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The Separation Problem: An Introduction and a Transfer Theorem Marc - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

The Separation Problem: An Introduction and a Transfer Theorem Marc Zeitoun Joint work with Thomas Place ACTS 2015, Chennai February 9, 2015 1 / 30 Express Properties Words ababcbaa First-Order Logic ( FO ) Piecewise Testable ( )


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The Separation Problem: An Introduction and a Transfer Theorem

Marc Zeitoun Joint work with Thomas Place ACTS 2015, Chennai — February 9, 2015

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Objects we consider

First-Order Logic (FO) Piecewise Testable (BΣ1) 2-Variables FO (FO2) Fragments Σi, BΣi Locally Threshold Testable (LTT) First-Order Logic (FO) Piecewise Testable (BΣ1) 2-Variables FO (FO2) Fragments Σi, BΣi Locally Threshold Testable (LTT) First-Order Logic (FO) Piecewise Testable ( ) 2-Variables FO (FO ) Fragments , Locally Threshold Testable (LTT) For this talk

Structures Descriptive Formalism ababcbaa Words Trees ababcbaa Words Trees ababcbaa Words Trees Express Properties

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Objects we consider

First-Order Logic (FO) Piecewise Testable (BΣ1) 2-Variables FO (FO2) Fragments Σi, BΣi Locally Threshold Testable (LTT) First-Order Logic (FO) Piecewise Testable (BΣ1) 2-Variables FO (FO2) Fragments Σi, BΣi Locally Threshold Testable (LTT) First-Order Logic (FO) Piecewise Testable ( ) 2-Variables FO (FO ) Fragments , Locally Threshold Testable (LTT) For this talk

Structures Descriptive Formalism ababcbaa Words Trees ababcbaa Words Trees ababcbaa Words Trees Express Properties

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Objects we consider

First-Order Logic (FO) Piecewise Testable (BΣ1) 2-Variables FO (FO2) Fragments Σi, BΣi Locally Threshold Testable (LTT) First-Order Logic (FO) Piecewise Testable ( ) 2-Variables FO (FO ) Fragments , Locally Threshold Testable (LTT) First-Order Logic (FO) Piecewise Testable (BΣ1) 2-Variables FO (FO2) Fragments Σi, BΣi Locally Threshold Testable (LTT) For this talk

Structures Descriptive Formalism ababcbaa Words Trees ababcbaa Words Trees ababcbaa Words Trees Express Properties

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First-order logic on words

First-order logic, with only the linear order ’<’. a b b b c a a a c a A word is as a sequence of labeled positions that can be quantified. Unary predicates testing the label of a position. One binary predicate: the linear-order .

Example: every comes after some

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First-order logic on words

First-order logic, with only the linear order ’<’. a b b b c a a a c a 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

▶ A word is as a sequence of labeled positions that can be quantified. ▶ Unary predicates a(x), b(x), c(x), . . . testing the label of a position. ▶ One binary predicate: the linear-order x < y.

Example: every comes after some

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First-order logic on words

First-order logic, with only the linear order ’<’. a b b b c a a a c a 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

▶ A word is as a sequence of labeled positions that can be quantified. ▶ Unary predicates a(x), b(x), c(x), . . . testing the label of a position. ▶ One binary predicate: the linear-order x < y.

Example: every a comes after some b

∀x a(x) ⇒ ∃y (b(y) ∧ (y < x))

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Why look at fragments in addition to full FO?

▶ Simple formulas are better (aesthetically, algorithmically). ▶ Some parameters making formulas complex:

▶ Number of quantifier alternations, ▶ Allowed predicates, ▶ Number of variable names.

Membership Problem for a fragment

INPUT A language . QUESTION Is expressible in ?

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Why look at fragments in addition to full FO?

▶ Simple formulas are better (aesthetically, algorithmically). ▶ Some parameters making formulas complex:

▶ Number of quantifier alternations, ▶ Allowed predicates, ▶ Number of variable names.

Membership Problem for a fragment F

▶ INPUT

A language L.

▶ QUESTION

Is L expressible in F?

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First Problem: Membership

Membership Problem for a fragment F

▶ INPUT

A language L.

▶ QUESTION

Is L expressible in F?

a a b b b c c a a c a a a b b b c c a a c a

Can it be defined with an formula? Schützenberger’65, McNaughton and Papert’71 For a regular language, the following are equivalent: is FO-definable. The syntactic monoid of satisfies .

