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Turing Machines and Undecidability

GATE CSE 2021 Set 2 · Q36

MCQ2 marksMedium

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Consider the following two statements about regular languages: S1S_1: Every infinite regular language contains an undecidable language as a subset. S2S_2: Every finite language is regular. Which one of the following choices is correct?

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Solution

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Official answer: C) Both S1 and S2 are true.

Turing Machines and Undecidability

Let us evaluate both statements:

  1. Statement S1S_1: An infinite regular language LL is a countably infinite set of strings. The power set of LL, P(L)\mathcal{P}(L), is uncountably infinite with cardinality 2ℵ02^{\aleph_0}. However, the set of all decidable (Turing-decidable) languages is countably infinite (cardinality ℵ0\aleph_0) because every decidable language is decided by some standard Turing machine, and the set of Turing machines is countable. Therefore, uncountably many subsets of LL are undecidable. Hence, every infinite regular language contains an undecidable language as a subset. Thus, S1S_1 is true.

  2. Statement S2S_2: Any finite language L={w1,w2,…,wk}L = \{w_1, w_2, \dots, w_k\} can be expressed by the regular expression w1+w2+⋯+wkw_1 + w_2 + \dots + w_k. Since a regular expression exists for any finite language, every finite language is regular. Thus, S2S_2 is true.

Both S1S_1 and S2S_2 are true, so the correct option is (C).

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This Turing Machines and Undecidability previous year question is Q36 of the GATE CSE 2021 Set 2 paper. Find more GATE CSE PYQs on Turing Machines and Undecidability in Theory of Computation, or browse all GATE CSE PYQs.

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Turing Machines and Undecidability in GATE CSE

Turing Machines and Undecidability has 30 GATE CSE PYQs across 20 papers from 2012 to 2026. 13 of them are 2-mark MCQs like this one, and it is the only one in GATE CSE 2021 Set 2.

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GateAI solution cardGATE CSE 2021 Set 2 · Q36 · MCQ

Consider the following two statements about regular languages: S1: Every infinite regular language contains an undecidable language as a subset. S2: Every finite language is regular. Which one of the following choices is correct?

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Independent practice explanation verified by the GateAI team. GATE is conducted by the IITs; question text follows the official paper.