Left Factoring | Left Factoring Examples

Compiler Design

Grammar With Common Prefixes-

If RHS of more than one production starts with the same symbol,
then such a grammar is called as

Grammar With Common Prefixes.

Example-

A → αβ1 / αβ2 / αβ3

(Grammar with common prefixes)

This kind of grammar creates a problematic situation for Top down parsers.
Top down parsers can not decide which production must be chosen to parse the string in hand.

To remove this confusion, we use left factoring.

Left Factoring-

Left factoring is a process by which the grammar with common prefixes is transformed
to make it useful for Top down parsers.

How?

In left factoring,

We make one production for each common prefixes.

Example-

Also Read- Left Recursion

PRACTICE PROBLEMS BASED ON LEFT FACTORING-

Problem-01:

Do left factoring in the following grammar-

S → iEtS / iEtSeS / a

E→b

Solution-

The left factored grammar is-

S → iEtSS’ / a

S’ → eS / ∈

E→b

Problem-02:

Do left factoring in the following grammar-

Solution-

Step-01:

A → aA’

A’ → AB / Bc / Ac

Again, this is a grammar with common prefixes.

Step-02:

A → aA’

A’ → AD / Bc

D→B/c

This is a left factored grammar.

Problem-03:

Do left factoring in the following grammar-

S → bSSaaS / bSSaSb / bSb / a

Solution-

Step-01:

S → bSS’ / a

S’ → SaaS / SaSb / b

Again, this is a grammar with common prefixes.

Step-02:

S → bSS’ / a

S’ → SaA / b

A → aS / Sb

This is a left factored grammar.

Problem-04:
Do left factoring in the following grammar-

S → aSSbS / aSaSb / abb / b

Solution-

Step-01:

S → aS’ / b

S’ → SSbS / SaSb / bb

Again, this is a grammar with common prefixes.

Step-02:

S → aS’ / b

S’ → SA / bb

A → SbS / aSb

This is a left factored grammar.

Problem-05:

Do left factoring in the following grammar-

S → a / ab / abc / abcd

Solution-

Step-01:

S → aS’

S’ → b / bc / bcd / ∈

Again, this is a grammar with common prefixes.

Step-02:

S → aS’

S’ → bA / ∈

A → c / cd / ∈

Again, this is a grammar with common prefixes.

S → aS’

S’ → bA / ∈

A → cB / ∈

B→d/∈

This is a left factored grammar.

Problem-06:

Do left factoring in the following grammar-

S → aAd / aB

A → a / ab

B → ccd / ddc

Solution-

The left factored grammar is-

S → aS’

S’ → Ad / B

A → aA’

A’ → b / ∈

B → ccd / ddc

To gain better understanding about Left Factoring,

Watch this Video Lecture

Next Article- Relationship With Left Recursion

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Summary