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Questions tagged [integer-partitions]

Use this tag for questions related to ways of writing a positive integer as a sum of positive integers.

89 votes
4 answers
165k views

Number of ways to write n as a sum of k nonnegative integers

How many ways can I write a positive integer $n$ as a sum of $k$ nonnegative integers up to commutativity? For example, I can write $4$ as $0+0+4$, $0+1+3$, $0+2+2$, and $1+1+2$. I know how to find ...
Yellow's user avatar
  • 901
63 votes
1 answer
2k views

Why are asymptotically one half of the integer compositions gap-free?

Question summary The number of gap-free compositions of $n$ can already for quite small $n$ be very well approximated by the total number of compositions of $n$ divided by $2$. This question seeks ...
Daniel R's user avatar
  • 3,199
36 votes
3 answers
2k views

Very curious properties of ordered partitions relating to Fibonacci numbers

I came across some interesting propositions in some calculations I did and I was wondering if someone would be so kind as to provide some explanations of these phenomenon. We call an ordered ...
Thomas's user avatar
  • 361
35 votes
7 answers
27k views

Making Change for a Dollar (and other number partitioning problems)

I was trying to solve a problem similar to the "how many ways are there to make change for a dollar" problem. I ran across a site that said I could use a generating function similar to the ...
Peter's user avatar
  • 465
34 votes
0 answers
710 views

Visualizing the Partition numbers (suggestions for visualization techniques)

So Ken Ono says that the partition numbers behave like fractals, in which case I'd like to try to find an appropriately illuminating way of visualizing them. But I'm sort of stuck at the moment, so ...
graveolensa's user avatar
  • 5,698
33 votes
5 answers
57k views

Counting bounded integer solutions to $\sum_ia_ix_i\leqq n$

I want to find the number of nonnegative integer solutions to $$x_1+x_2+x_3+x_4=22$$ which is also the number of combinations with replacement of $22$ items in $4$ types. How do I apply stars and bars ...
Partly Putrid Pile of Pus's user avatar
27 votes
1 answer
34k views

The number of partitions of $n$ into distinct parts equals the number of partitions of $n$ into odd parts

This seems to be a common result. I've been trying to follow the bijective proof of it, which can be found easily online, but the explanations go over my head. It would be wonderful if you could give ...
rapidash's user avatar
  • 497
27 votes
1 answer
1k views

Feeding real or even complex numbers to the integer partition function $p(n)$?

Like most people, when I first encountered $n!$ in grade school, I graphed it, then connected the dots with a smooth curve and reasoned that there must be some meaning to $\left(\frac43\right)!$ — and,...
futurebird's user avatar
  • 6,268
24 votes
1 answer
1k views

Ellipse 3-partition: same area and perimeter

Inspired by the question, "How to partition area of an ellipse into odd number of regions?," I ask for a partition an ellipse into three convex pieces, each of which has the same area and the same ...
Joseph O'Rourke's user avatar
21 votes
3 answers
3k views

Closed-form Expression of the Partition Function $p(n)$

I feel like I have seen news that a paper was recently published, at most a few months ago, that solved the well-known problem of finding a closed-form expression for the partition function $p(n)$ ...
Jérémie's user avatar
  • 364
20 votes
1 answer
1k views

On the inequality $\frac{1+p(1)+p(2) + \dots + p(n-1)}{p(n)} \leq \sqrt {2n}.$

For all positive integers $n$, $p(n)$ is the number of partitions of $n$ as the sum of positive integers (the partition numbers); e.g. $p(4)=5$ since $4=1+1+1+1=1+1+2=1+3=2+2=4.$ Prove ...
jack's user avatar
  • 1,256
20 votes
1 answer
4k views

Partition of ${1, 2, ... , n}$ into subsets with equal sums.

