Helper function to count the number of non-empty elements in a validated array.
Danger: This is only safe to call if the input arrays have been "validated" (dense lhs, empty rhs).
All elements before the first empty element are non-empty
All elements after and including the first empty element are empty
The array forms a contiguous sequence of non-empty elements followed by empty elements
Helper function to count the number of non-empty elements in a validated array. Danger: This is only safe to call if the input arrays have been "validated" (dense lhs, empty rhs).