Turing Machines

Trace states, tape and head position in a small transition table.

How to study this source

• What can a machine compute?

  backgroundA simple transition table and worked machine trace

  Trace states, tape and head position in a small transition table.

Ideas and questions

Read background definitions when a term blocks the argument. Then return to the source and reconstruct its claim in your own words.

Read alongside, read against

• Computational Complexity

  Christos Papadimitriou. Compare assumptions, evidence and scope with the source above. These are editorial companions, not necessarily direct responses.

• Introduction to the Theory of Computation

  Michael Sipser. Compare assumptions, evidence and scope with the source above. These are editorial companions, not necessarily direct responses.

• A New Kind of Science

  Stephen Wolfram. Compare assumptions, evidence and scope with the source above. These are editorial companions, not necessarily direct responses.

• An Introduction to Kolmogorov Complexity

  Li · Vitányi. Compare assumptions, evidence and scope with the source above. These are editorial companions, not necessarily direct responses.

• The Annotated Turing

  Charles Petzold. Compare assumptions, evidence and scope with the source above. These are editorial companions, not necessarily direct responses.