Many more predecessors: A representation workout

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

From the outset, lambda calculus represented natural numbers through iterated application. The successor hence adds one more application, and the predecessor removes. In effect, the predecessor un-applies a term - which seemed impossible, even to Church. It took Kleene a rather oblique glance to sight a related representation of numbers, with an easier predecessor. Let us see what we can do if we look at this old problem with today's eyes. We discern the systematic ways to derive more predecessors - smaller, faster, and sharper - while keeping all teeth.

Original languageEnglish
Article numbere7
JournalJournal of Functional Programming
DOIs
Publication statusAccepted/In press - 2020

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Software

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