Confluent rewriting system: Difference between revisions

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==Definition==
==Definition==


A [[rewriting system]] is said to be '''confluent''' if whenever <math>u \longrightarrow v</math> and <math>u \longrightarrow w</math> are multi-step reductions in the rewriting system, then there exists a word <math>z</math> such that there exist multi-step reductions <math>v \longrightarrow z</math> and <math>w \longrightarrow z</math>.
A [[rewriting system]] is said to be '''confluent''' if it satisfies the following condition: whenever <math>u \longrightarrow v</math> and <math>u \longrightarrow w</math> are multi-step reductions in the rewriting system, then there exists a word <math>z</math> such that there exist multi-step reductions <math>v \longrightarrow z</math> and <math>w \longrightarrow z</math>.


In other words, any two things from the same source finally get together again.
In other words, any two things from the same source finally get together again.
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===Stronger properties===
===Stronger properties===


* [[Strongly confluent rewriting system]]
* [[Weaker than::Strongly confluent rewriting system]]
* [[Complete rewriting system]]
* [[Weaker than::Complete rewriting system]]


===Weaker properties===
===Weaker properties===


* [[Locally confluent rewriting system]]
* [[Stronger than::Locally confluent rewriting system]]


==Metaproperties==
==Metaproperties==
{{reduction graph-based rsp}}
Whether a rewriting system is confluent or not, can be reduced to checking a property of the associated [[reduction graph]] )assuming we remove the identity rewrite.


{{free product-closed rsp}}
{{free product-closed rsp}}


A free product of confluent rewriting systems is confluent. This is essentially because reductions in the various free factors do not ''interfere'' with one another, and hence commute.
A free product of confluent rewriting systems is confluent. This is essentially because reductions in the various free factors do not ''interfere'' with one another, and hence commute.

Latest revision as of 22:06, 31 January 2012

Template:Rewriting system property

Definition

A rewriting system is said to be confluent if it satisfies the following condition: whenever uv and uw are multi-step reductions in the rewriting system, then there exists a word z such that there exist multi-step reductions vz and wz.

In other words, any two things from the same source finally get together again.

The term confluent rewriting system can also be used for a rewriting system for a group. Note that the free group rewriting system is confluent. A group that possesses a confluent rewriting system is termed a confluent group.

Relation with other properties

Stronger properties

Weaker properties

Metaproperties

Dependence only on reduction graph

This property of a rewriting system depends only on the reduction graph associated with the rewriting system, viz it can be reduces to testing the reduction graph for a directed graph property

Whether a rewriting system is confluent or not, can be reduced to checking a property of the associated reduction graph )assuming we remove the identity rewrite.

Free product-closedness

This property of a rewriting system is free product-closed. In other words, if we have two rewriting systems satisfying the property, the natural free product of these rewriting systems also satisfies the property

A free product of confluent rewriting systems is confluent. This is essentially because reductions in the various free factors do not interfere with one another, and hence commute.