Untyped λ-calculus: proof that for any binary relation R &#x22A8;<!-- ⊨ --> &#x25CA;<!-- ◊

Landyn Jimenez

Landyn Jimenez

Answered question

2022-05-21

Untyped λ-calculus: proof that for any binary relation R R
I'm currently in the process of reading Barendregt's "The Lambda Calculus - Its Syntax and Semantics" (1985 revised edition) and I've stumbled across a lemma whose proof I can't quite comprehend. The lemma (3.2.2) states that for all binary relations R on a set the following holds:
R R , where is the diamond property of a relation:
R M , M 1 , M 2 [ ( M , M 1 ) R ( M , M 2 ) R M 3 [ ( M 1 , M 3 ) R ( M 2 , M 3 ) R ] ] , and R∗ is the transitive closure of R:
M , N [ ( M , N ) R ( M , N ) R ] and M , N , L [ ( M , N ) R ( N , L ) R ( M , L ) R ) ] ..

Answer & Explanation

Bettoldi1l

Bettoldi1l

Beginner2022-05-22Added 7 answers

Step 1
Suppose M R  M 1 and M R  M 2 . Then M is represented by the top-left corner of the diagram, and M 1 and M 2 are represented by the bottom-left and top-right corners (or the other way around). Since R∗ is the transitive closure of R, we have, for some n , m  1, the relations A 0 R A 1 R  R A n and B 0 R B 1 R  R B m , where A 0 = B 0 = MA n = M 1 , and B m = M 2 .
The diagram represents the case where n = 2 and m = 3. We have A 1 at the middle of the left side, and B 1 , B 2 along the top. The lines between points in the diagram represent R.
Step 2
This is how the argument proceeds. Just the top and left sides of the diagram are considered at first. Since R  , we obtain an element N such that A 1 R N and B 1 R N. This component fits into the top-left square's lower-right corner. By repeatedly applying , we will eventually obtain the lower-right corner of the diagram, which is the element M 3 we need to establish R    for these M, M 1 , and M 2 .
Induction on n and m would be used in a more formal argument.

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