Questions tagged [diagonalization]

15 questions
6
votes
2 answers

What does it mean to prove the halting problem is undecidable "using arithmetization"?

In version gamma of the ACM/IEEE/AAAI Computer Science Curricula 2023, on page 50, one of the illustrative learning outcomes for the "Computational Models and Formal Languages" section of the curriculum states that students should be able to Use…
5
votes
2 answers

Diagonalisation in the proof of undecidability of the acceptance problem for Turing Machines

It's well-known that the language $A_{TM} = \{\langle M,w\rangle: \text{M is a turing machine that accepts w} \}$ is undecidable. There's a standard proof that's presented in Sipser's "Introduction to the theory of Computation" (and in a number of…
4
votes
1 answer

Can you diagonalize a language out of CSL?

In recursion theory, it is possible to diagonalize a computable function out of the class of primitive recursive functions. Can you do the same with context-sensitive languages? I was thinking we could use the LBA and the finite countable set of…
3
votes
0 answers

Understanding a black-box vs white-box simulation and relativization

I am trying to understand the relativization barrier from Baker Gill Solovay (BGS). About this barrier, I have heard that it only applies when using a black-box simulation. Hence, my question is, what would be an hypothetic white-box simulation…
2
votes
1 answer

Proving FPT is strictly contained in XP

In their book Fundamentals of Parameterized Complexity, Downey and Fellows claim (in chapter 27.1) that $\mathrm{FPT}\subsetneq \mathrm{XP}$, and that this is a "basic result" that follows by "standard diagonalization", without any further…
1
vote
1 answer

Does an oracle of EXPSPACE-complete $B$ language cause $P^B=EXP^B$

As I have read Sipser's TOC, on page 372, there is a $EXPSPACE$-complete language, say, $B$, i.e. $B\in$ $EXPSPACE$ and every $L\in$ $EXPSPACE$ is polynomial time reducible to $B$. I also have read Aaronson's P=?NP survey. He says, on page 46, that…
minh quý lê
  • 625
  • 4
  • 15
1
vote
1 answer

How to separate $TIME(n)$ and $L$?

I'm trying to prove that $TIME(n)\neq L$ by padding technique, yet it has a trouble: Assume that $TIME(n)= L$, let $A\in TIME(n^2)\backslash TIME(n)$ so $A\notin L$. Let $A_{pad}=\{x01^{|x|^2-|x|-1}|x\in A\}$, it is easily to see that $A_{pad}\in…
1
vote
1 answer

What is the role of diagonalization in the proof of undecidability of the halting problem?

I'm trying to understand the proof of undecidability of the halting problem. Some resources give a short proof based on a proof by contradiction. There is no mention of diagonalization. But some others also mention diagonalization in the proof. I'm…
Sanyo Mn
  • 195
  • 5
1
vote
1 answer

Prove Language Is Undeciable Using Diagonalization

I was given the following problem and told it has to be solved using diagonalization. However, I am confused as to why diagonalization would be the solution. Would the answer not be since L is infinite it has uncountably many subsets. Since there…
1
vote
1 answer

Why is the language containing the Turing machines which only accept their own encoding not applicable to the diagonalization proof?

I saw this question and asked myself why the original problem is not solvable through diagonalization. Let $$L = \bigl\{\langle M \rangle \mid L(M) = \{\langle M\rangle\}\bigr\}$$ Take the complement $\overline{L}$. Suppose there is a Turing Machine…
Konschi
  • 13
  • 4
1
vote
1 answer

M does not accept [M] | 'Correction' of proof possible?

The language $D=\{[M]|M([M])=0\}$ is not decidable because of the following argument: Suppose there was a $TM \space M_D$ that decides $D$. Then if we gave $M_D \space [M] $, there would be two possible outcomes: 1. $M_D([M_D])=1 \text{…
1
vote
0 answers

The role of diagonalization - asymmetry between TM and Recursion Theory

This might be a slightly strange or irrelevant question. My apologies if it is. I'll try to formulate it the best I can. First, here is an hypothesis: diagonalization is syatematically used to prove that a set is a proper subset of another set by…
1
vote
2 answers

Hilbert's Hotel for guests with infinite string name

I was watching this video How An Infinite Hotel Ran Out Of Room, by Veritasium. The video says that it is not possible to fit names made of infinite strings of $\{A,B\}$. We know we can fit infinite people in the hotel, we also know that there…
0
votes
0 answers

How to quickly compute power of matrix of generating functions?

I have a 2x2 matrix of generating functions which I want to raise to a large power $m$: $$\begin{bmatrix} a(x) & b(x)\\ c(x) & d(x) \end{bmatrix}^m.$$ I then want to retrieve the first $n$ coefficients of each of the resulting generating functions.…
0
votes
3 answers

Can the diagonal language be empty?

We defined the diagonal language as follows in the lecture: \begin{align*} L_{\text{diag}}=\left\{w \in \left\{0, 1\right\} ^{*}\mid w=w_{i} \text{ for some }i \in \mathbb{N} \text{ and }M_{i} \text{ does not accept }w_{i}\right\}…
Max
  • 111
  • 3