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First Problem: Membership

Membership Problem for a fragment F

▶ INPUT

A language L.

▶ QUESTION

Is L expressible in F?

a a b b b c c a a c a a a b b b c c a a c a

Can it be defined with an F formula? Schützenberger’65, McNaughton and Papert’71 For a regular language, the following are equivalent: is FO-definable. The syntactic monoid of satisfies .

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First Problem: Membership

Membership Problem for a fragment F

▶ INPUT

A language L.

▶ QUESTION

Is L expressible in F?

a a b b b c c a a c a a a b b b c c a a c a

Can it be defined with an F formula? Schützenberger’65, McNaughton and Papert’71 For L a regular language, the following are equivalent:

▶ L is FO-definable. ▶ The syntactic monoid of L satisfies uω+1 = uω.

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Fragments of FO

▶ A fragment is obtained by restricting

▶ Number of quantifier alternations, ▶ Allowed predicates, ▶ Number of variable names.

▶ FO(<), FO(<, +1) and FO(<, +1, min, max): same expressiveness.

⇒ Allowing ‘=’ but not ‘<’ yields distinct fragments. Σ1(<), Σ1(<, +1), and Σ1(<, +1, min, max)

▶ We do not want to prove membership multiple times.

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Some well-known fragments

Weak variant Strong variant FO(=) FO(=, +1) FO2(<) FO2(<, +1) Σn(<) Σn(<, +1, min, max) BΣn(<) BΣn(<, +1, min, max)

▶ Problem: Solve membership for strong variants without

reproving everything nor mimicking the proof.

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A generic result for membership

▶ Problem Solve membership for strong variants without

reproving everything nor mimicking the proof.

▶ S. Eilenberg Each fragment is associated the class of finite monoids

recognizing a language from the fragment. Example: FO ← → [xω = xω+1].

▶ H. Straubing 1985 + M. Kulfleitner & A. Lauser 2014: generic result.

Weak Fragment F Variety V Variety V ∗ D Strong Fragment F+

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Straubing’s Theorem

Weak Fragment F Variety V Variety V ∗ D Strong Fragment F+ 1 2 3

  • 1. Show the correspondence between F and algebraic variety V.
  • 2. In most cases, the enriched fragment F+ corresponds to V ∗ D.
  • 3. In most cases, V → V ∗ D preserves decidability.

Remarks One need to establish the correspondence 1. That V V D preserves decidability is a difficult result.

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Straubing’s Theorem

Weak Fragment F Variety V Variety V ∗ D Strong Fragment F+ 1 2 3

  • 1. Show the correspondence between F and algebraic variety V.
  • 2. In most cases, the enriched fragment F+ corresponds to V ∗ D.
  • 3. In most cases, V → V ∗ D preserves decidability.

Remarks

▶ One need to establish the correspondence 1. ▶ That V → V ∗ D preserves decidability is a difficult result.

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An alternative approach

  • B. Steinberg 2001

▶ All fragments share a property entailing decidability of membership. ▶ This property is preserved through enrichment.

Even if we are interested in the membership problem for F, it does not give sufficient information to reason about F.

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Why we want more than membership

If the membership answer for L

▶ is YES

▶ All “subparts” of the minimal automaton of L are F-definable.

▶ is NO, then even if F can talk about L:

▶ We have little information. ▶ Eg, defining L in FO would require differentiating some uω and uω+1. 11 / 30

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Motivations for Separation

▶ Need more general techniques to extract information for all languages. ▶ Cannot start from canonical object for the separator, which is unknown. ▶ Therefore, may give insight to solve harder problems.

2 examples of “transfer results”:

decidability of separation is preserved when enriching with successor. decidability of separation for level

  • f the quantifier alternation hierarchy

entails decidability of membership for .

We shouldn’t restrict ourselves to membership

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Motivations for Separation

▶ Need more general techniques to extract information for all languages. ▶ Cannot start from canonical object for the separator, which is unknown. ▶ Therefore, may give insight to solve harder problems. ▶ 2 examples of “transfer results”:

▶ decidability of separation is preserved when enriching F with successor. ▶ decidability of separation for level Σi of the quantifier alternation hierarchy

entails decidability of membership for Σi+1.

