The transition function ' 𝛿 ' in multi-tape Turing machine is defined as:

2022

The transition function ' 𝛿 ' in multi-tape Turing machine is defined as:

  1. A.

    \(\delta: 2 \mathrm{Q} \times \Gamma^{\mathrm{k}} \rightarrow 2^{\mathrm{Q}} \times \Gamma^{\mathrm{k}} \times\{\mathrm{L}, \mathrm{R}, \mathrm{S}\}^{\mathrm{k}}\)

  2. B.

    \(\delta: \mathrm{Q} \times \mathrm{Q} \times \Gamma^{\mathrm{k}} \rightarrow \mathrm{Q} \times \mathrm{Q} \times \Gamma^{\mathrm{k}} \times\{\mathrm{L}, \mathrm{R}, \mathrm{S}\}^{\mathrm{k}}\)

  3. C.

    \(\delta: \mathrm{Q} \times \Gamma \mathrm{k} \rightarrow \mathrm{Q} \times \Gamma^{\mathrm{k}} \times\{\mathrm{L}, \mathrm{R}, \mathrm{S}\}^{\mathrm{k}}\)

  4. D.

    \(\delta: \mathrm{Q} \times \Gamma^{\mathrm{k}} \times 2^{\mathrm{Q}} \rightarrow \mathrm{Q} \times \Gamma^{\mathrm{k}} \times 2^{\mathrm{Q}} \times\{\mathrm{L}, \mathrm{R}, \mathrm{S}\}^{\mathrm{k}}\)

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Correct answer: C

Correct transition function: For a deterministic k-tape Turing machine the transition function is δ: Q × Γ^k → Q × Γ^k × {L,R,S}^k.

Explanation:

  • Domain: one current state (an element of Q) and one symbol from each of the k tapes (Γ^k).

  • Codomain: one next state (an element of Q), k symbols to write (Γ^k), and k head moves ({L,R,S}^k).

  • Nondeterministic variant: the transition can return a set of possible moves, written as δ: Q × Γ^k → P(Q × Γ^k × {L,R,S}^k).

Why other forms are incorrect:

  • Any expression that places a power set or 2^Q in the domain is wrong because the input must be a single state, not a subset of states.

  • Expressions that include extra Q factors (for example an extra state factor in the domain or codomain) are incorrect because the transition describes one current state and one next state, not two states simultaneously.

  • Pay attention to notation: a correct formulation uses Γ^k (the k-fold Cartesian product of the tape alphabet) rather than a typographical variant like 'Γ k' without the superscript.

Final answer: δ: Q × Γ^k → Q × Γ^k × {L,R,S}^k (deterministic).

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