javascript - Y-combinator 如何以编程方式计算不动点？

Question

我相信我从数学上理解 Y 组合器的思想:它返回给定函数 F 的不动点，因此 f = Y(F) 其中 f 满足 f == F(f)。

但我不明白它如何明智地执行实际的计算程序？

让我们以给定的 javascript 示例 here 为例:

var Y = (F) => ( x => F( y => x(x)(y) ) )( x => F( y => x(x)(y) ) )
var Factorial = (factorial) => (n => n == 0 ? 1 : n * factorial(n-1))

Y(Factorial)(6) == 720    // => true
computed_factorial = Y(Factorial)

我不明白的部分是 computed_factorial 函数(不动点)实际上是如何计算的？通过跟踪 Y 的定义，您会发现它在 x(x) 部分遇到了无限递归，我看不到那里暗示任何终止情况。然而，它奇怪地返回了。谁能解释一下？

Answer 1

我将使用 ES6 箭头函数语法。由于您似乎了解 CoffeeScript，因此阅读它应该没有问题。

这是你的 Y 组合器

var Y = F=> (x=> F (y=> x (x) (y))) (x=> F (y=> x (x) (y)))

不过，我将使用您的 factorial 函数的改进版本。这个使用累加器代替，这将防止评估变成一个大金字塔。此函数的过程将是线性迭代，而您的过程将是递归。当 ES6 最终消除尾调用时，这会产生更大的差异。

语法上的差异是名义上的。无论如何，这并不重要，因为您只想查看 Y 的计算方式。

var factorial = Y (fact=> acc=> n=>
  n < 2 ? acc : fact (acc*n) (n-1)
) (1);

好吧，这会导致计算机开始做一些工作。因此，让我们先评估一下，然后再继续……

I hope you have a really good bracket highlighter in your text editor...

var factorial
= Y (f=> acc=> n=> n < 2 ? acc : fact (acc*n) (n-1)) (1)                                                                                                                                                                // sub Y
= (F=> (x=> F (y=> x (x) (y))) (x=> F (y=> x (x) (y)))) (fact=> acc=> n=> n < 2 ? acc : fact (acc*n) (n-1)) (1)                                                                                                         // apply F=> to fact=>
= (x=> (fact=> acc=> n=> n < 2 ? acc : fact (acc*n) (n-1)) (y=> x (x) (y))) (x=> (fact=> acc=> n=> n < 2 ? acc : fact (acc*n) (n-1)) (y=> x (x) (y))) (1)                                                               // apply x=> to x=>
= (fact=> acc=> n=> n < 2 ? acc : fact (acc*n) (n-1)) (y=> (x=> (fact=> acc=> n=> n < 2 ? acc : fact (acc*n) (n-1)) (y=> x (x) (y))) (x=> (fact=> acc=> n=> n < 2 ? acc : fact (acc*n) (n-1)) (y=> x (x) (y))) (y)) (1) // apply fact=> to y=>
= (acc=> n=> n < 2 ? acc : (y=> (x=> (fact=> acc=> n=> n < 2 ? acc : fact (acc*n) (n-1)) (y=> x (x) (y))) (x=> (fact=> acc=> n=> n < 2 ? acc : fact (acc*n) (n-1)) (y=> x (x) (y))) (y)) (acc*n) (n-1)) (1)             // apply acc=> to 1
= n=> n < 2 ? 1 : (y=> (x=> (fact=> acc=> n=> n < 2 ? acc : fact (acc*n) (n-1)) (y=> x (x) (y))) (x=> (fact=> acc=> n=> n < 2 ? acc : fact (acc*n) (n-1)) (y=> x (x) (y))) (y)) (1*n) (n-1)                             // return value
= [Function] (n=> ...)

所以你可以在这里看到，在我们调用之后:

var factorial = Y(fact=> acc=> n=> ...) (1);
//=> [Function] (n=> ...)

