The repetends of reduced fractions $a/b^k$ approach full complexity with an increasing $k$

Abstract

In this paper, we prove a criterion for complexity in $g$-ary expansions of a rational fraction $a/b<1$ with gcd$(a,b)=1$. We prove that for any purely periodic proper fraction $a/b$ and all $j\ge 1$, each sequence of $j$ digits occurs in the $g$-ary repetend of $a/b^k$ with a relative frequency that approaches $1/g^j$ with an increasing $k$. The absolute frequencies can be calculated by means of a simple transition matrix. Let $(a_k)$ be a sequence of positive integers relatively prime to $b$. We prove that each sequence of $j$ digits occurs in the $g$-ary repetend of $a_k/b^k$ with a relative frequency that approaches $1/g^j$ with an increasing $k$, unless all prime factors of $b$ divide the base $g\ge 2$.

28 pages, 3 tables