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I apologize if this question is too basic. I have read that the Ackerman function is the first example of a computable but NOT primitive recursive function. Hyperoperators seem to be closely related to these functions, but I am not sure if they still keep the property of being NOT primitive recursive. My intuition is that they are, but I am not sure. Any textbook or references to read to get a better understanding of this will be very appreciated (and a straight response too!).

NOTE: I read this related question, but it doesnt help me.

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Wolphram jonny
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2 Answers2

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If I have understood well yes.

Because if follow from the definiton of hyperoperators definition.

$H_0(a,b):=S(b)$

is the successor function, and every hyperoperation is defined recursively from the successor function:

(recursive definition of $H_{n+1}$ using $H_n$)

$i)$ $H_{n+1}(a,0):=a_{n+1}$

$ii)$ $H_{n+1}(a,b+1):=H_n(a,H_{n+1}(a,b))$

Here $a_{n+1}$ is the initial value of the function when the argument is $0$ and in the case of hyporoperators we have that

$a_ {n+1}:= \begin{cases} a, & \text{if $n=0$} \\ 0, & \text{if $n=1$ } \\ 1, & \text{if $n\gt 1$ } \\ \end{cases}$

Since $H_0(a,b)=S(b)$ is the successor funtion and is basic primitive rucursive funtion, we have that all the hyperoperations (that are defined from $H_0(a,b)=S(b)$) are Primitve recursive functions.

m_l
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    It's worth mentioning that although each hyperoperation $H_n:\mathbb{N}^2 \to \mathbb{N}$ is primitive recursive, the function $H: \mathbb{N}^3 \to \mathbb{N}: (n,x,y) \mapsto H_n(x,y)$ is not primitive recursive. A simple proof of this is skecthed in Introduction to Computability Theory by Zucker & Pretorius. – r.e.s. Oct 18 '15 at 07:02
  • Of course @r.e.s. , this remark link us to the Ackermann-like functions topic. – m_l Oct 18 '15 at 08:49
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(Elaborating on my comment to the accepted answer ...)

For each $n \in \mathbb{N}$, the $n$th hyperoperation $$H_n: \mathbb{N}^2 \to \mathbb{N}: (x,y) \mapsto H_n(x,y)$$ is primitive recursive.

However, for any integer constant $c\ge 2$, the following functions are not primitive recursive:

$$\begin{align} f_c&: \mathbb{N} \to \mathbb{N}: n \mapsto H_n(c,n)\\ g_c&: \mathbb{N}^2 \to \mathbb{N}: (n,y) \mapsto H_n(c,y)\\ h&: \mathbb{N}^3 \to \mathbb{N}: (n,x,y) \mapsto H_n(x,y). \end{align}$$

When $n$ is included as an argument, the function grows too fast to be primitive recursive.

E.g., $x\uparrow^n y\ $ is primitive recursive as a function of $(x,y)$ for fixed $n$, but it is not primitive recursive as a function of $(n,y)$ for fixed $x\ge 2$.

Essentially these results are proved in Chapter 13 of "Computability, Complexity, and Languages" (1983) by Davis & Weyuker, and also sketched in Introduction to Computability Theory by Zucker & Pretorius.

r.e.s.
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