Word Problems for Semigroups, Monoids and

Groups
The Burn 2010

Markus Pfeier
[email protected]

2010-06-02
Motivation

How to dene basic algebraic structures

Motivation

How to dene basic algebraic structures

How to dene them in a potentially computing-device friendly

way
Motivation

How to dene basic algebraic structures

How to dene them in a potentially computing-device friendly

way

. . . and then let the computer help us

Motivation

How to dene basic algebraic structures

How to dene them in a potentially computing-device friendly

way

. . . and then let the computer help us

Today, we want Semigroups, Monoids and Groups

Motivation

How to dene basic algebraic structures

How to dene them in a potentially computing-device friendly

way

. . . and then let the computer help us

Today, we want Semigroups, Monoids and Groups

Okay, I will be honest, I will mainly talk about Semigroups,

Monoids and Groups are just special cases.
Semigroups, Monoids, Groups

Denition
Let S be a set together with a binary operation  : S × S → S.
Semigroups, Monoids, Groups

Denition
Let S be a set together with a binary operation  : S × S → S.
S is a semigroup, if for all x, y, z in S

x  (y  z ) = (x  y )  z

 is associative
Semigroups, Monoids, Groups

Denition
Let S be a set together with a binary operation  : S × S → S.
S is a semigroup, if for all x, y, z in S

x  (y  z ) = (x  y )  z

 is associative
S is a monoid, if additionally there exists some e in S such
that for all x in S

ex =x e =x

e is the identity of S
Semigroups, Monoids, Groups

Denition
Let S be a set together with a binary operation  : S × S → S.
S is a semigroup, if for all x, y, z in S

x  (y  z ) = (x  y )  z

 is associative
S is a monoid, if additionally there exists some e in S such
that for all x in S

ex =x e =x

e is the identity of S
S is a group, if additionally for all x in S there is x0 in S such
that
x x0 = x0 x = e
x 0 the inverse of x
. . . Better have some examples!

Example
. . . Better have some examples!

Example
(N, +) is a semigroup
. . . Better have some examples!

Example
(N, +) is a semigroup

For any set M , (P (M ), ∪) is a monoid

. . . Better have some examples!

Example
(N, +) is a semigroup

For any set M , (P (M ), ∪) is a monoid

Choose your favourite group

. . . Better have some examples!

Example
(N, +) is a semigroup

For any set M , (P (M ), ∪) is a monoid

Choose your favourite group

groups are much more popular than monoids or semigroups

. . . Better have some examples!

Example
(N, +) is a semigroup

For any set M , (P (M ), ∪) is a monoid

Choose your favourite group

groups are much more popular than monoids or semigroups

And we seem to know how to work with our favourite

algebraic structure,
. . . Better have some examples!

Example
(N, +) is a semigroup

For any set M , (P (M ), ∪) is a monoid

Choose your favourite group

groups are much more popular than monoids or semigroups

And we seem to know how to work with our favourite

algebraic structure,

But we want computers to do the hard work.

How to tell your (theoretical) computer

Finite Stu, Naturals, Rationals, some Reals we get for free

Groups: Permutations, Matrices

Semigroups, Monoids: ?
Why strings are a natural representation for Semigroups,
Monoids and Groups

Let A be a nite set.

A string is a nite sequence of elements of A

A∗ the set of all strings over A
A+ the set of all nonempty strings over A

Example
Let A := {a, b}.
ε, a, ab, ba, abaabaababaaabab are strings

If x and y are strings, the concatenation xy is a string.

A+ together with concatenation is a (very special!) semigroup.

A∗ together with concatenation is a (very special!) monoid.

We can do this for groups, but it is slightly more complicated.

So why are A+ and A∗ special?

Suppose S is some semigroup.

Take any map f :A→S

Thenf can be extended into a unique semigroup
homomorphism
ϕ : A+ → S
And in some cases we can choose f such that all elements of
S can be represented by at least one string.

Then we call A a set of generators for S

(Sets of ) strings are something computers can deal with very
nicely!
Finite State Automata fsa

A = hQ , A, q0 , F , ∆i
c

89:;
?>=<
/.-,
()*+ 89:;
?>=<

?1  O
3
a  
89:;
?>=<
 
 c 

/ 0  c
?? 
?? 
89:;
?>=<
/.-,
()*+ 89:;
?>=<

b ? 
2 / 4
c
 
L = ac i | i ∈ N ∪ bc k | k ≡3 0 ⊆ A∗ (called language).
Asynchronous (2-tape) Finite State Automata ( afsa)

A = hQ , A, A, q0 , F , ∆i

(c ,c )

?>=<
89:;
/.-,
()*+ 89:;
?>=<

(a,a) ?
1 3
 O
89:;
?>=<
 
 (ε,c ) 
/ 0
??  (ε,c )
?? 
89:;
?>=<
/.-,
()*+ 89:;
?>=<
?  
(a,a)  
2 / 4
(b ,c )
 
R = (ac i , ac i ) | i ∈ N ∪ (abk , ac 3k ) | k ∈ N ⊆ A+ × A+ ,
rational relations.
The Word Problem

Denition
Let S be a semigroup such that for some nite set A and a choice
for f, the homomorphism ϕ: A+ →S is surjective. We call the set

WP( S , A) := {(v , w ) | ϕ(v ) = ϕ(w )} ⊆ A+ × A+

the word problem of S with respect to the set A.

The Word Problem

Denition
Let S be a semigroup such that for some nite set A and a choice
for f, the homomorphism ϕ: A+ →S is surjective. We call the set

WP( S , A) := {(v , w ) | ϕ(v ) = ϕ(w )} ⊆ A+ × A+

the word problem of S with respect to the set A.

