Skip to content
Artwork for Iowa Type Theory Commute
Iowa Type Theory Commute · Mar 27, 2025 · 15 min

Introduction to the Finite Developments Theorem

The finite developments theorem in pure lambda calculus says that if you select as set of redexes in a lambda term and reduce only those and their residuals (redexes that can be traced back as existing in the original set), then this process will always terminate. In this episode, I discuss the theorem and why I got interested in it.

0:00-15:54

transcript

No transcript — this publisher did not publish one.

show notes

The finite developments theorem in pure lambda calculus says that if you select as set of redexes in a lambda term and reduce only those and their residuals (redexes that can be traced back as existing in the original set), then this process will always terminate.  In this episode, I discuss the theorem and why I got interested in it.