Is the following equivalence true?
$$(r_1^*r_2^*)^* = (r_1 + r_2)^*$$
I think these are equivalent since both the expressions generate the same strings: $\{\epsilon,r_1,r_2,\dots\}$ etc.
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What are $r_1$ and $r_2$? – Gribouillis Aug 01 '21 at 09:10
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Any alphabet. Like $r_1$ = a and $r_2$ = b @Gribouillis – Anshika Singh Aug 01 '21 at 10:17
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4Yes, they are equivalent. The expressions denote the same language for every language $r_1$ and $r_2$. This can be shown using finite state automata: Regular expression $(a^{}b^{})^{} = \left( a+b \right)^{}$ proof Alternatively there is Kleene algebra which has equational rules that characterize regular expression equivalence. – Hendrik Jan Aug 01 '21 at 15:14
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@HendrikJan Ah, thanks! That clears up my confusion! – Anshika Singh Aug 01 '21 at 16:20