Canonical forms for interval functions (Q1102098)

The following six types of functions are considered which, when applied to a word, return an interval of that word: (1) \(prefix_ k\), which returns the prefix of length k; (2) \(suffix_ k\), which returns the suffix of length k; (3) \(chop^ k\), which returns all but the first k symbols; (4) \(chop_ k\), which returns all but the last k symbols; (5) \(Fprefix_{\lambda}\), which returns the first \(\lambda\) part of the word; and (6) \(Fsuffix_{\lambda}\), which returns the last \(\lambda\) part of the word. (Here k is a nonnegative integer and \(\lambda\) a real number, \(0<\lambda <1.)\) The main result is that any composition of functions of the first four types which is not a trivial function is represented in exactly one of the forms \(prefix_ j chop^ l chop_ m\), \(suffix_ k chop^ l chop_ m\), \(chop^ l chop_ m\), or \(prefix_ 2 suffix_ 1\), and is unique within that form. A discussion is also given about canonical forms for the composition of functions of all types.