Skip to main content

Variations on a Theorem of Fine & Wilf

  • Conference paper
  • First Online:
Mathematical Foundations of Computer Science 2001 (MFCS 2001)

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Computer Science ((LNCS,volume 2136))

Abstract

In 1965, Fine & Wilf proved the following theorem: if (f n )n≥0 and (g n ) n ≥0 are periodic sequences of real numbers, of periods h and k respectively, and f n = g n for 0 ≤n < h + k - gcd(h, k), then f n = g n for all n ≥0. Furthermore, the constant h + k - gcd(h, k) is best possible. In this paper we consider some variations on this theorem. In particular, we study the case where f n g n instead off n =g n . We also obtain a generalization to more than two periods.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. J. Berstel. Sturmian words. In M. Lothaire, editor, Algebraic Combinatorics on Words. Cambridge University Press, to appear, 2001. Preliminary version available at http://www-igm.univ-mlv.fr/~berstel/Lothaire/

  2. M. G. Castelli, F. Mignosi, and A. Restivo. Fine and Wilf’s theorem for three periods and a generalization of Sturmian words. Theoret. Comput. Sci. 218 (1999), 83–94.

    Article  MATH  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  3. C. Choffrut and J. Karhumäki. Combinatorics of Words. In G. Rozenberg and A. Salomaa, eds., Handbook of Formal Languages, 1997, pp. 329–438.

    Google Scholar 

  4. M. Crochemore and W. Rytter. Text Algorithms. Oxford University Press, 1994.

    Google Scholar 

  5. L. Fejér. Sur les polynomes harmoniques quelconques. C. R. Acad. Sci. Paris 157 (1913), 506–509.

    MATH  Google Scholar 

  6. N. J. Fine and H. S. Wilf. Uniqueness theorems for periodic functions. Proc. Amer. Math. Soc. 16 (1965), 109–114.

    Article  MATH  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  7. A. D. Gilbert and C. J. Smyth. Zero-mean cosine polynomials which are non-negative for as long as possible. Preprint, 2000.

    Google Scholar 

  8. J. Justin. On a paper by Castelli, Mignosi, Restivo. Theoret. Inform. Appl. 34 (2000), 373–377.

    Article  MATH  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  9. D. E. Knuth, J. Morris, and V. Pratt. Fast pattern matching in strings. SIAM J. Comput. 6 (1977), 323–350.

    Article  MATH  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  10. G. Pólya and G. Szegö. Problems and Theorems in Analysis II. Springer-Verlag, 1976.

    Google Scholar 

  11. A. Salomaa. Formal Languages. Academic Press, 1973.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2001 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this paper

Cite this paper

Mignosi, F., Shallit, J., Wang, Mw. (2001). Variations on a Theorem of Fine & Wilf. In: Sgall, J., Pultr, A., Kolman, P. (eds) Mathematical Foundations of Computer Science 2001. MFCS 2001. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 2136. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-44683-4_45

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-44683-4_45

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-540-42496-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-540-44683-5

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics