GATE CS Subject
Theory of Computation GATE CS Questions
- 263 questions in this subject
- Years covered: 1987-2026
- Topic: Finite Automata
- Topic: Regular Languages
- Topic: CFG
- Topic: Pushdown Automata
- Topic: Turing Machines
- Topic: Decidability
Overview & Analysis
Theory of Computation (TOC) is a beautiful, highly structured subject yielding 6 to 8 marks. It defines the mathematical models of computation and formal grammar classification.
The syllabus focuses on regular languages (DFAs, NFAs, regular expressions), context-free languages (CFGs, PDAs), Turing machines, and the Chomsky hierarchy, alongside decidability and undecidability proofs.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: How do I prove a language is context-free but not regular for GATE?
A: You can use the Pumping Lemma for regular languages to show contradiction, or identify if the language requires a single stack memory comparison (e.g., matching brackets or counts) which context-free languages support.
Q: What are the common undecidable problems in TOC?
A: The Halting Problem for Turing machines, the Post Correspondence Problem (PCP), and checking if a Turing machine accepts a regular language are all classic examples of undecidable problems.
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