TITLE: Converting to Chomsky Normal Form
QUESTION [9 upvotes]: I am trying to learn how to convert any context free grammar to Chomsky Normal Form. In the example below, I tried to apply Chomsky Normal Form logic, to result in a grammar, where every symbol either produces two symbols, or every symbol produces a terminal. 
I am not %100 sure my implementation is correct, and it is important that I understand how to do this, I would appreciate if someone would let me know if I am on the right track.
Context Free Grammar
S -> ASA | aB
A -> B | S
B -> b | epsilon

After converting to:
Chomsky Normal Form
S-> CA | CB
C -> AS | a | S
B -> b | epsilon

Many Thanks in advance!

REPLY [10 votes]: Conversion from Context Free Grammar to Chomsky Normal Form :
(I ll tell you the steps and will also solve the example you asked simultaneously) 
Step 1 : Introduce New Non-terminal $S_0$ and make it derive the start variable  which is S
Thus 

$S_0$ -> S
S -> ASA | aB
A -> B | S
B -> b | $\varepsilon$

Step 2 : Eliminate all $\varepsilon$ transitions 
THus we need to eliminate B -> $\varepsilon$
For this we must to replace B with $\varepsilon$ in RHS of every production having B 
THus we get,

$S_0$ -> S
S -> ASA | aB | a
A -> B | S | $\varepsilon$
B -> b

Now new $\varepsilon$ transition is introduced which is A -> $\varepsilon$ .. thus we need to eliminate it too

$S_0$ -> S
S -> ASA | aB | a | SA | AS | S ... Note: S -> S can be ignored
A -> B | S 
B -> b

Step 3 : Eliminate all Unit transitions i.e. those productions having exactly one non-terminal in RHS .
thus we need to eliminate A -> B , A->S ,$S_0$ -> S
THus,first removing A-> B

$S_0$ -> S
S -> ASA | aB | a | SA | AS  
A -> b | S 
B -> b

NOw removing A-> S

$S_0$ -> S
S -> ASA | aB | a | SA | AS  
A -> b |  ASA | aB | a | SA | AS  
B -> b

NOw removing $S_0$ -> S

$S_0$ -> ASA | aB | a | SA | AS  
S -> ASA | aB | a | SA | AS  
A -> b |  ASA | aB | a | SA | AS  
B -> b

Step 4 : Now eliminate all the productions that are non in CNF 

$S_0$ -> AM | NB | a | SA | AS  
S -> AM | NB | a | SA | AS  
A -> b |  AM | NB | a | SA | AS  
B -> b
M -> SA
N-> a

The above CFG is in CNF .
:)