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Let $G=(V,\Sigma,R,S)$ be the grammar given by the following rules: \begin{align} &S \to aS \mid B \\ &B \to abBc \mid \epsilon \end{align}

Please provide a formal proof for the following claim: $$ L(G) = \{ a^i (ab)^j c^j : i,j \in \mathbb{N} \}. $$

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  • $\begingroup$ They aren't equal $L(G) = \{ a^i (ab)^j c^j|i,j\geq0\}$, which is different from $L$. You probably misread something about the definition of $G$ or $L$. $\endgroup$ – plshelp Nov 1 '20 at 9:25
  • $\begingroup$ Hi, thanks for pointing out my mistake in the original post. $\endgroup$ – ZBear Nov 1 '20 at 9:29
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    $\begingroup$ This question is modified from an assignment; I changed the grammar and L to learn the idea of proving this type of question. $\endgroup$ – ZBear Nov 1 '20 at 9:32
  • $\begingroup$ I know how to do S->uSw|$\epsilon$, S->XY, and S->X|Y. However, I don't know how to approach S->S|X $\endgroup$ – ZBear Nov 1 '20 at 9:37
  • $\begingroup$ Is $S\rightarrow S|X$ different from $S\rightarrow Y, Y\rightarrow Y|X$? How? $\endgroup$ – greybeard Nov 1 '20 at 10:13
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Let $L = \{ a^i (ab)^j c^j : i,j \in \mathbb{N} \}$. The proof consists of two steps:

  • $L \subseteq L(G)$.
  • $L(G) \subseteq L$.

The first step proceeds by direct construction: we show how to produce each word in $L$ using the grammar. In order to produce the word $a^i (ab)^j c^j$, we first apply $i$ times the rule $S \to aS$, then once the rule $S \to B$, then $j$ times the rule $B \to abBc$, then once the rule $B \to \epsilon$. Formally, we could prove that this works by induction.

For the second step, we first prove by induction that all words generated by $B$ are of the form $(ab)^jc^j$. We show that by induction on the length of a production starting at $B$. If the first step is $B \Rightarrow \epsilon$ then we generate $\epsilon$. Otherwise, the first step is $B \Rightarrow abBc$. By induction, the $B$ on the right produces a word of the form $(ab)^jc^j$, and overall the produced word is $(ab)^{j+1}c^{j+1}$, which is of the same form.

We can now prove the required claim by induction on the length of a production starting at $S$. If the first step is $S \Rightarrow B$, then the preceding paragraph shows that the generated word is of the form $(ab)^jc^j$. Otherwise, the first step is $S \Rightarrow aS$. By induction, the $S$ on the right generates a word of the form $a^i (ab)^j c^j$, and overall the produced word is $a^{i+1} (ab)^j c^j$, which is of the required form.

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  • $\begingroup$ Hi, thanks for your answer. Could you give the inductive hypothesis for the induction in the first step? Many thanks. $\endgroup$ – ZBear Nov 1 '20 at 10:03
  • $\begingroup$ If $B \Rightarrow^n w$ then $w \in \{ (ab)^j c^j : j \in \mathbb{N} \}$. $\endgroup$ – Yuval Filmus Nov 1 '20 at 10:07
  • $\begingroup$ I think your I.H is for the second step. $\endgroup$ – ZBear Nov 1 '20 at 11:12
  • $\begingroup$ Right, this is the IH for the second step. You'll have to work out the first step on your own. I'm not going to write a full-fledged answer with all details. $\endgroup$ – Yuval Filmus Nov 1 '20 at 11:21
  • $\begingroup$ I finished a complete proof under you guide, many thanks. $\endgroup$ – ZBear Nov 1 '20 at 11:56

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