The following is one of the old contest problems (22nd All Soviet Union Math Contest, 1988). Let $m, n, k$ be positive integers such that $m \ge n$ and $1 + 2 + ... + n = mk$. Prove that the numbers $...
stein's user avatar
  • 383
19 votes
3 answers
101k views

Number of possible combinations of x numbers that sum to y

I want to find out the number of possible combinations of $x$ numbers that sum to $y$. For example, I want to calculate all combination of 5 numbers, which their sum equals to 10. An asymptotic ...
Ho1's user avatar
  • 293
19 votes
1 answer
1k views

Can we partition the reciprocals of $\mathbb{N}$ so that each sum equals 1

Let $S = \{1, 1/2,1/3,\dots\}$ Can we find a partition $P$ of $S$ so that each part sums to 1, e.g. $$P_1 = {1}$$ $$P_2 = { 1/2,1/5,1/7,1/10,1/14,1/70}$$ $$P_3 = {1/3,1/4,1/6,1/9,1/12,1/18}$$ $$P_4 = \...
AndroidBeginner's user avatar
18 votes
6 answers
9k views

Prime Partition

A prime partition of a number is a set of primes that sum to the number. For instance, {2 3 7} is a prime partition of $12$ because $2 + 3 + 7 = 12$. In fact, there ...
user448810's user avatar
17 votes
2 answers
7k views

Partitioning a natural number $n$ in order to get the maximum product sequence of its addends

Suppose we have a natural number $n \ge 0$. Given natural numbers $\alpha_1,\ldots,\alpha_k$ such that $k\le n$ $\sum_i \alpha_i = n$ what is the maximum value that $\Pi_i \alpha_i$ can take? I'm ...
Paolo Parisen T.'s user avatar
17 votes
1 answer
4k views

Demystifying the asymptotic expression for the partition function

A partition of an integer $n$ is a way of writing $n$ as a sum of integers. The partition function $p(n)$ counts the number of distinct partitions of $n$. In 1918, Hardy and Ramanujan proved the ...
user avatar
17 votes
2 answers
562 views

Permutation induced by a partition

Let $\lambda$ be a partition of length $n$ and suppose its largest diagonal block, the Durfee square of $\lambda$, has size $r$. By this I mean that $\lambda = (\lambda_1,\ldots,\lambda_n)$ is a non-...
Pedro's user avatar
  • 123k
17 votes
0 answers
255 views

For what $n$ can $\{1, 2,\ldots, n\}$ be partitioned into equal-sized sets $A$, $B$ such that $\sum_{k\in A}k^p=\sum_{k\in B}k^p$ for $p=1, 2, 3$?

This is a recent problem in American Mathematical Monthly. The deadline for this question just passed: $\textbf{Problem:}$ For which positive integers $n$ can $\{1,2,3,...,n\}$ be partitioned into ...
Aritro Pathak's user avatar
15 votes
2 answers
4k views

Identity involving partitions of even and odd parts.

First, denote by $p_E(n)$ be the number of partitions of $n$ with an even number of parts, and let $p_O(n)$ be those with an odd number of parts. Moreover, let $p_{DO}(x)$ be the number of partitions ...
seungyeon's user avatar
  • 153
15 votes
2 answers
373 views

A question on partitions of n

Let $P$ be the set of partitions of $n$. Let $\lambda$ denote the shape of a particular partition. Let $f_\lambda(i)$ be the frequency of $i$ in $\lambda$ and let $a_\lambda(i) := \# \lbrace j : f_\...
ReasonWheel's user avatar
15 votes
5 answers
14k views

Algorithm for generating integer partitions up to a certain maximum length

I'm looking for a fast algorithm for generating all the partitions of an integer up to a certain maximum length; ideally, I don't want to have to generate all of them and then discard the ones that ...
Will Vousden's user avatar
15 votes
5 answers
36k views

Count the number of integer solutions to $x_1+x_2+\cdots+x_5=36$ [duplicate]

How to count the number of integer solutions to $x_1+x_2+\cdots+x_5=36$ such that $x_1\ge 4,x_3 = 11,x_4\ge 7$ And how about $x_1\ge 4, x_3=11,x_4\ge 7,x_5\le 5$ In both cases, $x_1,x_2,x_3,x_4,...
geraldgreen's user avatar
  • 2,060
14 votes
3 answers
20k views

Integer partition of n into k parts recurrence

I was learning integer partition of a number n into k parts(with minimum 1 in each part) and came across this recurrence : part(n,k) = part(n-1,k-1) + part(n-k,k) ...
rahulkhairwar's user avatar
14 votes
6 answers
2k views

How solutions of distinct non-negative solutions are there to $k_1+\cdots+k_n=k$?