We want a computer to be able to tell whether a pair of

strings is in WP( S , A) .
The Word Problem

Denition
Let S be a semigroup such that for some nite set A and a choice
for f, the homomorphism ϕ: A+ →S is surjective. We call the set

WP( S , A) := {(v , w ) | ϕ(v ) = ϕ(w )} ⊆ A+ × A+

the word problem of S with respect to the set A.

We want a computer to be able to tell whether a pair of

strings is in WP( S , A) .
But you can't always get what you want:
The Word Problem

Denition
Let S be a semigroup such that for some nite set A and a choice
for f, the homomorphism ϕ: A+ →S is surjective. We call the set

WP( S , A) := {(v , w ) | ϕ(v ) = ϕ(w )} ⊆ A+ × A+

the word problem of S with respect to the set A.

We want a computer to be able to tell whether a pair of

strings is in WP( S , A) .
But you can't always get what you want:

This is fundamentally undecidable, even for groups.

Word Problems decided by afsa

Dened WP ( S , A) ⊆ A+ × A+ . Try using afsa.

Are there semigroups S with WP( S , A) accepted by an afsa?
Word Problems decided by afsa

Dened WP ( S , A) ⊆ A+ × A+ . Try using afsa.

Are there semigroups S with WP( S , A) accepted by an afsa?
Short answer: Yes.
Examples and Counterexamples

Examples

All nite semigroups (in particular all nite groups).

Counterexamples
Examples and Counterexamples

Examples

All nite semigroups (in particular all nite groups).

(N, +)

Counterexamples
Examples and Counterexamples

Examples

All nite semigroups (in particular all nite groups).

(N, +)
(other examples)

Counterexamples
Examples and Counterexamples

Examples

All nite semigroups (in particular all nite groups).

(N, +)
(other examples)

Counterexamples

T := (N × N, +)
Examples and Counterexamples

Examples

All nite semigroups (in particular all nite groups).

(N, +)
(other examples)

Counterexamples

T := (N × N, +)
All innite groups.
Examples and Counterexamples

Examples

All nite semigroups (in particular all nite groups).

(N, +)
(other examples)

Counterexamples

T := (N × N, +)
All innite groups.

All semigroups S with T ≤S nitely generated and non

rational word problem.
Generating Set

Theorem
Let S = Sg hAi, nite set A and WP( S , A) rational. Then
B := A ∪ {b} then WP( S , B ) is rational.
C := A\ {a} then WP( T , C ) is rational.
In particular, rational word problem is independent of choice of A
and f and thus a property of the semigroup itself.
The direct product (and why semigroups can be nasty)

Theorem
If S × T is nitely generated and has rational word problem, then S
and T are nitely generated and have rational word problem.
Converse?
The direct product (and why semigroups can be nasty)

Theorem
If S × T is nitely generated and has rational word problem, then S
and T are nitely generated and have rational word problem.
Converse?

Example
Let S, T be innite monogenic semigroups.
The direct product (and why semigroups can be nasty)

Theorem
If S × T is nitely generated and has rational word problem, then S
and T are nitely generated and have rational word problem.
Converse?

Example
Let S, T be innite monogenic semigroups.

S ×T is not even nitely generated.

The direct product (and why semigroups can be nasty)

Theorem
If S × T is nitely generated and has rational word problem, then S
and T are nitely generated and have rational word problem.
Converse?

Example
Let S, T be innite monogenic semigroups.

S ×T is not even nitely generated.

S1× T 1 is nitely generated, isomorphic to

Mon ha, b | ab = bai no rational word problem.
The direct product (and why semigroups can be nasty)

Theorem
If S × T is nitely generated and has rational word problem, then S
and T are nitely generated and have rational word problem.
Converse?

Example
Let S, T be innite monogenic semigroups.

S ×T is not even nitely generated.

S1× T 1 is nitely generated, isomorphic to

Mon ha, b | ab = bai no rational word problem.

Furthermore
The direct product (and why semigroups can be nasty)

Theorem
If S × T is nitely generated and has rational word problem, then S
and T are nitely generated and have rational word problem.
Converse?

Example
Let S, T be innite monogenic semigroups.

S ×T is not even nitely generated.

S1× T 1 is nitely generated, isomorphic to

Mon ha, b | ab = bai no rational word problem.

Furthermore

T := Sg a, b | a2 = a, ba = b T ×T


, then rational word
problem.
The direct product (and why semigroups can be nasty)

Theorem
If S × T is nitely generated and has rational word problem, then S
and T are nitely generated and have rational word problem.
Converse?

Example
Let S, T be innite monogenic semigroups.

S ×T is not even nitely generated.

S1× T 1 is nitely generated, isomorphic to

Mon ha, b | ab = bai no rational word problem.

Furthermore

T := Sg a, b | a2 = a, ba = b T ×T


, then rational word
problem.

If S is innite, has rational word problem, T nite and S ×T

is nitely generated then S ×T has rational word problem.
My research wants Easily Solvable Word Problem

Rational word problem is easy

But for T := Sg ha, b | ab = bai word problem is easy too:

(v , w ) ∈ WP(T , {a, b}) ⇔ |v |a = |w |a and |v |b = |w |b

(v and w contain the same number of a and the same number

of b each.)

Problem: Finite state devices cannot count (in N)

Solution: We dont need to count! Use two fsa that work
independently on the same input. Accept when both accept.
Thanks for listening!