我们得到一个正在等待单个输入 n 的函数返回。让我们运行一个 现在阶乘

Before we proceed, you can verify (and you should) that every line here is correct by copying/pasting it in a javascript repl. Each line will return 24 (which is the correct answer for factorial(4). Sorry if I spoiled that for you). This is like when you're simplifying fractions, solving algebraic equations, or balancing chemical formulas; each step should be a correct answer.

Be sure to scroll all the way to the right for my comments. I tell you which operation I completed on each line. The result of the completed operation is on the subsequent line.

And make sure you have that bracket highlighter handy again...

factorial (4)                                                                                                                                                                                                                     // sub factorial
= (n=> n < 2 ? 1 : (y=> (x=> (fact=> acc=> n=> n < 2 ? acc : fact (acc*n) (n-1)) (y=> x (x) (y))) (x=> (fact=> acc=> n=> n < 2 ? acc : fact (acc*n) (n-1)) (y=> x (x) (y))) (y)) (1*n) (n-1)) (4)                                 // apply n=> to 4
= 4 < 2 ? 1 : (y=> (x=> (fact=> acc=> n=> n < 2 ? acc : fact (acc*n) (n-1)) (y=> x (x) (y))) (x=> (fact=> acc=> n=> n < 2 ? acc : fact (acc*n) (n-1)) (y=> x (x) (y))) (y)) (1*4) (4-1)                                           // 4 < 2
= false ? 1 : (y=> (x=> (fact=> acc=> n=> n < 2 ? acc : fact (acc*n) (n-1)) (y=> x (x) (y))) (x=> (fact=> acc=> n=> n < 2 ? acc : fact (acc*n) (n-1)) (y=> x (x) (y))) (y)) (1*4) (4-1)                                           // ?:
= (y=> (x=> (fact=> acc=> n=> n < 2 ? acc : fact (acc*n) (n-1)) (y=> x (x) (y))) (x=> (fact=> acc=> n=> n < 2 ? acc : fact (acc*n) (n-1)) (y=> x (x) (y))) (y)) (1*4) (4-1)                                                       // 1*4
= (y=> (x=> (fact=> acc=> n=> n < 2 ? acc : fact (acc*n) (n-1)) (y=> x (x) (y))) (x=> (fact=> acc=> n=> n < 2 ? acc : fact (acc*n) (n-1)) (y=> x (x) (y))) (y)) (4) (4-1)                                                         // 4-1
= (y=> (x=> (fact=> acc=> n=> n < 2 ? acc : fact (acc*n) (n-1)) (y=> x (x) (y))) (x=> (fact=> acc=> n=> n < 2 ? acc : fact (acc*n) (n-1)) (y=> x (x) (y))) (y)) (4) (3)                                                           // apply y=> to 4
= (x=> (fact=> acc=> n=> n < 2 ? acc : fact (acc*n) (n-1)) (y=> x (x) (y))) (x=> (fact=> acc=> n=> n < 2 ? acc : fact (acc*n) (n-1)) (y=> x (x) (y))) (4) (3)                                                                     // apply x=> to x=>
= (fact=> acc=> n=> n < 2 ? acc : fact (acc*n) (n-1)) (y=> (x=> (fact=> acc=> n=> n < 2 ? acc : fact (acc*n) (n-1)) (y=> x (x) (y))) (x=> (fact=> acc=> n=> n < 2 ? acc : fact (acc*n) (n-1)) (y=> x (x) (y))) (y)) (4) (3)       // apply fact=> to y=>
