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Syntax

A expression has the form

E := V | (E1 E2) | (V.E1)

where V denotes variables

(E1 E2) is an application

and (V.E1) is an abstraction.

examples:
(v.v)
(v.(v (x y)))

Most books use a notation with implicit left associativity. Thus

(E1 E2 E3) means ((E1 E2) E3)
(v.E1 E2) means (v.(E1 E2))



Alan Bond
1998-10-12