Critical exponent of a word

In mathematics and computer science, the critical exponent of a finite or infinite sequence of symbols over a finite alphabet describes the largest number of times a contiguous subsequence can be repeated. For example, the critical exponent of "Mississippi" is 7/3, as it contains the string "ississi", which is of length 7 and period 3. The critical exponent for w is the supremum of the α for which w has α-powers, or equivalently the infimum of the α for which w is α-power-free.

Critical exponent of a word

In mathematics and computer science, the critical exponent of a finite or infinite sequence of symbols over a finite alphabet describes the largest number of times a contiguous subsequence can be repeated. For example, the critical exponent of "Mississippi" is 7/3, as it contains the string "ississi", which is of length 7 and period 3. The critical exponent for w is the supremum of the α for which w has α-powers, or equivalently the infimum of the α for which w is α-power-free.