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Question 9608: All-Path Finite Termination and Reachable Nonhalting Cycles

On this page
  1. Original question and givens
  2. Definition and scope
  3. Step-by-step derivation
  4. Reverse checks
  5. Result
  6. This question review and source binding

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R0018-09608 · q-20261013-advance-20261019-r04-computational-model-0083

Original question and givens

Use the complete finite, possibly nondeterministic transition model S=Fin(6)={0,…,5}, Init=[0], Halt=[5], Step=[[0, 1], [1, 2], [2, 5], [0, 3], [3, 4], [4, 5]]. Normalize sets and ordered transition pairs. Execution stops at a declared Halt state, ignoring all of its outgoing edges. A stuck nonhalting state is not a successful halt; finite prefixes prove no general termination. Give (reachable states, reachable stuck states, reachable nonhalting cycle?, all paths reach Halt?, classification). A reachable cycle takes classification precedence over a stuck state, but retain both diagnostics.

  • G001 — Use the complete finite, possibly nondeterministic transition model S=Fin(6)={0,…,5}, Init=[0], Halt=[5], Step=[[0, 1], [1, 2], [2, 5], [0, 3], [3, 4], [4, 5]]. Normalize sets and ordered transition pairs. Execution stops at a declared Halt state, ignoring all of its outgoing edges. A stuck nonhalting state is not a successful halt; finite prefixes prove no general termination. Give (reachable states, reachable stuck states, reachable nonhalting cycle?, all paths reach Halt?, classification). A reachable cycle takes classification precedence over a stuck state, but retain both diagnostics.

Definition and scope

Use the original question domain, assumptions and cited MKO definitions. This item has second-context mathematical and bilingual review, with the model, answer and every arithmetic step independently recomputed from the original parameters; the source question remains a candidate.

Step-by-step derivation

S001 · implies

Before

n=6;raw Init=[0];raw Halt=[5];raw Step=[[0, 1], [1, 2], [2, 5], [0, 3], [3, 4], [4, 5]]

After

Init=[0];Halt=[5];canonical raw Step=[[0, 1], [0, 3], [1, 2], [2, 5], [3, 4], [4, 5]]

Conditions: none

Type the complete finite data and deduplicate directed edges.Retain raw outgoing halt edges as data,but execution stops at halt.Stuck is not successful halt,and one prefix proves no general program termination.

Step identifiers and dependencies

Rule: finite_transition_normalization · Uses: G001

S002 · implies

Before

Init=[0]

After

zero-step reachable=[0]

Conditions: none

Every initial state is reachable in zero steps,including an initial halt.An empty Init has no reachable states.

Step identifiers and dependencies

Rule: zero_step_reachability · Uses: G001, S001

S003 · implies

Before

depth=0;state=0;halt=No;raw successors=[1, 3]

After

expanded successors=[1, 3];newly reached=[1, 3]

Conditions: none

Expand every successor of a nonhalt state,not just one chosen path.Add unseen states only.A halt is not expanded even when raw outgoing edges exist.

Step identifiers and dependencies

Rule: reachability_halt_truncates_expansion · Uses: G001, S002

S004 · implies

Before

completed frontier=[0];depth=0

After

next frontier=[1, 3];all reached=[0, 1, 3]

Conditions: none

The closure is complete only when the frontier empties.Finitely many states and adding only unseen states ensure enumeration terminates,without sampling a path-length cutoff.

Step identifiers and dependencies

Rule: complete_finite_reachability_layer · Uses: G001, S003

S005 · implies

Before

depth=1;state=1;halt=No;raw successors=[2]

After

expanded successors=[2];newly reached=[2]

Conditions: none

Expand every successor of a nonhalt state,not just one chosen path.Add unseen states only.A halt is not expanded even when raw outgoing edges exist.

