A characterization of Benford's Law in discrete-time linear systems

Abstract

A necessary and sufficient condition ("nonresonance") is established for every solution of an autonomous linear difference equation, or more generally for every sequence $(x^\top A^n y)$ with $x,y\in \mathbb{R}^d$ and $A\in \mathbb{R}^{d\times d}$, to be either trivial or else conform to a strong form of Benford's Law (logarithmic distribution of significands). This condition contains all pertinent results in the literature as special cases. Its number-theoretical implications are discussed in the context of specific examples, and so are its possible extensions and modifications.