diff --git a/DFA.java b/DFA.java
index b4280c8..ca675e0 100644
--- a/DFA.java
+++ b/DFA.java
@@ -14,6 +14,18 @@ public class DFA {
 	private boolean finalstates[];
 	
 	// constructs a new DFA object from a file as per the in class specs
+    /*
+     * format of the input file:
+     * IntegerN - the number of terminal characters in the machine
+     * Terminal * N - all of the terminals separated by a space
+     * NumStates - number of states in the machine
+     *  - next is NumStates * IntegerN rows of transitions
+     * StartState TerminalTransitionChar EndState
+     * NumFinalStates - number of final states
+     * FinalStates - the final states of the machine separated by spaces
+     *
+     * Check the minmachine.txt file for a complete minimizable example.
+     */
 	DFA ( String filename )	{
 		BufferedReader infile = null;
 		numstates = 0;
diff --git a/minmachine.txt b/minmachine.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f90ff13
--- /dev/null
+++ b/minmachine.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+2
+a b
+6
+0 a 1
+0 b 3
+1 a 3
+1 b 4
+2 a 1
+2 b 4
+3 a 4
+3 b 3
+4 a 4
+4 b 4
+5 a 5
+5 b 5
+1
+4