Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2002 iii Paper 76 6 Solution Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-14
The Böhm tree is if is an unsolvable lambda term. Otherwise choose a head normal formIts root is labeled by the binder prefix and head variable, and its ordered children are . Repeat recursively, possibly forever. Bound names are identified by alpha equivalence; the Church-Rosser theorem makes this tree independent of the selected head reduct. An address is a finite sequence of child numbers; denotes the corresponding argument term encountered after these head reductions.
A Böhm transformation is a finite composition of capture-avoiding substitutions and applications to chosen auxiliary terms. Here is a constructive Böhm-out lemma. Along the finite path to , choose at least the number of children of each preceding head node, and defineInitially replace all relevant free variables by . At a head node with initial binders and children, supply its binders with . Its head is now and its arguments are the substituted children . Apply extra copies of as padding and then . Direct beta reduction givesRepeat with the next child number. The term reached at each stage is the selected original child with the accumulated substitutions for its ancestors' binders. Thus the finite composite satisfies for a suitable substitution . The empty path uses the identity transformation. Tupling, rather than immediately replacing a head variable by a fixed projection, is important: the same variable can occur later where a different child must be selected.
For the Böhm separation theorem, two distinct closed normal forms for both beta reduction and eta conversion have finite Böhm trees with a genuine disagreement in a head label or argument structure. A Böhm transformation first extracts their common-prefix node. Projections at a differing head variable select different supplied Church Booleans; differing arities are handled by padding, with the exclusion of mere eta expansions ensuring a genuine disagreement. This yields a context separating the two normal forms. Distinct beta-normal forms that differ only by eta conversion are not covered by this separation statement.
The PDF prints a free in both the definitions of and . Taken literally, this makes the last request impossible. To see why, suppose , where , and choose a fresh . By solvability and its stability under substitution, has a head normal form . If , substituting either or leaves the same variable-headed spine; it cannot be in one case and in the other. If , obtaining requires and , hence . Substituting then leaves at least leading abstractions, whereas has two. A variable-headed normal form cannot lose initial abstractions under beta reduction. The Church-Rosser theorem rules out the required equality.
For the intended closed first projection and , an explicit answer isIndeed , whereas . These computations solve the corrected closed-combinator version while identifying the obstruction in the literal printed one.