We shouldn’t restrict ourselves to membership

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Motivations for Separation

▶ Need more general techniques to extract information for all languages. ▶ Cannot start from canonical object for the separator, which is unknown. ▶ Therefore, may give insight to solve harder problems. ▶ 2 examples of “transfer results”:

▶ decidability of separation is preserved when enriching F with successor. ▶ decidability of separation for level Σi of the quantifier alternation hierarchy

entails decidability of membership for Σi+1.

⇒ We shouldn’t restrict ourselves to membership

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Beyond membership: Separation

Decide the following problem: Take two regular languages L1, L2

a a a a b b b a

Take two regular languages L1, L2

a a

L1 L2

a b a b b b a a

Can be separated from with an formula?

  • definable

Can be separated from with an formula?

  • definable
  • separable from complement
  • definable

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Beyond membership: Separation

Decide the following problem: Take two regular languages L1, L2

a a a a b b b a

Take two regular languages L1, L2

a a

L1 L2

a b a b b b a a

Can L1 be separated from L2 with an F formula? L1 L2 A+

  • definable

Can be separated from with an formula?

  • definable
  • separable from complement
  • definable

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Beyond membership: Separation

Decide the following problem: Take two regular languages L1, L2

a a a a b b b a

Take two regular languages L1, L2

a a

L1 L2

a b a b b b a a

Can be separated from with an formula?

  • definable

Can L1 be separated from L2 with an F formula? L1 L2 A+ F-definable

  • separable from complement
  • definable

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Beyond membership: Separation

Membership can be formally reduced to separation Take two regular languages L1, L2

a a a a b b b a

Take two regular languages L1, L2

a a

L1 L2

a b a b b b a a

Can be separated from with an formula?

  • definable

Can L1 be separated from L2 with an F formula? L2 = A+ \ L1 L1 A+

  • definable
  • separable from complement
  • definable

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Beyond membership: Separation

Membership can be formally reduced to separation Take two regular languages L1, L2

a a a a b b b a

Take two regular languages L1, L2

a a

L1 L2

a b a b b b a a

Can be separated from with an formula?

  • definable

Can L1 be separated from L2 with an F formula? L2 = A+ \ L1 L1 A+

  • definable

F-separable from complement

F-definable

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Related work

▶ Separation already considered in an algebraic framework. ▶ First result by K. Henckell ’88 for FO, then for several natural fragments. ▶ Purely algebraic proofs, hiding the combinatorial and logical intuitions. ▶ Transfer result of this talk already obtained by Ben Steinberg ’01. ▶ Simpler proof techniques.

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A toy example: Separation for FO(=)

▶ In FO(=), one can just count occurrences of letters, up to a threshold. ▶ Example: at least 2 a’s: ∃x, y x ̸= y ∧ a(x) ∧ a(y). ▶ FO(=) can express properties like

at least 2 a’s, no more than 3 b’s, exactly 1 c.

▶ How to decide separation for FO(=)?

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A toy example: Separation for FO(=)

▶ Let π(u) ∈ NA be the commutative (aka. Parikh) image of u.

π(aabad) = (3, 1, 0, 1). Parikh’s Theorem For L context-free, π(L) is (effectively) semilinear.

▶ For ⃗

x, ⃗ y ∈ NA, ⃗ x =d ⃗ y if ∀i: xi = yi or both xi, yi ⩾ d. Fact Languages are not FO

  • separable iff

Proof. The FO language contains . Since are not FO

  • separable, it intersects

. Assume there is an FO

  • separator

, say of threshold . Then = = , impossible since .

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A toy example: Separation for FO(=)

▶ Let π(u) ∈ NA be the commutative (aka. Parikh) image of u.

π(aabad) = (3, 1, 0, 1). Parikh’s Theorem For L context-free, π(L) is (effectively) semilinear.

▶ For ⃗

x, ⃗ y ∈ NA, ⃗ x =d ⃗ y if ∀i: xi = yi or both xi, yi ⩾ d. Fact Languages L1, L2 are not FO(=)-separable iff ∀d ∃u1 ∈ L1 ∃u2 ∈ L2, π(u1) =d π(u2). Proof. The FO language contains . Since are not FO

  • separable, it intersects

. Assume there is an FO

  • separator

, say of threshold . Then = = , impossible since .