How many distinct $n$-tuples with distinct non-negative integer elements are there that add to $k$. For example there are $6$ triples that add to $4$. Namely $(0, 1, 3)$ and its $6$ permutations. Is ...
Ali Caglayan's user avatar
  • 5,756
14 votes
2 answers
5k views

For what coinage systems does a greedy algorithm not work in providing change?

For the United States coinage system, a greedy algorithm nicely allows for an algorithm that provides change in the least amount of coins. However, for a coinage system with 12 cent coins, a greedy ...
David Faux's user avatar
  • 3,445
13 votes
2 answers
2k views

Number of ways to represent any N as sum of odd numbers? [duplicate]

I was solving some basic Math Coding Problem and found that For any number $N$, the number of ways to express $N$ as sum of Odd Numbers is $Fib[N]$ where $Fib$ is Fibonnaci , I don't have a valid ...
Kartik Bhatia's user avatar
13 votes
2 answers
9k views

Counting integer partitions of n into exactly k distinct parts size at most M

How can I find the number of partitions of $n$ into exactly $k$ distinct parts, where each part is at most $M$? The number of partitions $p_k(\leq M,n)$ of $n$ into at most $k$ parts, each of size at ...
siddhadev's user avatar
  • 427
13 votes
2 answers
1k views

What weights should I buy for my gym? (a case of integer partitioning)

I am trying to solve for possible combinations of weights that would be appropriate for use in my home gym. I have been told that this is a case of integer partitioning, but I am not sure how to solve ...
WeightlifterPerson's user avatar
13 votes
1 answer
987 views

Formula for evaluation of character on a transposition

Let $\lambda\vdash n$ be a partition of $n\in\mathbb N$ and $\chi=\chi_\lambda$ the corresponding irreducible character of the symmetric group $S_n$. Denote by $\lambda^t$ be the transpose of $\lambda$...
Jesko Hüttenhain's user avatar
12 votes
3 answers
19k views

Calculating integer partitions

A partition of a positive integer $n$, also called an integer partition, is a way of writing $n$ as a sum of positive integers. The number of partitions of $n$ is given by the partition function $p(n)$...
amir bahadory's user avatar
12 votes
2 answers
1k views

Error in solution of Peter Winkler "red and blue dice" puzzle?

This question relates to the solution give in Peter Winkler's Mathematical Mind-Benders to the "Red and Blue Dice" problem appearing on page $23.$ You have two sets (one red, one blue) of $...
saulspatz's user avatar
  • 53.3k
12 votes
1 answer
1k views

Bijection for $q$-binomial coefficient

Define the $q$-binomial (Gaussian) coefficient ${n+m\brack n}_q$ as the generating function for integer partitions (whose Ferrers diagrams are) fitting into a rectangle $n\times m$, i.e., for the set $...
nejimban's user avatar
  • 3,748
12 votes
2 answers
363 views

Number of ways to partition $40$ balls with $4$ colors into $4$ baskets

Suppose there are $40$ balls with $10$ red, $10$ blue, $10$ green, and $10$ yellow. All balls with the same color are deemed identical. Now all balls are supposed to be put into $4$ identical baskets, ...
sciencemonk's user avatar
11 votes
8 answers
6k views

How many ways can $133$ be written as sum of only $1s$ and $2s$

Since last week I have been working on a way, how to sum $1$ and $2$ to have $133$. So for instance we can have $133$ $1s$ or $61$ $s$2 and one and so on. Looking back to the example: if we sum: $1 + ...
jumetaj's user avatar
  • 149
11 votes
4 answers
19k views

number of ordered partitions of integer

How to evaluate the number of ordered partitions of the positive integer $ 5 $? Thanks!
com's user avatar
  • 5,622
11 votes
6 answers
3k views