= (acc=> n=> n < 2 ? acc : (y=> (x=> (fact=> acc=> n=> n < 2 ? acc : fact (acc*n) (n-1)) (y=> x (x) (y))) (x=> (fact=> acc=> n=> n < 2 ? acc : fact (acc*n) (n-1)) (y=> x (x) (y))) (y)) (acc*n) (n-1)) (4) (3)                   // apply acc=> to 4
= (n=> n < 2 ? 4 : (y=> (x=> (fact=> acc=> n=> n < 2 ? acc : fact (acc*n) (n-1)) (y=> x (x) (y))) (x=> (fact=> acc=> n=> n < 2 ? acc : fact (acc*n) (n-1)) (y=> x (x) (y))) (y)) (4*n) (n-1)) (3)                                 // apply n=> to 3
= 3 < 2 ? 4 : (y=> (x=> (fact=> acc=> n=> n < 2 ? acc : fact (acc*n) (n-1)) (y=> x (x) (y))) (x=> (fact=> acc=> n=> n < 2 ? acc : fact (acc*n) (n-1)) (y=> x (x) (y))) (y)) (4*3) (3-1)                                           // 3 < 2
= false ? 4 : (y=> (x=> (fact=> acc=> n=> n < 2 ? acc : fact (acc*n) (n-1)) (y=> x (x) (y))) (x=> (fact=> acc=> n=> n < 2 ? acc : fact (acc*n) (n-1)) (y=> x (x) (y))) (y)) (4*3) (3-1)                                           // ?:
= (y=> (x=> (fact=> acc=> n=> n < 2 ? acc : fact (acc*n) (n-1)) (y=> x (x) (y))) (x=> (fact=> acc=> n=> n < 2 ? acc : fact (acc*n) (n-1)) (y=> x (x) (y))) (y)) (4*3) (3-1)                                                       // 4*2
= (y=> (x=> (fact=> acc=> n=> n < 2 ? acc : fact (acc*n) (n-1)) (y=> x (x) (y))) (x=> (fact=> acc=> n=> n < 2 ? acc : fact (acc*n) (n-1)) (y=> x (x) (y))) (y)) (12) (3-1)                                                        // 3-1
= (y=> (x=> (fact=> acc=> n=> n < 2 ? acc : fact (acc*n) (n-1)) (y=> x (x) (y))) (x=> (fact=> acc=> n=> n < 2 ? acc : fact (acc*n) (n-1)) (y=> x (x) (y))) (y)) (12) (2)                                                          // apply y=> to 12
= (x=> (fact=> acc=> n=> n < 2 ? acc : fact (acc*n) (n-1)) (y=> x (x) (y))) (x=> (fact=> acc=> n=> n < 2 ? acc : fact (acc*n) (n-1)) (y=> x (x) (y))) (12) (2)                                                                    // apply x=> to y=>
= (fact=> acc=> n=> n < 2 ? acc : fact (acc*n) (n-1)) (y=> (x=> (fact=> acc=> n=> n < 2 ? acc : fact (acc*n) (n-1)) (y=> x (x) (y))) (x=> (fact=> acc=> n=> n < 2 ? acc : fact (acc*n) (n-1)) (y=> x (x) (y))) (y)) (12) (2)      // apply fact=> to y=>
= (acc=> n=> n < 2 ? acc : (y=> (x=> (fact=> acc=> n=> n < 2 ? acc : fact (acc*n) (n-1)) (y=> x (x) (y))) (x=> (fact=> acc=> n=> n < 2 ? acc : fact (acc*n) (n-1)) (y=> x (x) (y))) (y)) (acc*n) (n-1)) (12) (2)                  // apply acc=> 12
= (n=> n < 2 ? 12 : (y=> (x=> (fact=> acc=> n=> n < 2 ? acc : fact (acc*n) (n-1)) (y=> x (x) (y))) (x=> (fact=> acc=> n=> n < 2 ? acc : fact (acc*n) (n-1)) (y=> x (x) (y))) (y)) (12*n) (n-1)) (2)                               // apply n=> 2
= 2 < 2 ? 12 : (y=> (x=> (fact=> acc=> n=> n < 2 ? acc : fact (acc*n) (n-1)) (y=> x (x) (y))) (x=> (fact=> acc=> n=> n < 2 ? acc : fact (acc*n) (n-1)) (y=> x (x) (y))) (y)) (12*2) (2-1)                                         // 2 < 2
