Consider the following languages: L1 = {ww | w ∈ {a, b}*} L2 = {an bn cm | m,n…

2022

Consider the following languages:

L1 = {ww | w ∈ {a, b}*

L2 = {an bn cm | m,n ≥ 0} 

L3 = {am bn cn | m,n ≥ 0} 

Which of the following statements is/are FALSE?

  1. A.

    \(L_1\) is not context-free but \(L_2\) and \(L_3\) are deterministic context-free.

  2. B.

    Neither \(L_1\) nor \(L_2\) is context-free.

  3. C.

    \(L_2\) , \(L_3\) and \(L_2 \cap L_3\) all are context-free.

  4. D.

    Neither \(L_1\) nor its complement is context-free.

Attempted by 72 students.

Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: B, C, D

Answer: The false statements are the ones that assert the following texts:

  • Neither L1 nor L2 is context-free.

  • L2, L3 and L2 ∩ L3 all are context-free.

  • Neither L1 nor its complement is context-free.

Reasoning (concise):

  • Why L1 is not context-free: Let L1 = {ww | w ∈ {a,b}*}. Intersecting L1 with the regular language a* b* a* b* yields {a^n b^n a^n b^n}, which is a well-known non-context-free language. Since context-free languages are closed under intersection with regular languages, L1 cannot be context-free.

  • Why L2 and L3 are context-free (and deterministic CFLs): Provide simple grammars. For L2 = {a^n b^n c^m}: S → a S b | C ; C → c C | ε. This generates a^n b^n followed by any number of c's. For L3 = {a^m b^n c^n}: S → A D ; A → a A | ε ; D → b D c | ε. Both can be implemented by a deterministic PDA.

  • Why the claim that L2, L3 and their intersection are all context-free is false: Compute the intersection L2 ∩ L3. A string in the intersection must satisfy the L2 condition (number of a's equals number of b's) and the L3 condition (number of b's equals number of c's). Hence L2 ∩ L3 = {a^n b^n c^n | n ≥ 0}, which is a standard non-context-free language (e.g. by the pumping lemma). Therefore the intersection is not context-free.

  • Why the complement of L1 is context-free (sketch): The complement consists of odd-length strings and even-length strings whose first half differs from the second half at some position. A nondeterministic PDA can accept the complement by either accepting odd-length inputs immediately or, for even-length inputs, nondeterministically guessing an index i in the first half where a mismatch will occur, pushing symbols of the first half while remembering the guess, and then on the second half checking that the corresponding position indeed differs; acceptance follows if a mismatch is found. This nondeterministic strategy shows the complement is context-free.

Conclusion: The false statements are the three listed above. The first option (that L1 is not context-free while L2 and L3 are deterministic context-free) is correct.

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