. Mp } (Np), and a sequence, 0, consisting
of the remainingcontractionsof ,. Now, as in (a), we can replace 0 by a se-
quence, a, of contractionson the {Xx3. M, } (Nj) which are parts of Xxp.Mp
(and thereforeparts of Mp), followedby a sequence, -q,of contractionson the
IXx. M1} (Nj) which are parts of Np, and this without changing the total
numberof contractionson residualsof parts of Mp or on residualsof parts of
Np. Then -qfollowedby 3 can be replaced by 3',a contractionon the residual,
{Xy. P} (Np), of {Xxp.Mp} (Np), followed by a set of applications of -7 onl
each of the occurrencesof Np in SNY P that arose by substitutingNp fory in
P. Our sequence ofcontractionsnow has a special form,namely a sequence of
contractions,a, on parts of Mp, followedby a contraction, 3',on the residual
of {Ixp. Mp } (Np), followed by other contractions.We will now indicate a
process whereby this sequence of contractionscan be replaced by another
having the same special formbut having the propertythat after the con-
traction on the residual of { xp. Mp } (Np) one less contractionon the re-
siduals of parts of Mp occurs. This process can then be successivelyapplied

* We say that a sequence,,u,of reductionson A can be replacedby a sequence,v',of reductions

on A, ifboth,uand v give the same end formulaB and residualsin B of any part { Xxj.Mj I (Nj) are
the same underbothAand v.
t The readerwill easily understandthe conventionwhichwe use when we say that the same
sequenceof contractionswhichcarriesF intoF' willcarryIF| (X) into {F'| (X) and that the same
sequenceofcontractionswhichcarriesX intoX' willcarry{ F' |(X) into { F' | (X'). This convention
willalso be used in (b).

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1936] SOME PROPERTIES OF CONVERSION 477

until no contractionon a residual of a part of M, occurs afterthe contrac-

tion on the residual of Xx,. M, } (Np). Moreover this process increases by
one the numberof contractionswhichprecede the contractionon the residual
of {IXx. M, } (Np), so that the total number of contractionson residuals of
parts of M, is the same afterthe process as before,and hence the same as in A.
Let us consider that sequence of reductionsv which is composed of d'
and the contractionsthat followit, up to and includingthe firstcontraction
on a residual of a part of M,. Denoting the formula on which ? acts by
I Xy. P } (Np), we see that ? can be consideredas the act of firstreplacingthe
freey's of P by various formulas,Npk, got fromN, by sets of reductions,and
then contractingon a residual, {Xz. R } (S), of one of the {Xx3.M, } (Nj) which
are partsof Mp, say { xq Mq } (Nq). From thispointof view,we see that
none of the freez's ofR are parts of any Npk, and hence k can be replaced by
a contraction on theresidualin Xy. P of {XXq . Mq } (Nq) ofwhich{Xz.R } (S)
is a residual,followedby a contractionon the residualof {Xxp.Mp } (Np), fol-
lowed by contractionson residualsof parts of Np. This completesthe indica-
tion of what the process is.
Hence A can be replaced by a sequence of contractions, a, on the
Xx,. Mi } (Nj) which are parts of Mp (such that a contains as many contrac-
tions as thereare contractionsin ,uon residuals of parts of Mr), followedby
a contraction,/, on the residualof {Xxp. M. } (Np), followedby a sequence of
contractions, y, on residuals of parts of Np. Moreover, after a and 3,
{Xxxp.Mp } (Np) has become a formulacontainingseveral occurrencesof N,
and y is a sequence of contractionson parts of these occurrencesof N,
Hence, since xpx. Mp and Np each contain n or less proper symbols,we can
use the hypothesisof the inductionin connectionwith a and y to show that
if a followedby ,Bfollowedby -yterminatesthe resultis unique to withinap-
plications of I. But if u terminates,so does a followedby / followedby y.
Hence the resultsof any two terminatingsequences are unique to withinap-
plications of I.
It remainsto be shown that a number m can be foundsuch that each se-
quence of contractionsterminatesafterat most m contractions.
By the hypothesisof induction,a number a can be found such that any
sequence of contractions on those {Xx1.M2} (Nj) which are parts of M,
terminatesafterat most a contractions,and a number b can be found such
that any sequence of contractionson those {Xx3.M3} (Nj) which are parts of
Np terminatesafterat most b contractions.Then any sequence of contrac-
tions on the Xx1.M1} (Nj) of A must, if continued, include a contraction
on the residual of {Xxp.Mp} (Np), after at most a+b+l contractions.
Hence we may confine our attention to sequences of contractions A on

