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Syntax of Lambda Expressions

The syntax of lambda expressions is defined as follows:

$\fbox{ \parbox{12.5cm}{ {\sc Definition 2 (Syntax of a Lambda Expression)} \\ ... ...item $t = (M N)$\ where $M$\ and $N$\ are lambda expressions. \end{itemize} } }$

The Lambda Calculus therefore includes three diffenrent types of lambda expressions:

variables (referencing lambda expressions)
lambda abstractions (defining functions)
applications (invoking functions)

Remark:

The parentheses in the syntax of an application are not mandatory. This results from the law of associativity for applications introduced below.

Georg P. Loczewski 2004-03-05

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