Greedy and lazy representations in negative base systems

Abstract

We consider positional numeration systems with negative real base $-\beta$, where $\beta >1$, and study the extremal representations in these systems, called here the greedy and lazy representations. We give algorithms for determination of minimal and maximal $(-\beta )$-representation with respect to the alternate order. We also show that both extremal representations can be obtained as representations in the positive base ${\beta }^2$ and a non-integer alphabet. This enables us to characterize digit sequences admissible as greedy and lazy $(-\beta )$-representation. Such a characterization allows us to study the set of uniquely representable numbers. In case that $\beta$ is the golden ratio and the Tribonacci constant, we give the characterization of digit sequences admissible as greedy and lazy $(-\beta )$-representation using a set of forbidden strings.

22 pages, 7 figures with 14 plots