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Non-Deterministic Finite Automata

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12 views

Non-Deterministic Finite Automata

Uploaded by

Pavan Pavi
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Non-deterministic Finite Automata

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Introduction to Non-Deterministic Finite Automata

• Non-deterministic Finite Automata (NFA) are theoretical models of


computation that can be in multiple states simultaneously.

• NFAs can transition to different states based on input symbols, allowing


for more flexibility compared to deterministic finite automata.

• NFAs are widely used in automata theory, formal language theory, and
compiler design.
Definition of Non-Deterministic Finite Automata

• A non-deterministic finite automaton is a 5-tuple (Q, Σ, δ, q0, F) where:

• Q is a finite set of states.

• Σ is the input alphabet.


Transition Function in NFAs

• In NFAs, the transition function δ can lead to multiple possible next states
for a given input symbol and current state.

• If there is at least one path that leads to an accepting state, the NFA accepts
the input string.

• NFAs can simulate multiple possible computations in parallel, making


them more expressive than DFAs.
Differences Between NFAs and DFAs

• NFAs can have multiple transitions for the same input symbol and state,
while DFAs have only one.

• NFAs can have ε-transitions, allowing them to move to the next state
without consuming any input.

• NFAs are not always equivalent to DFAs in terms of accepting languages.


Acceptance of Strings by NFAs

• A string is accepted by an NFA if there exists at least one computation path


that leads to an accepting state.

• The NFA accepts the input string if any of the possible computation paths
reach an accepting state.

• Non-determinism in NFAs allows for more compact representations of


languages.
Subset Construction Method

• The subset construction method is used to convert an NFA into an


equivalent DFA.

• Each state in the DFA corresponds to a set of states in the NFA.

• The transitions in the DFA are computed based on the transitions of the
NFA and the ε-closure of states.
Applications of NFAs

• NFAs are used in pattern matching algorithms, lexical analysis in


compilers, and natural language processing.

• Regular expressions can be implemented using NFAs for efficient pattern


matching.

• NFAs are also used in modeling complex systems and processes in


computer science.
Conclusion

• Non-deterministic finite automata provide a powerful framework for


modeling computations with non-determinism.

• The flexibility of NFAs allows for more concise representations of


languages and efficient algorithms.

• Understanding NFAs is essential for theoretical computer science,


automata theory, and various applications in computational fields.

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