Step identifiers and dependencies

Rule: reachability_halt_truncates_expansion · Uses: G001, S004

S006 · implies

Before

depth=1;state=3;halt=No;raw successors=[4]

After

expanded successors=[4];newly reached=[4]

Conditions: none

Expand every successor of a nonhalt state,not just one chosen path.Add unseen states only.A halt is not expanded even when raw outgoing edges exist.

Step identifiers and dependencies

Rule: reachability_halt_truncates_expansion · Uses: G001, S005

S007 · implies

Before

completed frontier=[1, 3];depth=1

After

next frontier=[2, 4];all reached=[0, 1, 2, 3, 4]

Conditions: none

The closure is complete only when the frontier empties.Finitely many states and adding only unseen states ensure enumeration terminates,without sampling a path-length cutoff.

Step identifiers and dependencies

Rule: complete_finite_reachability_layer · Uses: G001, S006

S008 · implies

Before

depth=2;state=2;halt=No;raw successors=[5]

After

expanded successors=[5];newly reached=[5]

Conditions: none

Expand every successor of a nonhalt state,not just one chosen path.Add unseen states only.A halt is not expanded even when raw outgoing edges exist.

Step identifiers and dependencies

Rule: reachability_halt_truncates_expansion · Uses: G001, S007

S009 · implies

Before

depth=2;state=4;halt=No;raw successors=[5]

After

expanded successors=[5];newly reached=[]

Conditions: none

Expand every successor of a nonhalt state,not just one chosen path.Add unseen states only.A halt is not expanded even when raw outgoing edges exist.

Step identifiers and dependencies

Rule: reachability_halt_truncates_expansion · Uses: G001, S008

S010 · implies

Before

completed frontier=[2, 4];depth=2

After

next frontier=[5];all reached=[0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

Conditions: none

The closure is complete only when the frontier empties.Finitely many states and adding only unseen states ensure enumeration terminates,without sampling a path-length cutoff.

Step identifiers and dependencies

Rule: complete_finite_reachability_layer · Uses: G001, S009

S011 · implies

Before

depth=3;state=5;halt=Yes;raw successors=[]

After

expanded successors=[];newly reached=[]

Conditions: none

Expand every successor of a nonhalt state,not just one chosen path.Add unseen states only.A halt is not expanded even when raw outgoing edges exist.

Step identifiers and dependencies

Rule: reachability_halt_truncates_expansion · Uses: G001, S010

S012 · implies

Before

completed frontier=[5];depth=3

After

next frontier=[];all reached=[0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

Conditions: none

The closure is complete only when the frontier empties.Finitely many states and adding only unseen states ensure enumeration terminates,without sampling a path-length cutoff.

Step identifiers and dependencies

Rule: complete_finite_reachability_layer · Uses: G001, S011

S013 · implies

Before

reached state=0;declared halt=No;raw successors=[1, 3]

After

status=active-nonhalt

Conditions: none

The halt designation takes precedence.Only a nonhalt with no successor is stuck;one with successors is active.No outgoing edge does not automatically mean successful termination.

Step identifiers and dependencies

Rule: halt_stuck_active_are_distinct · Uses: G001, S012

S014 · implies

Before

reached state=1;declared halt=No;raw successors=[2]

After

status=active-nonhalt

Conditions: none

The halt designation takes precedence.Only a nonhalt with no successor is stuck;one with successors is active.No outgoing edge does not automatically mean successful termination.

Step identifiers and dependencies

Rule: halt_stuck_active_are_distinct · Uses: G001, S013

S015 · implies

Before

reached state=2;declared halt=No;raw successors=[5]

After

status=active-nonhalt

Conditions: none

The halt designation takes precedence.Only a nonhalt with no successor is stuck;one with successors is active.No outgoing edge does not automatically mean successful termination.

Step identifiers and dependencies

Rule: halt_stuck_active_are_distinct · Uses: G001, S014

S016 · implies

Before

reached state=3;declared halt=No;raw successors=[4]

After

status=active-nonhalt

Conditions: none

The halt designation takes precedence.Only a nonhalt with no successor is stuck;one with successors is active.No outgoing edge does not automatically mean successful termination.

