Fix . is called a deterministic automata if

  1. is a finite set of states
  2. is a start state
  3. accept states
  4. transition function

Interpretation

  1. Get a word as input
  2. Start at state
  3. Read the word letter by letter:
    If you’re in state and read , move to
  4. After reading all of , you’re in some state :
    If then ACCEPTS .
    If then REJECTS .

Definition

is defined recursively:

Definition

Homomorphism is just the only reasonable definition

Proposition

If is a homomorphism from to , then .

Corollary

We can always WLOG that .