Hierarchies of Computable groups and the word problem

Abstract

The word problem for groups was first formulated by M. Dehn [1], who gave a solution for the fundamental groups of a closed orientable surface of genus g ≧ 2. In the following years solutions were given, for example, for groups with one defining relator [2], free groups, free products of groups with a solvable word problem and, in certain cases, free products of groups with amalgamated subgroups [3], [4], [5]. During the period 1953–1957, it was shown independently by Novikov and Boone that the word problem for groups is recursively undecidable [6], [7]; granting Church's Thesis [8], their work implies that the word problem for groups is effectively undecidable.