Step identifiers and dependencies

Rule: halt_stuck_active_are_distinct · Uses: G001, S015

S017 · implies

Before

reached state=4;declared halt=No;raw successors=[5]

After

status=active-nonhalt

Conditions: none

The halt designation takes precedence.Only a nonhalt with no successor is stuck;one with successors is active.No outgoing edge does not automatically mean successful termination.

Step identifiers and dependencies

Rule: halt_stuck_active_are_distinct · Uses: G001, S016

S018 · implies

Before

reached state=5;declared halt=Yes;raw successors=[]

After

status=halt

Conditions: none

The halt designation takes precedence.Only a nonhalt with no successor is stuck;one with successors is active.No outgoing edge does not automatically mean successful termination.

Step identifiers and dependencies

Rule: halt_stuck_active_are_distinct · Uses: G001, S017

S019 · implies

Before

reachable=[0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5];Halt=[5]

After

reachable nonhalt graph vertices=[0, 1, 2, 3, 4]

Conditions: none

Inspect cycles only in the reachable nonhalt subgraph.Unreachable cycles and outgoing halt edges do not affect this execution question.

Step identifiers and dependencies

Rule: reachable_nonhalt_cycle_scope · Uses: G001, S018

S020 · implies

Before

peeling layer=0;remaining=[0, 1, 2, 3, 4]

After

vertices with no remaining nonhalt successor=[2, 4]

Conditions: none

Repeatedly remove vertices with no remaining nonhalt successor.A directed cycle cannot be removed this way.Stuck vertices may be removed too,so keep the separate stuck check.

Step identifiers and dependencies

Rule: finite_cycle_sink_peeling · Uses: G001, S019

S021 · implies

Before

peeling layer=1;remaining=[0, 1, 3]

After

vertices with no remaining nonhalt successor=[1, 3]

Conditions: none

Repeatedly remove vertices with no remaining nonhalt successor.A directed cycle cannot be removed this way.Stuck vertices may be removed too,so keep the separate stuck check.

Step identifiers and dependencies

Rule: finite_cycle_sink_peeling · Uses: G001, S020

S022 · implies

Before

peeling layer=2;remaining=[0]

After

vertices with no remaining nonhalt successor=[0]

Conditions: none

Repeatedly remove vertices with no remaining nonhalt successor.A directed cycle cannot be removed this way.Stuck vertices may be removed too,so keep the separate stuck check.

Step identifiers and dependencies

Rule: finite_cycle_sink_peeling · Uses: G001, S021

S023 · implies

Before

all reachable nonhalt vertices peeled

After

reachable nonhalt graph is acyclic

Conditions: none

Removing all vertices certifies absence of a directed cycle,not merely failure to encounter one on a single run.

Step identifiers and dependencies

Rule: complete_acyclic_nonhalt_certificate · Uses: G001, S022

S024 · implies

Before

reachable stuck=[];reachable nonhalt cycle=No

After

all paths reach Halt=Yes

Conditions: none

In a finite model an infinite nonhalt path repeats a state and forms a cycle;a finite maximal nonhalting path ends stuck.Exclude both to ensure every path reaches Halt.Empty Init is vacuous;this does not establish termination of arbitrary infinite-state programs.

Step identifiers and dependencies

Rule: finite_all_paths_termination_joint_gate · Uses: G001, S023

S025 · implies

Before

cycle=No;stuck=[]

After

classification=all paths reach the target in the finite model halt

Conditions: none

When cycle and stuck coexist,the label prioritizes the cycle while the earlier field retains all stuck states.Priority does not erase the other diagnostic.

