Post Correspondence Problem


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The Post Correspondence Problem (PCP), introduced by Emil Post in 1946, is an undecidable decision problem. The PCP problem over an alphabet ∑ is stated as follows −

Given the following two lists, M and N of non-empty strings over ∑ −

M = (x1, x2, x3,………, xn)

N = (y1, y2, y3,………, yn)

We can say that there is a Post Correspondence Solution, if for some i1,i2,………… ik, where 1 ≤ ij ≤ n, the condition xi1 …….xik = yi1 …….yik satisfies.

Example 1

Find whether the lists

M = (abb, aa, aaa) and N = (bba, aaa, aa)

have a Post Correspondence Solution?

Solution

x1 x2 x3
M Abb aa aaa
N Bba aaa aa

Here,

x2x1x3 = ‘aaabbaaa’

and y2y1y3 = ‘aaabbaaa’

We can see that

x2x1x3 = y2y1y3

Hence, the solution is i = 2, j = 1, and k = 3.

Example 2

Find whether the lists M = (ab, bab, bbaaa) and N = (a, ba, bab) have a Post Correspondence Solution?

Solution

x1 x2 x3
M ab bab bbaaa
N a ba bab

In this case, there is no solution because −

| x2x1x3 | ≠ | y2y1y3 | (Lengths are not same)

Hence, it can be said that this Post Correspondence Problem is undecidable.

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