Primitive Recursive Research Articles

Weak computability and representation of reals

AbstractThe computability of reals was introduced by Alan Turing [20] by means of decimal representations. But the equivalent notion can also be introduced accordingly if the binary expansion, Dedekind cut or Cauchy sequence representations are considered instead. In other words, the computability of reals is independent of their representations. However, as it is shown by Specker [19] and Ko [9], the primitive recursiveness and polynomial time computability of the reals do depend on the representation. In this paper, we explore how the weak computability of reals depends on the representation. To this end, we introduce three notions of weak computability in a way similar to the Ershov's hierarchy of Δ02‐sets of natural numbers based on the binary expansion, Dedekind cut and Cauchy sequence, respectively. This leads to a series of classes of reals with different levels of computability. We investigate systematically questions as on which level these notions are equivalent. We also compare them with other known classes of reals like c. e. and d‐c. e. reals. (© 2004 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

Some subrecursive versions of Grzegorczyk's Uniformity Theorem

AbstractA theorem published by A. Grzegorczyk in 1955 states a certain kind of effective uniform continuity of computable functionals whose values are natural numbers and whose arguments range over the total functions in the set of the natural numbers and over the natural numbers. Namely, for any such functional a computable functional with one function‐argument and the same number‐arguments exists such that the values of the first of the functionals at functions dominated by a given one are completely determined by their restrictions to numbers not exceeding the corresponding values of the second functional at the given function. We prove versions of this theorem for the class of the primitive recursive functionals and for the class of the elementary recursive ones. Analogous results can be proved for many other subrecursive classes of functionals. (© 2004 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

Minimization and NP multifunctions

The implicit characterizations of the polynomial-time computable functions FP given by Bellantoni–Cook and Leivant suggest that this class is the complexity-theoretic analog of the primitive recursive functions. Hence, it is natural to add minimization operators to these characterizations and investigate the resulting class of partial functions as a candidate for the analog of the partial recursive functions. We do so in this paper for Cobham's definition of FP by bounded recursion and for Bellantoni–Cook's safe recursion and prove that the resulting classes capture exactly NPMV , the nondeterministic polynomial-time computable partial multifunctions. We also consider the relationship between our schemes and a notion of nondeterministic recursion defined by Leivant and show that the latter characterizes the total functions of NPMV . We view these results as giving evidence that NPMV is the appropriate analog of partial recursive. This view is reinforced by earlier results of Spreen and Stahl who show that for many of the relationships between partial recursive functions and r.e. sets, analogous relationships hold between NPMV and NP sets. Furthermore, since NPMV is obtained from FP in the same way as the recursive functions are obtained from the primitive recursive functions (when defined via function schemes), this also gives further evidence that FP is properly seen as playing the role of primitive recursion.

Continuous-time computation with restricted integration capabilities

Recursion theory on the reals, the analog counterpart of recursive function theory, is an approach to continuous-time computation inspired by the models of Classical Physics. In recursion theory on the reals, the discrete operations of standard recursion theory are replaced by operations on continuous functions such as composition and various forms of differential equations like indefinite integrals, linear differential equations and more general Cauchy problems. We define classes of real recursive functions in a manner similar to the standard recursion theory and we study their complexity. We prove both upper and lower bounds for several classes of real recursive functions, which lie inside the elementary functions, and can be characterized in terms of space complexity. In particular, we show that hierarchies of real recursive classes closed under restricted integration operations are related to the exponential space hierarchy. The results in this paper, combined with earlier results, suggest that there is a close connection between analog complexity classes and subrecursive classes, at least in the region between FLINSPACE and the primitive recursive functions.

On some generalizations of the primitive recursive arithmetic

Formal arithmetical system PRAU is defined as an extension of R.L. Goodstein's system PRA of the primitive recursive arithmetic; it is based on the consideration of functions similar to primitive recursive functions but in general not everywhere defined. It is proved that PRAU is a conservative extension of PRA. Some classes of the program schemes (PRA-schemes and PRAU-schemes) are introduced; it is proved that the classes of functions computable by such schemes coincide with the classes of functions taking part, correspondingly, in PRA and PRAU.

