Automatic sequence

In mathematics and theoretical computer science, an automatic sequence (also called a k-automatic sequence or a k-recognizable sequence when one wants to indicate that the base of the numerals used is k) is an infinite sequence of terms characterized by a finite automaton. The n-th term of an automatic sequence a(n) is a mapping of the final state reached in a finite automaton accepting the digits of the number n in some fixed base k.[1][2]

An automatic set is a set of non-negative integers S for which the sequence of values of its characteristic function χS is an automatic sequence; that is, S is k-automatic if χS(n) is k-automatic, where χS(n) = 1 if n  S and 0 otherwise.[3][4]

  1. ^ Allouche & Shallit (2003) p. 152
  2. ^ Berstel et al (2009) p. 78
  3. ^ Allouche & Shallit (2003) p. 168
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference PF13 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).