Number systems and the Chinese Remainder Theorem

Abstract

A well-known generalisation of positional numeration systems is the case where the base is the residue class of $x$ modulo a given polynomial $f(x)$ with coefficients in (for example) the integers, and where we try to construct finite expansions for all residue classes modulo $f(x)$, using a suitably chosen digit set. We give precise conditions under which direct or fibred products of two such polynomial number systems are again of the same form. The main tool is a general form of the Chinese Remainder Theorem. We give applications to simultaneous number systems in the integers.