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I have an alphabet $A = \{b,B\}$ and I'm asked to write down the pattern of the regular expression $(\epsilon|bb|b)(B|bb)(b|\epsilon|b)$. What does the question actually want me to do? I'm not sure. Does it want me to give the possible patterns that can be formed with $b$ and $B$? But then surely the question would not have been phrased the way it is.

I'm just confused about what I need to do here and what is expected of the answer. If anyone could give an example it would be very helpful.

Note: This is not the original question, I changed and simplified it.

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    $\begingroup$ Maybe you simplified away the essence? $\endgroup$
    – Raphael ♦
    Jan 24, 2013 at 12:52
  • $\begingroup$ @Raphael - I'm sure I didn't. The only problem that I'm having is to understand what is meant by giving the pattern. Knowing the alphabet and the regular expression. For instance is it to give the pattern where b and B are concatenated? and how many patterns you can create with that for example , bBb, bB etc ? $\endgroup$
    – user1070241
    Jan 24, 2013 at 13:16
  • $\begingroup$ Maybe ['B', 'Bb', 'bB', 'bBb', 'bb', 'bbB', 'bbBb', 'bbb', 'bbbb', 'bbbbb']? $\endgroup$
    – Pål GD
    Jan 24, 2013 at 13:27
  • $\begingroup$ @PålGD That would be the language; I have not encountered 'pattern' as a synonym. There are pattern languages, though, but none of them can be generated by this regular expression $\endgroup$
    – Raphael ♦
    Jan 24, 2013 at 14:14
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    $\begingroup$ If it is an exercise, ask the person who compiled the exercise. 'Pattern' is overloaded heavily, so we have little chance of guessing what is meant. $\endgroup$
    – Raphael ♦
    Jan 24, 2013 at 14:14

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A pattern (in the context of languages and automata) is a way of defining a set of strings. A string matches a pattern if it belongs in the set defined by that pattern. So, your regular expression is actually a pattern. The question, I think, would be to find the pattern given a set of strings!

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  • $\begingroup$ Well, the problem is that what is given is a regular expression pattern. But it's somewhat convoluted, so it should apparently be simplified. $\endgroup$
    – Jan Hudec
    Jan 25, 2013 at 13:32

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