Journal of Integer Sequences, Vol. 29 (2026), Article 26.3.3

Pointwise Order of Generalized Hofstadter Functions G, H, and Beyond


Pierre Letouzey
IRIF
Université Paris Cité, CNRS, Inria
F-75013 Paris
France

Shuo Li
Hangzhou International Innovation Institute
Beihang University
166 Shuanghongqiao Street
Pingyao Town, Yuhang District, Hangzhou, 311115
China

Wolfgang Steiner
IRIF
Université Paris Cité, CNRS
F-75013 Paris
France

Abstract:

Hofstadter's G function is recursively defined via G(0) = 0 and then G(n) = nG(G(n – 1)). Following Hofstadter, we vary the number k of nested recursive calls in this equation and obtain a family of functions (Fk). Here we establish that this family is ordered pointwise: for all k and n, we have Fk(n) ≤ Fk+1(n). To achieve this, we make a detour via infinite morphic words generalizing the Fibonacci word. We prove various properties of these words, concerning the lengths of substituted prefixes of these words and the number of occurrences of specific letters in these prefixes. We also relate the limits of (1/n)Fk(n) to the frequencies of letters in the considered words. We provide a certified formalization of all these results in the Rocq proof assistant.


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(Concerned with sequences A005206 A005374 A005375 A005376 A100721.)


Received September 27 2024; revised versions received April 17 2026; May 15 2026. Published in Journal of Integer Sequences, May 19 2026.


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