Solution

ID: past-exam-of-the-mathematics-course-of-the-university-of-cambridge/2021/ii/paper-1/4f/solution

For the given effective enumeration of partial computable functions, the diagonal halting set is
A many-one reduction is a total computable function such that
The S-m-n theorem states that for every there is a total computable function satisfying
whenever either side is defined.
Suppose first that is recursively enumerable. Choose a program that halts exactly on inputs in , and let index a two-variable program that, on , ignores and runs that program on . By the S-m-n theorem,
is total computable and indexes the unary function
Therefore
Thus .
Conversely, suppose through a total computable . On input , compute and simulate machine on its own code. This procedure halts exactly when , equivalently exactly when . Hence is recursively enumerable. We have proved the many-one completeness of the halting problem:
Finally, use the stated fact that and define
Then , so . The total computable map satisfies
and therefore . This is a distinct representative of the halting many-one degree.

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