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A toy example: Separation for FO(=)

▶ Let π(u) ∈ NA be the commutative (aka. Parikh) image of u.

π(aabad) = (3, 1, 0, 1). Parikh’s Theorem For L context-free, π(L) is (effectively) semilinear.

▶ For ⃗

x, ⃗ y ∈ NA, ⃗ x =d ⃗ y if ∀i: xi = yi or both xi, yi ⩾ d. Fact Languages L1, L2 are not FO(=)-separable iff ∀d ∃u1 ∈ L1 ∃u2 ∈ L2, π(u1) =d π(u2).

  • Proof. ⇒ The FO(=) language {u | π(u) ∈d π(L1)} contains L1.

Since L1, L2 are not FO(=)-separable, it intersects L2. Assume there is an FO

  • separator

, say of threshold . Then = = , impossible since .

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A toy example: Separation for FO(=)

▶ Let π(u) ∈ NA be the commutative (aka. Parikh) image of u.

π(aabad) = (3, 1, 0, 1). Parikh’s Theorem For L context-free, π(L) is (effectively) semilinear.

▶ For ⃗

x, ⃗ y ∈ NA, ⃗ x =d ⃗ y if ∀i: xi = yi or both xi, yi ⩾ d. Fact Languages L1, L2 are not FO(=)-separable iff ∀d ∃u1 ∈ L1 ∃u2 ∈ L2, π(u1) =d π(u2).

  • Proof. ⇒ The FO(=) language {u | π(u) ∈d π(L1)} contains L1.

Since L1, L2 are not FO(=)-separable, it intersects L2. ⇐ Assume there is an FO(=)-separator K, say of threshold d. Then L1 ⊆ K = ⇒ u1 ∈ K = ⇒ u2 ∈ K, impossible since u2 ∈ L2.

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A toy example: Separation for FO(=)

Fact Languages L1, L2 are not FO(=)-separable iff ∀d ∃⃗ x1 ∈ π(L1) ∃⃗ x2 ∈ π(L2), ⃗ x1 =d ⃗ x2. By Parikh’s Theorem, decidability follows from that of Presburger logic.

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Separation for FO(=, +1)

▶ FO(=) can just count occurrences of letters up to a threshold. ▶ FO(=, +1) can just count occurrences of infixes up to a threshold.

There exist at least 2 occurrences of abba and the word start with ba.

▶ For membership, decidability follows from a delay theorem:

To test FO(=, +1)-definability, one can look at infixes of bounded size. Membership proof is not trivial. Transferring separability is easier.

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Separation for FO(=, +1)

▶ FO(=) can just count occurrences of letters up to a threshold. ▶ FO(=, +1) can just count occurrences of infixes up to a threshold.

There exist at least 2 occurrences of abba and the word start with ba.

▶ For membership, decidability follows from a delay theorem:

To test FO(=, +1)-definability, one can look at infixes of bounded size.

▶ Membership proof is not trivial. Transferring separability is easier.

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The transfer result

Let F be one of FO(=), FO2(<), Σn(<), BΣn(<). Main result F+-separability reduces to F-separability. For any regular L, one can build a regular language L such that L1 and L2 are F+-separable iff. L1 and L2 are F-separable.

▶ Simple. ▶ Extends to infinite words. ▶ Mostly generic and Constructive

from an F formula separating L1 and L2, build an F+ formula that separates L1 from L2.

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Well formed words

▶ Intuition: adding +1 makes it to inspect infixes. ▶ Use regularity of input languages: large infixes will contain loops.

Fix α : A+ → S recognizing L1 and L2. Li = α−1(Fi). E(S) = set of idempotents of S. E(S) = {e ∈ S | ee = e} New alphabet Well formed word: either a single , or with .

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Well formed words

▶ Intuition: adding +1 makes it to inspect infixes. ▶ Use regularity of input languages: large infixes will contain loops.

Fix α : A+ → S recognizing L1 and L2. Li = α−1(Fi). E(S) = set of idempotents of S. E(S) = {e ∈ S | ee = e}

▶ New alphabet

Aα = (E(S) × S × E(S)) ∪ (S × E(S)) ∪ (E(S) × S) ∪ S.

▶ Well formed word: either a single s ∈ S, or

(s0, f0) · (e1, s1, f1) · · · (en, sn, fn) · (en+1, sn+1) with fi = ei+1.

