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I know the method to the find the minimum pumping length of regular language by constructing minimal DFA and finding the number of states but I am not able to quite understand why is it working.

For example, $L = (10)^*$. Here minimum pumping length is 1 by constructing DFA. But by pumping lemma, how can there be a string of length 1 belonging to $L$? As pumping lemma says the string $S$ should be such that $|S| \le p$ and $S$ should belong to $L$, where $p$ is the pumping length, and here there is no string of length 1 belonging to $L$.

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Your example in fact demonstrates that the pumping length can be smaller than the number of states in the minimal DFA. In your case the minimal DFA contains 3 states, but the pumping length is 2.

The pumping length of a language $L$ is the minimal $p$ such that every word $w \in L$ of length at least $p$ can be written as $w = xyz$, where $|xy| \leq p$, $y \neq \epsilon$, and $xy^iz \in L$ for all $i \geq 0$.

If $L$ contains no words of length $p$ that's not problematic at all. For example, the pumping length of $\{ w \}$ is $|w|+1$. In that case the pumping property holds vacuously.

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    $\begingroup$ The answer was minimum pumping length can be atmost 2 and minimum 1. So 1 was the answer and not 2. And yes for finite languages, I know pumping length is |W| + 1. Can you please tell how can it be 1? $\endgroup$
    – Sagar P
    Nov 27, 2017 at 20:01
  • $\begingroup$ The minimum pumping length is a single number. It's either 1 or 2. According to my definition, it is 2 rather than 1. Perhaps you're using a different definition which doesn't require $|xy| \leq p$. $\endgroup$ Nov 27, 2017 at 20:02
  • $\begingroup$ When we find the minimum pumping length using minimal DFA, the answer is longest path from initial state without a cycle right ? So even with minimal DFA, the answer comes out to be 1. $\endgroup$
    – Sagar P
    Nov 27, 2017 at 20:03
  • $\begingroup$ It really depends on the definition of "minimum pumping length". I have given my definition. What is yours? $\endgroup$ Nov 27, 2017 at 20:04
  • $\begingroup$ The one is wikipedia which is same as yours. Even my textbook uses the same. $\endgroup$
    – Sagar P
    Nov 27, 2017 at 20:06

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