Elementary sequences (Q1196612)

A function is called elementary if it has an explicit finite formula involving only elementary algebraic operations of addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, roots, powers and greatest integer. A sequence \(S=\langle s_ i\rangle\) is elementarily generated if there exists an elementary function \(f\) for which \(f(i)=s_ i\), \(i=1,2,3,\dots \). If the sequence \(S\) is strictly increasing of positive integers, the complement of \(S\), \(\bar S\), is the subsequence of \(\langle1,2,3,\dots\rangle\) obtained by deleting all terms of \(S\). In this paper, the author considers the complements of polynomial sequences for certain polynomials, and proves some nice results. From this he proves ``every rational decimal has an elementarily generated representation; in particular, it is exponentially generated''. On the other hand, ``every exponentially generated sequence need not give rise to a rational number or even an algebraic number''. He gives an example that the number generated by \(\langle10^{-j!}\rangle\) is transcendental. He also gives some open problems regarding elementary sequences.