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Extending the morphism on well-formed words

▶ Well formed word over A: either a single s ∈ S, or

(s0, e1) · (e1, s1, e2) · (e2, s2, e3) · · · (en, sn, en+1) · (en+1, sn+1) Fact. The language of well formed words is regular. Morphism , defined by Therefore,

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Extending the morphism on well-formed words

▶ Well formed word over A: either a single s ∈ S, or

(s0, e1) · (e1, s1, e2) · (e2, s2, e3) · · · (en, sn, en+1) · (en+1, sn+1) Fact. The language of well formed words is regular.

▶ Morphism β : A+ → S, defined by

β(s) = s β(e, s, f) = esf β(e, s) = es β(s, f) = sf Therefore, β[(s0, e1) · (e1, s1, e2) · (e2, s2, e3) · · · (en, sn, en+1) · (en+1, sn+1)] = s0e1s1e2s2e3 · · · ensnen+1en+1sn+1

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Associated language of well-formed words

▶ To a language L ⊆ A+ recognized by α, associate L ⊆ A+.

L = {w ∈ A+ | β(w) ∈ α(L)} = β−1(α(L)). Fact. The language L associated to L is (effectively) regular. Main result again Let F be one of FO(=), FO2(<), Σn(<), BΣn(<). and F+ be its enrichment. Let L1, L2 ⊆ A+ be regular languages recognized by α. L1 and L2 are F+-separable iff. L1 and L2 are F-separable.

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A consequence for membership

Let F be one of FO(=), FO2(<), Σn(<), BΣn(<). and F+ be its enrichment. Let L1, L2 ⊆ A+ be recognized by α. Main result (separation) L1 and L2 are F+-separable iff. L1 and L2 are F-separable. ⇒ Separation decidable for enrichment of FO(=), FO2(<), BΣ1, Σn n ⩽ 3. Corollary (membership) If in addition can define the set of well formed words: is

  • definable iff.

is

  • definable.

Membership decidable for and .

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A consequence for membership

Let F be one of FO(=), FO2(<), Σn(<), BΣn(<). and F+ be its enrichment. Let L1, L2 ⊆ A+ be recognized by α. Main result (separation) L1 and L2 are F+-separable iff. L1 and L2 are F-separable. ⇒ Separation decidable for enrichment of FO(=), FO2(<), BΣ1, Σn n ⩽ 3. Corollary (membership) If in addition F can define the set of well formed words: L is F+-definable iff. L is F-definable. ⇒ Membership decidable for BΣ2(<, +1) and Σ4(<, +1).

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Proof of the corollary for membership

Main result (separation) L1 and L2 are F+-separable iff. L1 and L2 are F-separable. Corollary (membership) If in addition F can define the set of well formed words: L is F+-definable iff. L is F-definable.

  • Proof. Let K = A+ \ L and K associated to K.

K and L partition the set of all well-formed words. (⇐ =) L is F-definable = ⇒ L is F-separable from K = is

  • separable from

by Main result = is

  • definable.

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Proof of the corollary for membership

Main result (separation) L1 and L2 are F+-separable iff. L1 and L2 are F-separable. Corollary (membership) If in addition F can define the set of well formed words: L is F+-definable iff. L is F-definable.

  • Proof. Let K = A+ \ L and K associated to K.

K and L partition the set of all well-formed words. (⇐ =) L is F-definable = ⇒ L is F-separable from K = ⇒ L is F+-separable from K by Main result = is

  • definable.

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Proof of the corollary for membership

Main result (separation) L1 and L2 are F+-separable iff. L1 and L2 are F-separable. Corollary (membership) If in addition F can define the set of well formed words: L is F+-definable iff. L is F-definable.

  • Proof. Let K = A+ \ L and K associated to K.

K and L partition the set of all well-formed words. (⇐ =) L is F-definable = ⇒ L is F-separable from K = ⇒ L is F+-separable from K by Main result = ⇒ L is F+-definable.

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Proof of the corollary for membership

Main result (separation) L1 and L2 are F+-separable iff. L1 and L2 are F-separable. Corollary (membership) If in addition F can define the set of well formed words: L is F+-definable iff. L is F-definable.

  • Proof. Let K = A+ \ L and K associated to K.