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478 ALONZO CHURCH AND J. B. ROSSER [May

the {IXx.M2 I (N1) of A which include a contraction on the residual of

Xxv.Mp (Nr) and which can thereforebe replaced by a sequence of con-
tractions of the form,a followed by / followedby y. Moreover it will be
clear, on examinationof our precedingargument,that, when the sequence 4
is replaced by the sequence, a followedby / followedby y,the total number
of contractionsin the sequence is eitherincreasedor leftunchanged (because
each step in the process of transforming A into a followedby : followedby y
has the propertythat it cannot decrease the total numberof contractions).
to finda numbermsuch that any sequence ofcontrac-
Thereforeit is sufficient
tionson the {IXx1.M1 I (Nj) of A whichhas the form,a followedby A followed
by y,must terminateafterat most m contractions.
If we start with the formulaM, and performa terminatingsequence of
contractionson those {\Xx.M2 1(Nj) which are parts of Mp, the result is a
formulaM,, which is unique to withinapplications of I, and which contains
a certain number,c, > 1, of occurrencesof xp as a freesymbol. And in the
case of any sequence of contractionson those {Xx1.M1 (Nj) which are parts 1
of M,, whetherterminatingor not,the result (that is, the formulainto which
Mp is transformed)containsat most c occurrencesof x, as a freesymbol.
Hence the requirednumberm is a+ 1+cb.
LEMMA2. If A imr B by a contractionon thepart {Xx. MI (N) of A, and
A is A1, and A, imr A2, A2 imr A3, , and, for all k, Bk is theresultof a
terminating sequenceofcontractions on theresidualsin Akof {Xx.MI (N), then:
I. B1 is B.
II. For all k, Bk conv-I-II Bk+l.
III. Even if thesequenceA1, A2, -can be continuedto infinity,thereis
a number0m, dependingon theformula A, thepart {Xx.MI (N) of A, and the
numberm,suchthat,startingwithB,n,at mostq$inconsecutive Bk's occurforwhich
it is not truethatBk red Bk+1.
Part I is obvious.
We prove Part II readilyas follows.Let {xyi. Pi I (Qi) be the residuals in
Ak of {Xx.MI (N) and let Ak imr Ak+l be a contraction on the part
{Xz.R I(S) of Ak. Then Bk+1 is the result of a terminatingsequence of con-
tractionson {IXz.R} (S) and the parts {xyi. Pi I (Qi) of Ak.Now if {IXz.RI (S)
is one of the {xyi. Pi (Qi), then no residuals of {Xz.RI (S) occur in Bk, and
Bk conv-I Bk+l. If however{Xz.RI (S) is not one of the {xyi. Pi4(Qi), then
a set of residuals of Xz.R I (S) does occur in Bk and a terminatingsequence
of contractionson these residuals in Bk gives Bk+j by Lemma 1.
In order to prove Part III we note that Bk red Bk+1 unless the reduction
fromAk to Ak+1 consistsof a contractionon a residual in Ak of { Xx.M I (N)

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1936] SOME PROPERTIES OF CONVERSION 479

(see precedingparagraph). But if we start with any particular Ak this can

only be the case a finitenumberof successive times,by Lemma 1. Hence we
define0)mas follows. Performm successive reductionson A in all possible
ways. This gives a finiteset of formulas (except for applications of I). In
each formulafindthe largestnumberof reductionsthat can occur in a termi-
nating sequence of contractionson the residuals of {Xx . M} (N). Then let 'Im
be the largestof these.
THEOREM1. If A conv B, thereis a conversionfrom A to B in whichno
expansion precedesany reduction.
That is, any conversioncan be replaced by a conversionwhichis a valley.
This followsfromLemma 2 by the process already indicated.
COROLLARY1. If B is a normalform*of A, thenA conv-I-II B.
For no reductionsare possible on a normal form.
COROLLARY 2. If A has a normalform,its normalformis unique (to within
applicationsof Rule I).
For if B and B' are both normalformsof A, then B' is a normalformof B.
Hence B conv-I-II B'. Hence B conv-I B', since no reductionsare possible
on the normal formB.
Note that only parts I and II of Lemma 2 are needed forTheorem 1 and
its corollaries.
THEOREM2. If B is a normalform of A, thenthereis a numberm such
thatany sequenceofreductionsstarting fromA will lead to B (to withinapplica-
tions of Rule I) afterat mostm reductions.
We prove by inductionon n that, if a formulaB is a normalformof some
formulaA, and thereis a sequence of n reductionsleading fromA to B, then
thereis a numberVA,n dependingon the formulaA and the numbern such
that any sequence of reductionsstartingfromA will lead to a normalformof A
(which will be B to within applications of I by Theorem 1, Corollary 2) in
at mostVIA,nreductions.
If n=O, we take41A,Oto be 0.
Assume our statementforn =k. Let A imr C, C imr C1, C1 imr C2, ,
Ck-l imr B. Let A be the same as A1, A1imr A2,A2 imr A3, . By Lemma 2 ...

