In this thesis we study the zeros and asymptotics of sequences that satisfy linear recurrence relations with generally nonconstant coefficients. By the theorem of Skolem-Mahler-Lech, the set of zero terms of a sequence that satisfies a linear recurrence relation with constant coefficients taken from a field of characteristic zero is comprised of the union of finitely many arithmetic progressions together with a finite exceptional set. Further, in the nondegenerate case, we can eliminate the possibility of arithmetic progressions and conclude that there are only finitely many zero terms. For generally nonconstant coefficients, there are generalizations of this theorem due to Bézivin and to Methfessel that imply, under fairly general conditions, that we obtain a finite union of arithmetic progressions together with an exceptional set of density zero. Further, a condition is given under which one can exclude the possibility of arithmetic progressions and obtain a set of zero terms of density zero. In this thesis, it is shown that this condition reduces to the nondegeneracy condition in the case of constant coefficients. This allows for a consistent definition of nondegeneracy valid for generally nonconstant coefficients and a unified result is obtained. The asymptotic theory of sequences that satisfy linear recurrence relations with generally nonconstant coefficients begins with the basic theorems of Poincaré and Perron. There are some generalizations of these theorems that hold in greater generality, but if we restrict the coefficient sequences of our linear recurrences to be polynomials in the index, we obtain full asymptotic expansions of a predictable form for the solution sequences. These expansions can be obtained by applying a transfer method of Flajolet and Sedgewick or, in some cases, by applying a bivariate method of Pemantle and Wilson. In this thesis, these methods are applied to a family of binomial sums and full asymptotic expansions are obtained. The leading terms of the expansions are obtained explicitly in all cases, while in some cases a field containing the asymptotic coefficients is obtained and some divisibility properties for the asymptotic coefficients are obtained using a generalization of a method of Stoll and Haible.

In this doctoral dissertation, we studied and solved several questions regarding positional and abstract numeration systems. Each particular problem is the focus of a chapter. The first problem concerns the study of the preservation of recognizability under multiplication by a constant in abstract numeration systems built on polynomial regular languages. We obtained several results generalizing those from P. Lecomte and M. Rigo. The second problem we considered is a decidability problem, which was already studied, most notably, by J. Honkala and A. Muchnik. For our part, we studied this problem for two new cases: the linear positional numeration systems and the abstract numeration systems. Next, we focused on the extension to the multidimensional setting of a result of A. Maes and M.~Rigo regarding S-automatic infinite words. We obtained a characterization of multidimensional S-automatic words in terms of multidimensional (non-necessarily uniform) morphisms. This result can be viewed as the analogous of O. Salon's extension of a theorem of A. Cobham. Finally, generalizing results of P. Lecomte and M. Rigo, we proposed a formalism to represent real numbers in the general framework of abstract numeration systems built on languages that are not necessarily regular. This formalism encompasses in particular the rational base numeration systems, which have been recently introduced by S. Akiyama, Ch. Frougny, and J. Sakarovitch. Finally, we ended with a list of open questions in the continuation of this work./Dans cette dissertation, nous étudions et résolvons plusieurs questions autour des systèmes de numération abstraits. Chaque problème étudié fait l'objet d'un chapitre. Le premier concerne l'étude de la conservation de la reconnaissabilité par la multiplication par une constante dans des systèmes de numération abstraits construits sur des langages réguliers polynomiaux. Nous avons obtenus plusieurs résultats intéressants généralisant ceux de P. Lecomte et M. Rigo. Le deuxième problème auquel je me suis intéressée est un problème de décidabilité déjà étudié notamment par J. Honkala et A. Muchnik et ici décliné en deux nouvelles versions : les systèmes de numération de position linéaires et les systèmes de numération abstraits. Ensuite, nous nous penchons sur l'extension au cas multidimensionnel d'un résultat d'A. Maes et de M. Rigo à propos des mots infinis S-automatiques. Nous avons obtenu une caractérisation des mots S-automatiques multidimensionnels en termes de morphismes multidimensionnels (non nécessairement uniformes). Ce résultat peut être vu comme un analogue de l'extension obtenue par O. Salon d'un théorème de A. Cobham. Finalement, nous proposons un formalisme de la représentation des nombres réels dans le cadre général des systèmes de numération abstraits basés sur des langages qui ne sont pas nécessairement réguliers. Ce formalisme englobe notamment le cas des numérations en bases rationnelles introduits récemment par S. Akiyama, Ch. Frougny et J. Sakarovitch. Nous terminons par une liste de questions ouvertes dans la continuité de ce travail.

Sequences often occur in many branches of applied mathematics. Recurrence relation is a powerful tool to characterize and study sequences. Some commonly used methods for solving recurrence relations will be investigated. Many examples with applications in algorithm, combination, algebra, analysis, probability, etc, will be discussed. Finally, some well-known contest problems related to recurrence relations will be addressed.