Step identifiers and dependencies

Rule: cycle_classification_precedence_without_erasing_stuck · Uses: G001, S024

Reverse checks

  • S025 · premise_and_result_audit — Check against the original data and this step's premises; a one-way implication is not an equivalence.
  • S024 · premise_and_result_audit — Check against the original data and this step's premises; a one-way implication is not an equivalence.
  • S023 · premise_and_result_audit — Check against the original data and this step's premises; a one-way implication is not an equivalence.
  • S022 · premise_and_result_audit — Check against the original data and this step's premises; a one-way implication is not an equivalence.
  • S021 · premise_and_result_audit — Check against the original data and this step's premises; a one-way implication is not an equivalence.
  • S020 · premise_and_result_audit — Check against the original data and this step's premises; a one-way implication is not an equivalence.
  • S019 · premise_and_result_audit — Check against the original data and this step's premises; a one-way implication is not an equivalence.
  • S018 · premise_and_result_audit — Check against the original data and this step's premises; a one-way implication is not an equivalence.
  • S017 · premise_and_result_audit — Check against the original data and this step's premises; a one-way implication is not an equivalence.
  • S016 · premise_and_result_audit — Check against the original data and this step's premises; a one-way implication is not an equivalence.
  • S015 · premise_and_result_audit — Check against the original data and this step's premises; a one-way implication is not an equivalence.
  • S014 · premise_and_result_audit — Check against the original data and this step's premises; a one-way implication is not an equivalence.
  • S013 · premise_and_result_audit — Check against the original data and this step's premises; a one-way implication is not an equivalence.
  • S012 · premise_and_result_audit — Check against the original data and this step's premises; a one-way implication is not an equivalence.
  • S011 · premise_and_result_audit — Check against the original data and this step's premises; a one-way implication is not an equivalence.
  • S010 · premise_and_result_audit — Check against the original data and this step's premises; a one-way implication is not an equivalence.
  • S009 · premise_and_result_audit — Check against the original data and this step's premises; a one-way implication is not an equivalence.
  • S008 · premise_and_result_audit — Check against the original data and this step's premises; a one-way implication is not an equivalence.
  • S007 · premise_and_result_audit — Check against the original data and this step's premises; a one-way implication is not an equivalence.
  • S006 · premise_and_result_audit — Check against the original data and this step's premises; a one-way implication is not an equivalence.
  • S005 · premise_and_result_audit — Check against the original data and this step's premises; a one-way implication is not an equivalence.
  • S004 · premise_and_result_audit — Check against the original data and this step's premises; a one-way implication is not an equivalence.
  • S003 · premise_and_result_audit — Check against the original data and this step's premises; a one-way implication is not an equivalence.
  • S002 · premise_and_result_audit — Check against the original data and this step's premises; a one-way implication is not an equivalence.
  • S001 · premise_and_result_audit — Check against the original data and this step's premises; a one-way implication is not an equivalence.

Result

([0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5], [], No, Yes, all-finite-model-paths-reach-halt)

The full substitutions and premise checks give the original answer; source identity,format and status are unchanged.

This question review and source binding

Review date: 2026-10-26

Original questions, answers, step expressions, numeric ASTs and historical records are retained. Source candidate labels remain historical and are not overwritten as formal proof.

Source hashes and review receipts
  • input commit: 0f7be61e2c22317a4075561dc822c87d881a50db
  • original question SHA-256: 9d40df8c2972c6f62e60db9ebb5b817f0a97c5ce74ec2b29c115416786e0e752
  • candidate record SHA-256: b16eea8b1e880d569ca577e376ad15593f7fa4caa46118f336fb20fd75f74ef4
  • semantic review receipt SHA-256: bd35da62087a15d6b89b45585dc46e89b9efbe097cba7b3c707b5030496f013c
  • question-first witness SHA-256: fab45a10d8ac95c7d61d32e47d1bdd3ca862c17c3289a6bf4b01d4dc9492fbb6
  • Lean: NOT_RUN · human review: NOT_PERFORMED
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