Definition
The formalization of computability theory by Kleene led to a particular universal partial computable function Ψ(e, x) defined using the T predicate. This function is universal in the sense that it is partial computable, and for any partial computable function f there is an e such that, for all x, f(x) = Ψ(e,x), where the equality means that either both sides are undefined or both are defined and are equal. It is common to write ψe(x) for Ψ(e,x); thus the sequence ψ0, ψ1, ... is an enumeration of all partial computable functions. Such enumerations are formally called computable numberings of the partial computable functions.
An arbitrary numbering η of partial functions is defined to be an admissible numbering if:
- The function H(e,x) = ηe(x) is a partial computable function.
- There is a total computable function f such that, for all e, ηe = ψf(e).
- There is a total computable function g such that, for all e, ψe = ηg(e).
Here, the first bullet requires the numbering to be computable; the second requires that any index for the numbering η can be converted effectively to an index to the numbering ψ; and the third requires that any index for the numbering ψ can be effectively converted to an index for the numbering η.
Read more about this topic: Rogers' Equivalence Theorem
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