thereis a sequence (D1 the same as C) D1 conv-I-II D2, D2 conv-I-II D3,

such that Ai conv-I-II Di for all j's forwhich Ai exists, and also, if the re-
duction fromA to D1 (or C) is a contractionon Xx.M} (N), such that, start-
ing with Dmnat most Omconsecutive D2's occur forwhich it is not true that
* Kleene ?5, p. 535.

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480 ALONZO CHURCH AND J. B. ROSSER [May

Di red Di+,. The sequence C imr Ci, Ci imrC2, leads to B in k reductions

.

and so by the hypothesisof the inductionthere is a numberVIC,k such that

any sequence of reductionson C leads to a normal form (i.e., terminates)
afterat most 4'C,k reductions.Hence thereare at most4tC,k reductionsin the
sequence D1 conv-I-II D2, D2 conv-I-II D3, - * * , and hence this terminates
afterat mostf(41c,k) steps wheref(p) is definedas follows:
f(0) = 41,

f(p + 1) = f(P) + M + 1,
where M is the greatestof the numbersc1,02, . , f(p)+I.*
Then, since the sequence of Di's continues as long as there are Ai's on
whichreductionscan be performed,it followsthat afterat mostf(Vtc,k) reduc-
tions we come to an Ai on which no reductions are possible. But this is
equivalent to saying that this Aj is a normal form.Hence any sequence of
k+1 reductionsfromA to B determinesan upper bound which holds forall
sequences of reductionsstartingfromA. We then take all sequences of k+1
reductionsstartingfromA (this is a finiteset of sequences, since we reckon
two sequences as the same if they differonly by applications of I) and find
the upper bounds determinedby each one of them that leads to a normal
form.Then we defineVIA,k+1 to be the least of these upper bounds.
This completes our induction. But, by Theorem 1, Corollary 1, if B is a
normal formof A, there is a sequence of some finitenumber of reductions
leading fromA to B. Hence Theorem 2 follows.
COROLLARY.If a formula has a normalform,everywell-formed
part of it
has a normalform.
2. Other kinds of conversion.There are also other systemsof operations
on formulas,similar to the system which we have been discussing and in
whichtherecan be distinguishedreductionsand expansionsand possiblyneu-
tral operations (such as applications of Rule I). For convenience,we speak
of the operationsof any such systemas conversions,and we definea normal
formto be a formulaon which no reductionsare possible.
A kind of conversionwhich appears to be usefulin certain connectionsis
obtained by taking a new undefinedterm a (restrictingourselves by never
using a as a bound symbol) and adding to Church's Rules I, II, III the fol-
lowingrules:
IV. Suppose thatM and N containno freesymbolsotherthan 3, thatthere
* f(p)depends,of course,on the formulaA and the part {Xx.M} (N) of A, as well as on p,
because 'km dependson A and I Xx.M} (N).

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1936] SOME PROPERTIES OF CONVERSION 481

