Topic C – Finite Automata

We introduce the simplest deterministic theoretical

machines: Finite Automata.

Omar Badreddin 1
 Topic C : Finite Automata

 A finite automaton (FA) is the following 3 things:

1. a finite set of states, one of which is designated as the
start state, and some (maybe none) of which are
designated the final states (or accepting states)
2. an alphabet  of input letters
3. a finite set of transitions that indicate, for each state
and letter of the input alphabet, the state to go to next
letter
state state

Omar Badreddin 2
 Topic C : Finite Automata

 The language defined or accepted by a finite

automaton is the set of words that end in a final
state.
 If w is in the language defined by a finite
automaton, then we also say that the finite
automaton accepts w.

Omar Badreddin 3
 Topic C : Finite Automata

Example: = {a,b} a b
states = {x,y,z} x y z
transitions:
start state : x y x z
final states: {z} z z z

aaa: x a y a x a y y is not final;

aaa is not accepted

aaba: x a y a x b z a z z is final;
aaba is accepted

Omar Badreddin 4
 Topic C : Finite Automata

x a
Transition Diagram y
a b –
a
x y z
y x z b b
z z z
z
+
a b
Regular expression: (a+b)*b(a+b)*
aaaabba?
bbaabbbb?

Omar Badreddin 5
 Topic C : Finite Automata

a x
a y
x a –
y x
– a
a y
– a
b
b b
b b b
z
z a +
+ b z b
a b + a
b b
a
bbaabbbb?
aaaabba?
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 Topic C : Finite Automata

a a,b
– +
+ a,b
b

X(X)* = X+ (a+b)*
(a+b)(a+b)* = (a+b)+

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 Topic C : Finite Automata

Finite Automata that Accept No Words

a a,b
– No final state
b

a,b
a,b a,b
– +
The middle state is not a final state and all transitions that go
into this state do not exit.
Omar Badreddin 8
 Topic C : Finite Automata

Two Ways to Study Finite Automata

1. Starting with a finite automaton (FA), analyze it to determine

the language it accepts.
2. Starting from a language, build an FA.

Omar Badreddin 9
 Topic C : Finite Automata

Example of 2: The language of all words with an even

number of letters over the alphabet {a,b}:
● Two states: 1 – even number, 2 – odd number

● Start state: 1

● Final state: 1

● The transitions: aba

a b a,b
1 2 2 1+ 2
a,b
2 1 1

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 Topic C : Finite Automata

y a,b
b
a(a+b)*
x
Not necessarily unique: – a
a,b
a,b z
+
b
–
a
a,b
+
a,b
+ Remark: 2 final states
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 Topic C : Finite Automata

From Languages to Finite Automata

 There is not necessarily a unique FA that accepts a given
language.
 Is there always at least one FA:
 that accepts each possible language?
 that defines a language associated with a given regular
expression?

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 Topic C : Finite Automata

 Example: Build an FA that accepts all words containing a

triple letter (either aaa or bbb).
1. Build an FA that accepts aaa

2. Add a path that accepts bbb.

3. Add paths for words that contain a’s and b’s before or

after the aaa or bbb.

Omar Badreddin 13
 Topic C : Finite Automata

From Finite Automata to Languages

2 This example shows that it is
a a a,b
possible to characterize
4 states by the purposes they
1– b a
+ serve.
b 3 b
 Does this FA accept the word ababa? NO
 The word babbb? YES
 2 ways to get to state 4
 The only way to get to state 2 is by reading an input a.
 The only way to get to state 3 is by reading an input b.
 What language?
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 Topic C : Finite Automata

a,b
a

– a,b a,b
b
 The third letter is b. a,b
+
(aab + abb + bab + bbb)(a+b)*
(a+b)(a+b)b(a+b)*
 The regular expression is not unique.
 Is there always at least one regular expression defining the
language accepted by an FA?
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 Topic C : Finite Automata

b a a +
–

a b b a,b

a,b

 Regular expression: baa

 A “collecting bucket” state for all other words.

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 Topic C : Finite Automata

b a b a a +
+ –

a b b a,b
a,b

a,b

 Regular expression: baa + ab

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 Topic C : Finite Automata

a b
a,b b
a,b +
+
a
 (a+b)*a + 
Words that do not end in b.
b a b b
a a
– + – +
b a
(a+b)*a
Words that end in a.
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 Topic C : Finite Automata

b b
a
– +
a

 The only letter that can change state is a.

(b*ab*)(ab*ab*)*
 an odd number of a’s

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 Topic C : Finite Automata

b a,b
a a
– +
b
Words that contain a double a
(a+b)*aa(a+b)*

 Start state: the previous letter (if there is one) was not an a.
 Middle state: we have just seen an a that was not preceded
by an a.
 Final state: we have seen a double a.
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 Topic C : Finite Automata

a b
b
+
a a b
a
b
+
– a
a a b
b a a
– b
+
b
b aabbaabb

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 Topic C : Finite Automata

The Language EVEN-EVEN

b
1+ 2
b

a a a a
b
3 4
b

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