OCL 1.4/5 vs. 2.0 Expressions Formal semantics and expressiveness

A type inference system and a big-step operational semantics for expressions of the “Object Constraint Language” (OCL), the declarative and navigational constraint language for the “Unified Modeling Language” (UML), are provided; the account is mainly based on OCL 1.4/5, but also includes the main features of OCL 2.0. The formal systems are parameterised in terms of UML static structures and UML object models, which are treated abstractly. It is proved that the operational semantics satisfies a subject reduction property with respect to the type inference system. Proceeding from the operational semantics and providing a denotational semantics, pure OCL 2.0 expressions are shown to exactly represent the primitive recursive functions, whereas pure OCL 1.4/5 expressions are Turing complete.

Continuous-time computation with restricted integration capabilities

Recursion theory on the reals, the analog counterpart of recursive function theory, is an approach to continuous-time computation inspired by the models of Classical Physics. In recursion theory on the reals, the discrete operations of standard recursion theory are replaced by operations on continuous functions such as composition and various forms of differential equations like indefinite integrals, linear differential equations and more general Cauchy problems. We define classes of real recursive functions in a manner similar to the standard recursion theory and we study their complexity. We prove both upper and lower bounds for several classes of real recursive functions, which lie inside the elementary functions, and can be characterized in terms of space complexity. In particular, we show that hierarchies of real recursive classes closed under restricted integration operations are related to the exponential space hierarchy. The results in this paper, combined with earlier results, suggest that there is a close connection between analog complexity classes and subrecursive classes, at least in the region between FLINSPACE and the primitive recursive functions.

Minimization and [formula omitted] multifunctions

The implicit characterizations of the polynomial-time computable functions FP given by Bellantoni–Cook and Leivant suggest that this class is the complexity-theoretic analog of the primitive recursive functions. Hence, it is natural to add minimization operators to these characterizations and investigate the resulting class of partial functions as a candidate for the analog of the partial recursive functions. We do so in this paper for Cobham's definition of FP by bounded recursion and for Bellantoni–Cook's safe recursion and prove that the resulting classes capture exactly NPMV , the nondeterministic polynomial-time computable partial multifunctions. We also consider the relationship between our schemes and a notion of nondeterministic recursion defined by Leivant and show that the latter characterizes the total functions of NPMV . We view these results as giving evidence that NPMV is the appropriate analog of partial recursive. This view is reinforced by earlier results of Spreen and Stahl who show that for many of the relationships between partial recursive functions and r.e. sets, analogous relationships hold between NPMV and NP sets. Furthermore, since NPMV is obtained from FP in the same way as the recursive functions are obtained from the primitive recursive functions (when defined via function schemes), this also gives further evidence that FP is properly seen as playing the role of primitive recursion.

Generalized Coiteration Schemata

Coiterative functions can be explained categorically as final coalgebraic morphisms, once coinductive types are viewed as final coalgebras. However, the coiteration schema which arises in this way is too rigid to accommodate directly many interesting classes of circular specifications. In this paper, building on the notion of T-coiteration introduced by the third author and capitalizing on recent work on bialgebras by Turi-Plotkin and Bartels, we introduce and illustrate various generalized coiteration patterns. First we show that, by choosing the appropriate monad T, T-coiteration captures naturally a wide range of coiteration schemata, such as the duals of primitive recursion and course-of-value iteration, and mutual coiteration. Then we show that, in the more structured categorical setting of bialgebras, T-coiteration captures guarded coiterations schemata, i.e. specifications where recursive calls appear guarded by predefined algebraic operations.

Generalised coinduction

We introduce the , while still giving rise to a proof technique for bisimilarity. We first present a theorem showing the validity of the resulting definition and proof principles for categories with countable coproducts.Our approach gives a unifying categorical presentation and justification of several extensions of the basic coinduction schemata that have been treated separately before, and some only for specific types of system. As examples, the duals of primitive recursion and course-of-value iteration, which are known extensions of coiteration, arise as instances of our framework.Moreover, we derive schemata involving auxiliary operators definable with GSOS-style specifications such as addition of streams, regular operators on languages, or parallel and sequential composition of processes. The argument is based on a variation of the theory in the setting of monads and copointed functors. The schemata justify guarded recursive definitions and an up-to-context proof technique for operators of the type mentioned. The latter can ease bisimilarity proofs considerably.