K and L partition the set of all well-formed words. (= ⇒) L is F+-definable = ⇒ L is F+-separable from K = ⇒ L is F-separable from K by S = is

  • definable.

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Proof of the corollary for membership

Main result (separation) L1 and L2 are F+-separable iff. L1 and L2 are F-separable. Corollary (membership) If in addition F can define the set of well formed words: L is F+-definable iff. L is F-definable.

  • Proof. Let K = A+ \ L and K associated to K.

K and L partition the set of all well-formed words. (= ⇒) L is F+-definable = ⇒ L is F+-separable from K = ⇒ L is F-separable from K by S = ⇒ L = S ∩ (L ∪ K) is F-definable.

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From F-separation to F+-separation

Main result (separation, generic direction) If L1 and L2 are F-separable, then L1 and L2 are F+-separable.

  • Proof. Associate to w ∈ A+ a word ⌊w⌋ ∈ A+

α such that α(w) = β(⌊w⌋). ▶ ux: infix of length |S| ending at x.

· · · abaaaababbaa · · · x

  • |S|

▶ Position x is distinguished if ∃e ∈ E(S) such that α(ux) · e = α(ux). ▶ x1 < · · · < xn = distinguished positions induce a splitting

w = w1 · w2 · · · wn+1

▶ Define ⌊w⌋ ∈ A+ α by choosing ei canonically and

⌊w⌋ = (α(w1), e1) · (e1, α(w2), e2) · · · (en−1, α(wn), en) · (en, α(wn+1)).

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From F-separation to F+-separation

Main result (separation, generic direction) If L1 and L2 are F-separable, then L1 and L2 are F+-separable. Proof (contd.) w = w1 · w2 · · · wn+1 where each wi ends at distinguished position xi. ⌊w⌋ = (α(w1), e1) · (e1, α(w2), e2) · · · (en−1, α(wn), en) · (en, α(wn+1)). To a distinguished position xi in w, associate position ⌊x⌋ = i in ⌊w⌋. Lemma The infix of length 2|S| ending at position x in w determines

▶ whether position x is distinguished, ▶ the label of the corresponding position ⌊x⌋ in ⌊w⌋.

Consequence: for a ∈ A, there is a formula γa(x) of F+ testing that x is distinguished and label of ⌊x⌋ is a.

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From F-separation to F+-separation

Main result (separation, generic direction) If L1 and L2 are F-separable, then L1 and L2 are F+-separable. Proof (end) If K ⊆ A+

α is F-defined by φ, then there exists an F+ formula

φ+

  • ver A such that for all w ∈ A+:

w | = φ+ ⇐ ⇒ ⌊w⌋ | = φ. By restricting in φ quantifiers to distinguished positions, and replacing a(x) by γa(x). Finally, if φ defines an F-separator for L1 and L2, then φ+ defines an F+ separator for L1 and L2

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slide-53
SLIDE 53

Main result, other direction

▶ Showing that L1, L2 F-separability entails L1, L2 F+-separability relies

  • n Ehrenfeucht-Fraïssé games.

▶ Example for FO2(<).

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SLIDE 54

Conclusion

We shouldn’t restrict ourselves to membership , nor to separation. Freezing the framework (to membership or separation) yields limitations. This work is just a byproduct of the observation that one can be more demanding on the computed information. Generalizing the needed information is often mandatory (see the talk of Thomas P .).

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slide-55
SLIDE 55

Conclusion

We shouldn’t restrict ourselves to membership, nor to separation. Freezing the framework (to membership or separation) yields limitations. This work is just a byproduct of the observation that one can be more demanding on the computed information. Generalizing the needed information is often mandatory (see the talk of Thomas P .).

29 / 30

slide-56
SLIDE 56

Conclusion

We shouldn’t restrict ourselves to membership, nor to separation.

▶ Freezing the framework (to membership or separation) yields

limitations.

▶ This work is just a byproduct of the observation that one can be more

demanding on the computed information.

▶ Generalizing the needed information is often mandatory

(see the talk of Thomas P .).

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slide-57
SLIDE 57

Separation everywhere

Heard when preparing these slides on the way

“Attention à la séparation des TGV.”

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slide-58
SLIDE 58

Separation everywhere

Heard when preparing these slides on the way

“Attention à la séparation des TGV.”

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