A Space Efficient Algorithm for the Calculation of the Digit Distribution in the Kolakoski Sequence

Abstract

With standard algorithms for generating the classical Kolakoski sequence, the numerical calculation of the digit distribution requires a linear amount of space. Here, we present an algorithm for calculating the distribution of the digits in the classical Kolakoski sequence, that only requires a logarithmic amount of space and still runs in linear time. The algorithm is easily adaptable to generalised Kolakoski sequences.