L12- ToC

RE to ԑ-NFA
FA to RE - State Elimination

Course Instructors:
Div 1: Praveen Pawar (Div 1)
Div 2: Jibi Abraham (Div 2)

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 Theorem
Languages
Generated by Regular
Regular Expressions Languages

Languages
Regular
Generated by
Languages
Regular Expressions
Languages
Regular
Generated by
Languages
Regular Expressions 2
Regular Language Representations

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 Equivalence of FA and RE
 Finite Automata and Regular Expressions are
equivalent. To show this:
 Show a DFA can be expressed as an equivalent
RE
 Show a RE can be expressed as an ε-NFA
 Since the ε-NFA can be converted to a DFA and
the DFA to an NFA, then RE will be equivalent to
all the automata
 Proof - Part 1

Languages
Generated by Regular
Regular Expressions Languages

RE
For any regular expression r
the language L(r) is regular ε-NFA DFA

NFA
Proof by induction on the size of r

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 Induction Basis
 Primitive Regular Expressions:
 Corresponding NFAs

regular
languages

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 RE to ε-NFA: Basis
a
 Symbol a:

 ε: ε

 ∅:

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 Inductive Hypothesis
 Suppose that for regular expressions r1, r2,
L(r1) and L(r2) are regular languages
 L r1  r2 

L r1  r2  Are regular

Languages

L r1 * 

L r1  8
RE to ε-NFA: Union
L r1  r2   L r1   L r2 

For r1

For r2

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RE to ε-NFA: Union
L r1  r2   L r1   L r2 

For r1
ε ε

ε ε
For r2

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RE to ε-NFA: Concatenation
L r1  r2   L r1  L r2 

ε
For r1 For r2

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RE to ε-NFA: Closure

L r *  L r *
ε

ε ε
For r

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 Example-1
 Convert R= (ab+a)* to an ε-NFA
a
a

b
b

ab a ε b
 Example-1
R= (ab+a)*
ab+a

a ε b
ε ε

a
ε ε

(ab+a)* ε

a ε b
ε ε
ε
ε

a
ε ε

ε
 Example - 2
 Find ε-NFA for a+(bc)*

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 DFA to Regular Expression Conversion

There are two popular methods for converting a

given DFA to its regular expression

DFA to RE
Methods

Arden’s Method State Elimination Method

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 State Elimination Method
 This method involves the following steps in finding the regular
expression for any given DFA.
 Step-01:
1. The initial state of the DFA must not have any incoming edge.
2. If there exists any incoming edge to the initial state, then create a new
initial state having no incoming edge to it.

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 State Elimination Method
 Step-02:
 There must exist only one final state in the DFA.
 If there is multiple final states in the DFA, then convert all the final
states into non-final states and create a new single final state.

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 State Elimination Method
 Step-03:
 The final state of the DFA must not have any outgoing edge.
 If there exists any outgoing edge from the final state, then create a new
final state having no outgoing edge from it.

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 State Elimination Method
 Step-04:
 Eliminate all the intermediate states one by one.
 These states may be eliminated in any order.

 In the end,
 Only an initial state going to the final state will be left.
 The cost of this transition is the required regular expression.

 Note: The state elimination method can be applied to any

finite automata. (NFA, -NFA, DFA etc)

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 Example - 1
Find regular expression for the following DFA.

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 Example-1: Solution
 Step-01:
 Initial state A has an incoming edge.
 So, we create a new initial state qi.
 The resulting DFA is-

 Step-02:
 Final state B has an outgoing edge.
 So, we create a new final state qf.
 The resulting DFA is-

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 Example-1: Solution
 Step-03:
 Start eliminating the intermediate states.
 First eliminate state A
 There is a path going from state qi to state B via state A.
 So, after eliminating state A, put a direct path from state
qi to state B having cost .0 = 0
 There is a loop on state B using state A.
 So, after eliminating state A, we put a direct loop on state B
having cost 1.0 = 10.
 Eliminating state A, we get-

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 Example-1: Solution

 Step-04:
 Eliminate state B.
 There is a path going from state qi to state qf via state B.
 So, after eliminating state B, put a direct path from state
qi to state qf having cost 0.(10)*. = 0(10)*
 Eliminating state B, we get-

Regular Expression = 0(10)*

 Note:
 If we first eliminate state B and then state A, then regular expression
would be = (01)*0.
 This is also the same and correct. 24
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