Q11.Marks: +2.0UGC NET Paper 2: Computer Sc 23rd August 2024 Shift 1
Arrange the following stages of a Turing Machine (TM) operation in the correct order as they occur during computation.
(A) Writing a symbol on the tape
(B) Moving the tape head left to right
(C) Reading a symbol from the tape
(D) Transitioning to a new state based on the current state and symbol read
(E) Halting and accepting or rejecting the input
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:
1.(C), (A), (B), (D), (E)
2.(C), (B), (A), (D), (E)
3.(C), (D), (A), (B), (E) ✓ Correct
4.(C), (D), (B), (A), (E)
Solution
The correct answer is (C), (D), (A), (B), (E).
Key Points
(C) Reading a symbol from the tape: The Turing Machine (TM) starts by reading the current symbol from the tape at the position of the tape head. This is the initial step in the computation process.
(D) Transitioning to a new state based on the current state and symbol read: Based on the symbol read and the current state, the TM transitions to a new state according to its transition function.
(A) Writing a symbol on the tape: After transitioning to a new state, the TM writes a new symbol on the tape at the current position of the tape head.
(B) Moving the tape head left to right: The TM then moves its tape head either to the left or to the right, as specified by the transition function.
(E) Halting and accepting or rejecting the input: The TM continues this process until it reaches a halting state, which may be an accepting state or a rejecting state.
Thus the correct answer is (C), (D), (A), (B), (E).
Additional Information
The Turing Machine is a theoretical computational model that manipulates symbols on a strip of tape according to a set of rules. Despite its simplicity, it is capable of simulating any computer algorithm.
The TM operates on an infinite tape divided into cells, with each cell containing a symbol from a finite alphabet. The machine has a tape head that can read and write symbols and move left or right.
The TM's behavior is defined by a set of states and a transition function, which determines the machine's actions based on the current state and the symbol being read.
The TM is a fundamental concept in the theory of computation and is used to understand the limits of what can be computed.