# Pumping lemma condition 3

1. ### colt

20
It says that |xy| < p. But I don't understand why even after reading the proof. If I have a four state DFA, whose last state is the one that is gonna repeat for a given input string of length p, |x| is already gonna be four, since it represents the states necessary to reach the repetition state. So in this worst case scenery, |x| is already equal to p, so with |y|>0 we already have |xy|>p. SO what's wrong with my line of thought

2. ### Robert1986

828
If I understand correctly, the pumping lemma gives you a number, p, such that a bunch of stuff happens. Can you reference the exact pumping lemma you are talking about?

3. ### verty

1,822
And show us the proof so we can understand.

4. ### colt

20
I am sorry, I forgot that there is more than one pumping lemma so I aborted the copy that I was doing. Very clever from my part. Anyway I attached a screenshot of the proof:

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