Regular Expression

• We shall build expressions from the symbols

using simple operations include
concatenation, union and kleen closure.
• Several intuitive examples of our notation are:
a) 01 means a zero followed by a one
(concatenation)
b) 0+1 means either a zero or a one (union)
c) 0* means ^ + 0 + 00 + 000 + ... (Kleene
closure)
 Regular Expression
• Useful for representing certain sets of strings in an
algebraic fashion.(reunion of broken parts)
• Describes the languages accepted by finite state
automaton.
• Formal Recursive Definition of Regular Expression
over ∑ as follows:-
• Some Rules for Regular Expression:-

• Example:-
• Solution:-
Example:-

• Example:-
• Identities of Regular Expression:-
• We can write regular expression for a DFA using
Arden theorem
• Solution:- Assume that R = QP* satisfied 5.1
• Then Q + (QP*)P put the value of R in 5.1
• Q(Ʌ + P*P)
• Now apply I9
• QP* hence 5.1 is satisfied when R = QP*. This means R = QP* is a
solution of 5.1
• Example:-
• Finite Automata and Regular Expression:-
Transition System Containing Ʌ - Moves:-
• Transition Systems can be generalized by Ʌ - moves.
• occur when no input is applied.
• It is possible to convert a transition system with Ʌ -
moves into an equivalent transition system without
Ʌ - moves.

Suppose we want to replace a Ʌ- move from vertex v1 to

v2 . Then we proceed as follows:
Null Moves Removal
• Let R be a regular expression having n+1 characters.
Then :-

Also P and Q are regular expression having n characters or

less.
By :-
L(P) and L(Q) are recognized by M1 and M2 where M1
and M2 are NDFs with Ʌ - moves
such that L(P) = T(M1) and L(Q) = T(M2).
• M1 and M2 are represented by figure:-
•v
Construction of Finite Automata Equivalent to
Regular Expression:-
• Example:-

• Solution:-
• Example:-
• Equivalence of Two Finite Automata:-

Two finite automata over ∑ are equivalent if they accept

the same set of strings over ∑ .

Two finite automata are not equivalent if one automaton

reaches at final state and other doesn’t.
• Example:-
• Equivalence of Two Regular Expression:-
Two regular expression is equal if they represents same set.
Two regular expression is equal if their corresponding finite
automata is equal.

Example:-

Solution:-
• Pumping Lemma for Regular Sets:-
This lemma gives a necessary condition for an input string to belong to a
regular set. The result is called pumping lemma as it gives a method of
pumping (generating) many input strings from a given string. As pumping
lemma gives a necessary condition, it can be used to show that certain sets are
not regular.

Theorem 5.5 (Pumping Lemma) Let M be a finite automaton with n states. Let L be
the regular set accepted by M. Let wE L and w>= m. If m >=n, then there exists x,y, z
such that w =xyz, y != null and xyizE L for each i >=O.
 Application of Pumping Lemma
• This theorem can be used to prove that certain sets
are not regular. The steps needed for proving that a
given set is not regular are
• Step 1 Assume that L is regular. Let n be the number
of states in the corresponding finite automaton.
• Step 2 Choose a string w such that w >= n. Use
pumping lemma to write w=xyz , xy<=n and Iy I > 0.
• Step 3 Find a suitable integer i such that xyiz does not
belongs to L. This contradicts our assumption, Hence L
is not regular.
• Show that L = {0i1i such that i>= I} is not regular.
Solution
• Step 1 Suppose L is regular. Let n be the number of states in the
finite automaton accepting L.
• Step 2 Let w =0n1n. Then w=2n > n. By pumping lemma, we write
• w = xyz with IX}'I ~ n and I y I ::t O.
• Step 3 We want to find i so that x.'/z EO L for getting a
contradiction. The
• string \' can be in any of the following fonns:
• Case 1 y has a's. i.e. y =Ok for some k e: l.
• Case 2 ,'has only l' s. i.e. y = 11 for some I 2: 1.
• Case 3 y has both O·sand l' s, i.e. y = Oklj for some k, j e: L