For a theory T, we study relationships among I∆n+1(T), L∆n+1(T) and B * ∆ n+1 (T). These theories are obtained restricting the schemes of induction, minimization and (a version of) collection to ∆n+1(T) formulas. We obtain conditions on T (T is an extension of B * ∆ n+1 (T) or ∆ n+1 (T) is closed (in T) under bounded quantification) under which I∆ n+1 (T) and L∆ n+1 (T) are equivalent.These conditions depend on ThΠ n+2 (T), the Πn+2-consequences of T. The first condition is connected with descriptions of Th Π n+2 (T) as IΣ n plus a class of nondecreasing total Πn-functions, and the second one is related with the equivalence between ∆n+1(T)formulas and bounded formulas (of a language extending the language of Arithmetic). This last property is closely tied to a general version of a well known theorem of R.
Parikh.Using what we call Π n -envelopes we give uniform descriptions of the previous classes of nondecreasing total Πn-functions. Πn-envelopes are a generalization of envelopes (see [10]) and are closely related to indicators (see [12]). Finally, we study the hierarchy of theories I∆n+1(IΣm), m ≥ n, and prove a hierarchy theorem.