Journal of Integer Sequences, Vol. 14 (2011), Article 11.2.1

Bounds for the Kolakoski Sequence


Olivier Bordellès
2 allée de la Combe
43000 Aiguilhe
France

Benoit Cloitre
19 rue Louise Michel
92300 Levallois-Perret
France

Abstract:

The Kolakoski sequence (Kn) is perhaps one of the most famous examples of self-describing sequences for which some problems are still open. In particular, one does not know yet whether the density of 1's in this sequence is equal to 1/2. This work, which does not answer this question, provides explicit bounds for the main sequences related to (Kn). The proofs rest on a new identity involving the partial sums of (Kn) and on Dirichlet's pigeonhole principle which allows us to improve notably on the error-term.


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(Concerned with sequence A000002.)


Received November 7 2010; revised version received January 28 2010. Published in Journal of Integer Sequences, February 9 2010.


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