= false ? 12 : (y=> (x=> (fact=> acc=> n=> n < 2 ? acc : fact (acc*n) (n-1)) (y=> x (x) (y))) (x=> (fact=> acc=> n=> n < 2 ? acc : fact (acc*n) (n-1)) (y=> x (x) (y))) (y)) (12*2) (2-1)                                         // ?:
= (y=> (x=> (fact=> acc=> n=> n < 2 ? acc : fact (acc*n) (n-1)) (y=> x (x) (y))) (x=> (fact=> acc=> n=> n < 2 ? acc : fact (acc*n) (n-1)) (y=> x (x) (y))) (y)) (12*2) (2-1)                                                      // 12*2
= (y=> (x=> (fact=> acc=> n=> n < 2 ? acc : fact (acc*n) (n-1)) (y=> x (x) (y))) (x=> (fact=> acc=> n=> n < 2 ? acc : fact (acc*n) (n-1)) (y=> x (x) (y))) (y)) (24) (2-1)                                                        // 2-1
= (y=> (x=> (fact=> acc=> n=> n < 2 ? acc : fact (acc*n) (n-1)) (y=> x (x) (y))) (x=> (fact=> acc=> n=> n < 2 ? acc : fact (acc*n) (n-1)) (y=> x (x) (y))) (y)) (24) (1)                                                          // apply y=> to 24
= (x=> (fact=> acc=> n=> n < 2 ? acc : fact (acc*n) (n-1)) (y=> x (x) (y))) (x=> (fact=> acc=> n=> n < 2 ? acc : fact (acc*n) (n-1)) (y=> x (x) (y))) (24) (1)                                                                    // apply x=> to x=>
= (fact=> acc=> n=> n < 2 ? acc : fact (acc*n) (n-1)) (y=> (x=> (fact=> acc=> n=> n < 2 ? acc : fact (acc*n) (n-1)) (y=> x (x) (y))) (x=> (fact=> acc=> n=> n < 2 ? acc : fact (acc*n) (n-1)) (y=> x (x) (y))) (y)) (24) (1)      // apply fact=> to y=>
= (acc=> n=> n < 2 ? acc : (y=> (x=> (fact=> acc=> n=> n < 2 ? acc : fact (acc*n) (n-1)) (y=> x (x) (y))) (x=> (fact=> acc=> n=> n < 2 ? acc : fact (acc*n) (n-1)) (y=> x (x) (y))) (y)) (acc*n) (n-1)) (24) (1)                  // apply acc=> to 24
= (n=> n < 2 ? 24 : (y=> (x=> (fact=> acc=> n=> n < 2 ? acc : fact (acc*n) (n-1)) (y=> x (x) (y))) (x=> (fact=> acc=> n=> n < 2 ? acc : fact (acc*n) (n-1)) (y=> x (x) (y))) (y)) (24*n) (n-1)) (1)                               // apply n=> to 1
= 1 < 2 ? 24 : (y=> (x=> (fact=> acc=> n=> n < 2 ? acc : fact (acc*n) (n-1)) (y=> x (x) (y))) (x=> (fact=> acc=> n=> n < 2 ? acc : fact (acc*n) (n-1)) (y=> x (x) (y))) (y)) (24*1) (1-1)                                         // 1 < 2
= true ? 24 : (y=> (x=> (fact=> acc=> n=> n < 2 ? acc : fact (acc*n) (n-1)) (y=> x (x) (y))) (x=> (fact=> acc=> n=> n < 2 ? acc : fact (acc*n) (n-1)) (y=> x (x) (y))) (y)) (24*1) (1-1)                                          // ?:
= 24

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我也看到了 Y 的其他实现。这是一个从头开始构建另一个(用于 javascript)的简单过程。

// text book
var Y = f=> f (Y (f))

// prevent immediate recursion (javascript is applicative order)
var Y = f=> f (x=> Y (f) (x))

// remove recursion using U combinator
var Y = U (h=> f=> f (x=> h (h) (f) (x)))

// given: U = f=> f (f)
var Y = (h=> f=> f (x=> h (h) (f) (x))) (h=> f=> f (x=> h (h) (f) (x)))