Provably total functions of Basic Arithmetic

AbstractIt is shown that all the provably total functions of Basic Arithmetic BA, a theory introduced by Ruitenburg based on Predicate Basic Calculus, are primitive recursive. Along the proof a new kind of primitive recursive realizability to which BA is sound, is introduced. This realizability is similar to Kleene's recursive realizability, except that recursive functions are restricted to primitive recursives.

What Finitism Could Not Be

In his paper "Finitism" (1981), W.W. Tait maintains that the chief difficulty for everyone who wishes to understand Hilbert's conception of finitist mathematics is this: to specify the sense of the provability of general statements about the natural numbers without presupposing infinite totalities. Tait further argues that all finitist reasoning is essentially primitive recursive. In this paper, we attempt to show that his thesis "The finitist functions are precisely the primitive recursive functions" is disputable and that another, likewise defended by him, is untenable. The second thesis is that the finitist theorems are precisely the universal closures of the equations that can be proved in PRA.

Linear programs in a simple reversible language

Very simple reversible programming languages can be useful for the study of reversible transformations. For this purpose we define simple reversible language (SRL), a very simple reversible language, and analyse its properties. The language SRL is similar to the “loop” languages that have been used by several authors to characterise the set of primitive recursive functions. There are, however, important differences: SRL has domain Z instead of N and only reversible programs can be written in SRL. The reversibility of linear homogeneous SRL programs is related to the fact that the corresponding set of matrices has the algebraic structure of a group. We show that such programs implement exactly the linear transformations corresponding to the group of integer positive modular matrices, while in ESRL, an extended version of SRL, the set of transformations that can be implemented by linear homogeneous programs corresponds exactly to the group of integer modular matrices.

An application of results by Hardy, Ramanujan and Karamata to Ackermannian functions

The Ackermann function is a fascinating and well studied paradigm for a function which eventually dominates all primitive recursive functions. By a classical result from the theory of recursive functions it is known that the Ackermann function can be defined by an unnested or descent recursion along the segment of ordinals below ω ^ω (or equivalently along the order type of the polynomials under eventual domination). In this article we give a fine structure analysis of such a Ackermann type descent recursion in the case that the ordinals below ω ^ω are represented via a Hardy Ramanujan style coding. This paper combines number-theoretic results by Hardy and Ramanujan, Karamata's celebrated Tauberian theorem and techniques from the theory of computability in a perhaps surprising way.

Tarski's Fixed-Point Theorem And Lambda Calculi With Monotone Inductive Types

The new concept of lambda calculi with monotone inductive types is introduced byhelp of motivations drawn from Tarski's fixed-point theorem (in preorder theory) andinitial algebras and initial recursive algebras from category theory. They are intendedto serve as formalisms for studying iteration and primitive recursion ongeneral inductively given structures. Special accent is put on the behaviour ofthe rewrite rules motivated by the categorical approach, most notably on thequestion of strong normalization (i.e., the impossibility of an infinitesequence of successive rewrite steps). It is shown that this key propertyhinges on the concrete formulation. The canonical system of monotone inductivetypes, where monotonicity is expressed by a monotonicity witness beinga term expressing monotonicity through its type, enjoys strong normalizationshown by an embedding into the traditional system of non-interleavingpositive inductive types which, however, has to be enriched by the parametricpolymorphism of system F. Restrictions to iteration on monotone inductive typesalready embed into system F alone, hence clearly displaying the differencebetween iteration and primitive recursion with respect to algorithms despitethe fact that, classically, recursion is only a concept derived from iteration.

