On properties of BB-terms

$B$-terms are built from the $B$ combinator alone defined by $B\equiv\lambda fgx. f(g~x)$, which is well known as a function composition operator. This paper investigates an interesting property of $B$-terms, that is, whether repetitive right applications of a $B$-term cycles or not. We discuss conditions for $B$-terms to have and not to have the property through a sound and complete equational axiomatization. Specifically, we give examples of $B$-terms which have the cyclic property and show that there are infinitely many $B$-terms which do not have the property. Also, we introduce another interesting property about a canonical representation of $B$-terms that is useful to detect cycles, or equivalently, to prove the cyclic property, with an efficient algorithm.Comment: Journal version in Logical Methods in Computer Science. arXiv admin note: substantial text overlap with arXiv:1703.1093

On properties of BB-terms

$B$-terms are built from the $B$ combinator alone defined by $B\equiv\lambda fgx. f(g~x)$, which is well known as a function composition operator. This paper investigates an interesting property of $B$-terms, that is, whether repetitive right applications of a $B$-term cycles or not. We discuss conditions for $B$-terms to have and not to have the property through a sound and complete equational axiomatization. Specifically, we give examples of $B$-terms which have the cyclic property and show that there are infinitely many $B$-terms which do not have the property. Also, we introduce another interesting property about a canonical representation of $B$-terms that is useful to detect cycles, or equivalently, to prove the cyclic property, with an efficient algorithm

On Repetitive Right Application of B-Terms

B-terms are built from the B combinator alone defined by B == lambda f.lambda g.lambda x. f~(g~x), which is well-known as a function composition operator. This paper investigates an interesting property of B-terms, that is, whether repetitive right applications of a B-term cycles or not. We discuss conditions for B-terms to have and not to have the property through a sound and complete equational axiomatization. Specifically, we give examples of B-terms which have the property and show that there are infinitely many B-terms which do not have the property. Also, we introduce a canonical representation of B-terms that is useful to detect cycles, or equivalently, to prove the property, with an efficient algorithm