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A Theory of Program Size Formally Identical to Information Theory

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Chaitin, Gregory J.·1975·Journal of the ACM

Abstract

A new definition of program-size complexity is made.H(A,B/C,D) is defined to be the size in bits of the shortest self-delimiting program for calculating strings A and B if one is given a minimal-size self-delimiting program for calculating strings C and D. This differs from previous definitions: (1) programs are required to be self-delimiting, i.e. no program is a prefix of another, and (2) instead of being given C and D directly, one is given a program for calculating them that is minimal in size.Unlike previous definitions, this one has precisely the formal properties of the entropy concept of information theory.For example, H(A,B) = H(A) + H(B/A) -~ 0(1).Also, if a program of length k is assigned measure 2 -k, then H(A) = -log2 (the probability that the standard universal computer will calculate A) -{-0(1).

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Research works printed but not linked: 29

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Metadata

Authors
Chaitin, G. J.
Venue
Journal of the ACM
Published
1975-07
Volume
22
Issue
3
Pages
329-340
ISSN
  • 0004-5411 (ISSN-L)
  • 1557-735X
OpenAlex
W2020311636
Cited by
849
References
3
FWCI
11.09
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
bronze

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Chaitin, G. J. (1975). A Theory of Program Size Formally Identical to Information Theory. Journal of the ACM. https://doi.org/10.1145/321892.321894

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