TURING UNIVERSALITY OF RECURSIVE PATTERNS FOR PARALLEL PROGRAMMING

Dijkstra's famous thesis "goto considered harmful", which paved the way for structured programming, was formally substantiated by the result of Böhm and Jacopini on the Turing universality of the three well-known basic programming constructs. We argue for a similar ideal in parallel programming — "send-receive considered harmful" — i.e. abandoning explicit send-receive statements between processors and expressing programs using a restricted set of parallel constructs. We deal with recursive patterns of parallelism, represented formally as morphisms in a suitable calculus. The aim of this paper is to study the expressive power of two morphisms – catamorphisms and anamorphisms. For a restricted program calculus based on these morphisms, we constructively prove two formal results, whose pragmatic message is: (1) A programming language based on catamorphisms is computationally equivalent to the class of primitive recursive functions; (2) A programming language based on both catamorphisms and anamorphisms is equivalent to the class of partial recursive functions and is therefore Turing-universal. We present a case study on numerical integration, demonstrating the expressive power of ana- and catamorphisms for parallel programming.

Recursive functions of context free languages (II)

In this paper we proved that the function class CFRF and its proper subclass CFPRF are respectively the partial recursive functions and primitive recursive functions of context free languages (CFLs). Also we discussed the relation between them and recursive functions defined on other domains. It is indicated that the functions of natural numbers and/or symbol strings (words) are functions of CFLs. Several frequently used primitive recursive functions on words were given, including logical connectives, conditional expressions. Also the powerful operators (bounded maximization and minimization operators) for constructing primitive recursive functions were defined. Two important nontrivial algorithms, the characteristic function of arbitrary CFL and the parse function of CFL sentences were constructed. Based on them, the method for extending or restricting function domain was described.

Computability. Computable Functions, Logic, and the Foundations of Mathematics

Philosophy and mathematics. Some paradoxes. Whole numbers. Functions. An introduction to the nature of a proof. Infinite collections? Hilbert: on the infinite. Computability. Turing machines. The most amazing fact and Church's thesis. Primitive recursive functions. The Grzegorczyk hierarchy. Multiple recursion and recursion on order types. The least search operator. Partial recursion functions. Numbering the partial recursive functions. Listability. Turing machine computable = partial recursive. Logic and arithmetic, part 1: propositional logic. Logic and arithmetic, part 2: a review. Logic and arithmetic, part 3: first-order arithmetic. Functions representable in formal arithmetic. The undecidability of arithmetic. The unprovability of consistency. Church's thesis. Constructivist view of mathematics. Bibliography. Index of notation. Index.

Recursive functions of context free languages (I)

It is intended to establish the recursive function theory on context free languages (CFLs). In this paper, the function class CFRF and its proper subclass CFPRF were defined on CFLs; it is quite straightforward to use them for describing non-numerical algorithms. In fact, they are respectively the partial recursive functions and primitive recursive functions of context free languages. The structure induction method for proving CFPRF function properties was presented. A method for CFL sentence enumeration was given, the minimization operator was defined. Based on CFL sentence enumeration, the minimization operator evaluation method was given. Finally, the design and implementation principles of executable specification languages with the CFRF as theoretical basis were discussed.

Intrinsic reasoning about functional programs I: first order theories

We propose a rudimentary formal framework for reasoning about recursion equations over inductively generated data. Our formalism admits all equational programs (including diverging terms), and yet singles out none. While being simple, this framework has numerous extensions and applications. Here we (1) lay out the basic concepts and definitions; (2) show that (for the natural numbers) the deductive power of our formalism is similar to that of Peano's Arithmetic; (3) prove a strong normalization theorem; and (4) exhibit a mapping from natural deduction derivations to an applied λ-calculus, à la Curry–Howard, which provides a transparent proof of Gödel's result that the provably recursive functions of PA are definable by primitive recursion in finite types. Also of interest is the extent, uncommon among similar constructions, to which our mapping is oblivious to first order terms, including first order quantification and equality. Additional applications and extensions of the method will be presented in sequel papers. In particular, the methodology introduced here lends itself to systematic links between natural sub-formalisms and computational complexity classes. Since these sub-formalisms are largely transparent, allowing one to reason formally in the full system while leaving to automatic software tools the task of verifying that restrictions are complied with, the framework is particularly attractive for the development of Feasible Mathematics.