On the number of squares in partial words

Vesa Halava; Tero Harju; Tomi Kärki

RAIRO - Theoretical Informatics and Applications (2010)

  • Volume: 44, Issue: 1, page 125-138
  • ISSN: 0988-3754

Abstract

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The theorem of Fraenkel and Simpson states that the maximum number of distinct squares that a word w of length n can contain is less than 2n. This is based on the fact that no more than two squares can have their last occurrences starting at the same position. In this paper we show that the maximum number of the last occurrences of squares per position in a partial word containing one hole is 2k, where k is the size of the alphabet. Moreover, we prove that the number of distinct squares in a partial word with one hole and of length n is less than 4n, regardless of the size of the alphabet. For binary partial words, this upper bound can be reduced to 3n.

How to cite

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Halava, Vesa, Harju, Tero, and Kärki, Tomi. "On the number of squares in partial words." RAIRO - Theoretical Informatics and Applications 44.1 (2010): 125-138. <http://eudml.org/doc/250794>.

@article{Halava2010,
abstract = { The theorem of Fraenkel and Simpson states that the maximum number of distinct squares that a word w of length n can contain is less than 2n. This is based on the fact that no more than two squares can have their last occurrences starting at the same position. In this paper we show that the maximum number of the last occurrences of squares per position in a partial word containing one hole is 2k, where k is the size of the alphabet. Moreover, we prove that the number of distinct squares in a partial word with one hole and of length n is less than 4n, regardless of the size of the alphabet. For binary partial words, this upper bound can be reduced to 3n. },
author = {Halava, Vesa, Harju, Tero, Kärki, Tomi},
journal = {RAIRO - Theoretical Informatics and Applications},
keywords = {Square; partial word; theorem of Fraenkel and Simpson.; square; theorem of Fraenkel and Simpson},
language = {eng},
month = {2},
number = {1},
pages = {125-138},
publisher = {EDP Sciences},
title = {On the number of squares in partial words},
url = {http://eudml.org/doc/250794},
volume = {44},
year = {2010},
}

TY - JOUR
AU - Halava, Vesa
AU - Harju, Tero
AU - Kärki, Tomi
TI - On the number of squares in partial words
JO - RAIRO - Theoretical Informatics and Applications
DA - 2010/2//
PB - EDP Sciences
VL - 44
IS - 1
SP - 125
EP - 138
AB - The theorem of Fraenkel and Simpson states that the maximum number of distinct squares that a word w of length n can contain is less than 2n. This is based on the fact that no more than two squares can have their last occurrences starting at the same position. In this paper we show that the maximum number of the last occurrences of squares per position in a partial word containing one hole is 2k, where k is the size of the alphabet. Moreover, we prove that the number of distinct squares in a partial word with one hole and of length n is less than 4n, regardless of the size of the alphabet. For binary partial words, this upper bound can be reduced to 3n.
LA - eng
KW - Square; partial word; theorem of Fraenkel and Simpson.; square; theorem of Fraenkel and Simpson
UR - http://eudml.org/doc/250794
ER -

References

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  8. V. Halava, T. Harju and T. Kärki, Square-free partial words. Inform. Process. Lett.108 (2008) 290–292.  
  9. L. Ilie, A simple proof that a word of length n has at most 2n distinct squares. J. Combin. Theory Ser. A112 (2005) 163–164.  
  10. L. Ilie, A note on the number of squares in a word. Theoret. Comput. Sci.380 (2007) 373–376.  
  11. M. Lothaire, Combinatorics on Words. Encyclopedia of Mathematics 17, Addison-Wesley (1983).  
  12. M. Lothaire, Algebraic combinatorics on words. Encyclopedia of Mathematics and its Applications 90, Cambridge University Press (2002).  
  13. F. Manea and R. Mercaş, Freeness of partial words. Theoret. Comput. Sci.389 (2007) 265–277.  
  14. A. Thue, Über unendliche Zeichenreihen. Norske Vid. Skrifter I Mat.-Nat. Kl., Christiania7 (1906) 1–22.  
  15. A. Thue, Über die gegenseitige Lage gleicher Teile gewisser Zeichenreihen. Norske Vid. Skrifter I Mat.-Nat. Kl., Christiania1 (1912) 1–67.  

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