is no part {Xz. P } (Q) ofeitherM or N, and thatthereis no part a(R,S) ofeither

M or N in whichR and S containno free symbolsotherthan a. Then we may
pass froma formulaJ to a formulaK obtainedfromJ by substituting for a par-
ticular occurrenceof 5(M, N) in J eitherXfx.f(f(x)) or Xfx.f(x) accordingto
whether it is or is nottruethatM conv-I N.
V. The inverseoperationof thatdescribedin Rule IV is allowable. That is,
we maypass fromK toJ underthesame circumstances.
We call an application of Rule II togetherwith applications of Rule I,
or an applicationof Rule IV togetherwithapplicationsof Rule I, a reduction,
and the reverseoperations (involving Rule III or Rule V) expansions. We
call any sequence of applicationsof various ones of the fiverules a conversion.
Also we say that we contract {Xx.MI (N) ifwe replace it by S'MI, and that
we contract a(M, N) if we replace it by Xfx.f(f(x)) or Xfx.f(x)in accordance
with Rule IV.
We definethe residuals of {Xx.MI (N) afteran application of I or II in
the same way as before,and afteran application of IV as what {Xx. MI (N)
becomes (the restrictionsin IV ensure that it becomes somethingof the form
Xy. P 1(Q)). The residuals of a(M, N) after an application of I, II, or IV
are definedonly in the case that M and N are in normalformand contain no
freesymbolsotherthan a. In that case the residualsof a(M, N) are whatever
part or parts of the entire resultingformula a(M, N) becomes, except that
afteran application of IV which is a contractionof a (M, N) itself,a (M, N)
has no residual. Thus residuals of a(M, N) are always of the forma(P, Q),
where P and Q are in normalformand contain no freesymbolsother than a.
We define a sequence of contractions on the parts {Xxj.Mj 1(Nj) and
b(Pi,Qi) of A, where Pi and Qi are in normal form and contain no free
symbolsother than a,by analogy with our formerdefinition.Similarlyfora
terminatingsequence of such contractions.Then we prove Lemma 1 by an
obvious extensionof our formerargument.Lemma 2 and Theorems 1 and 2
then followas before.Of course we replace "conv-I-II" by "conv-I-II-IV"
in Lemma 2 and in general throughoutthe proofsof Theorems 1 and 2. In
Lemma 1 we allow that the set of parts of A on which a sequence of contrac-
tions is taken should include not only parts of the form {Xx1.M, (Nj) but 1
also parts of the form a(Pk,Qk) in which Pk and Qk are in normal formand
contain no freesymbolsother than a. And in Lemma 2 we consideralso the
case that A imr B by a contractionon the part a(P,Q) of A.
We may also considera thirdkind of conversion,namely the conversion
that resultsif we modifyKleene's definitionsof well-formed, free,and bound
by omittingthe requirementthat x be a freesymbolofR from(3) of the defi-

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482 ALONZO CHURCH AND J. B. ROSSER

nition (see Kleene, top of p. 530) and then modifyChurch's rules I, II, III
by using the new meaningsofwell-formed,free and boundand by omitting"if
the proper symbol x occurs in M" fromboth II and IIJ.* Then we call an
application of the modifiedII togetherwith applications of the modifiedI
a reduction,and the reverseoperation an expansion, and applications of all
threerulesconversion.Also we say that we contract {Xx. M} (N) ifwe replace
it by S1'M . If A has the form {Xx. M} (N1IN2, ... ,Nr), then {'Xx.M} (N1)
is said to be of orderone in A and a contractionof {Xx.M} (N1) is said to be
a reductionof order one of A. Then Lemma 1 and parts I and II of Lemma
2 hold (althoughsome modificationis requiredin the proofs).Hence Theorem
1 and its corollarieshold. But Theorem 2 is false. Instead a weaker formof
Theorem 2 can be proved,namely:
THEOREM 3. If A has a normalform,thenthereis a numberm such thatat
mostm reductionsoforderone can occurin a sequenceofreductionson A.

* The firstkind of conversionwhichwe have consideredis essentiallyequivalent to a certain

portionof the combinatoryaxioms and rules of H. B. Curry(AmericanJournalof Mathematics,
vol. 52 (1930), pp. 509-536, 789-834), as has been proved by J. B. Rosser (see Annals of Mathe-
matics,(2), vol. 36 (1935), p. 127). In termsof Curry'snotation,our thirdkindof conversioncan be
thoughtofas differing fromthe firstkindby the additionofthe constancyfunctionK.
In dealing with propertiesof conversion,use of the Schonfinkel-Curry combinatoryanalysis
appears in certainconnectionsto be an important, evenindispensable,device. But to recastthe pres-
ent discussionand resultsentirelyinto a combinatorynotation would, it is thought,be awkward
or impossible,because of the difficulty in findinga satisfactoryequivalent,forcombinations,of the
notionsofreduction and normalform as employedin thisparer.

PRINCETON UNIVERSITY,
PRINCETON, N. J.

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