In lambda-calculus, the eta conversion rule states x . f x<-->fprovided x does not occur as a free variable in f and f is a function.Left to right is eta reduction, right to left is eta abstraction (or eta expansion).This conversion is only valid if bottom andx . bottom are equivalent in all contexts.They are certainly equivalent when applied to some argument - they both fail to terminate. If we are allowed to force the evaluation of an expression in any other way, e.g. using seq in Miranda or returning a function as the overall result of a program, then bottom andx . bottom will not be equivalent.See also observational equivalence, reduction.