Proof of the duality of the dominance order on partitions

Could anyone provide me with a nice proof that the dominance order $\leq$ on partitions of an integer $n$ satisfies the following: if $\lambda, \tau$ are 2 partitions of $n$, then $\lambda \leq \tau \...
Tom's user avatar
  • 113
11 votes
2 answers
309 views

Identity involving pentagonal numbers

Let $G_n = \tfrac{1}{2}n(3n-1)$ be the pentagonal number for all $n\in \mathbb{Z}$ and $p(n)$ be the partition function. I was trying to prove one of the Ramanujan's congruences: $$p(5n-1) = 0 \pmod 5,...
Zilin J.'s user avatar
  • 4,270
10 votes
3 answers
3k views

Number of partitions of $50$

Does someone know the number of partitions of the integer $50$? I mean, in how many ways can I write $50$ as a sum of positive integers? I know that there's a table by Euler, which is useful to know ...
xyzt's user avatar
  • 315
10 votes
2 answers
5k views

Hardy Ramanujan Asymptotic Formula for the Partition Number

I am needing to use the asymptotic formula for the partition number, $p(n)$ (see here for details about partitions). The asymptotic formula always seems to be written as, $$ p(n) \sim \frac{1}{4n\sqrt{...
owen88's user avatar
  • 4,660
10 votes
1 answer
228 views

Unexpected result on the number of permutations with a restriction.

Let $p=(p_1,p_2,\dots,p_n)$ be a weak composition of a positive integer number $n$ into $n$ non-negative integer parts and let $k_i$ be the count of the part $i$ ($i=0,1,2,\dots$) in the composition. ...
user's user avatar
  • 26.7k
10 votes
3 answers
990 views

Integer Partition Refinement in Sage

A partition of an integer $n$ is a non-decreasing list of positive integers summing to $n$. For example, $3$ can be partitioned as $1 + 1 + 1$, $1 + 2$ or just $3$, but $2 + 1$ is indistinct from $1 + ...
Austin Mohr's user avatar
  • 25.8k
9 votes
1 answer
2k views

Partition Generating Function

a) Let $$P(x)=\sum_{n=0}^{\infty} p_nx^n=1+x+2x^2+3x^3+5x^4+7x^5+11x^6+\cdots$$ be the partition generating function, and let $Q(x)=\sum_{n=0}^{\infty} q_nx^n$, where $q_n$ is the number of ...
person112358's user avatar
9 votes
2 answers
264 views

P-graph of partition elements of 100 under common divisibility relation

Given a multiset of positive integers, its P-graph is the loopless graph whose vertex set consists of those integers, any two of which are joined by an edge if they have a common divisor greater than ...
Bernardo Recamán Santos's user avatar
9 votes
2 answers
401 views

Combinatorial puzzle reminiscent of knapsack problem. Is this classic?

I have $n$ red integers $a_1,\ldots,a_n$ (not necessarily distinct), all with $1\leq a_i\leq n$. I also have $n$ blue integers $b_1,\ldots,b_n$ with same constraints. I want to show that there is a (...
phs's user avatar
  • 323
9 votes
1 answer
2k views

Recurrence for the partition numbers

I'm reading Analytic Combinatorics [PDF] book by Flajolet and Sedgewick, and I can't figure out one of the steps in the derivation of the $P_n$ — number of partitions of size $n$ (or coefficients in ...
Ivan Tarasov's user avatar
9 votes
1 answer
5k views

On problems of coins totaling to a given amount

I don't know the proper terms to type into Google, so please pardon me for asking here first. While jingling around a few coins, I realized that one nice puzzle might be to figure out which $n$ or so ...
user avatar
9 votes
3 answers
1k views

Putnam Problem: Partitioning integers with generating functions

We were given the following A-1 problem from the 2003 Putnam Competition: Let $n$ be a fixed positive integer. How many ways are there to write $n$ as a sum of positive integers, $$ n= a_1+a_2+ \...
Jemmy's user avatar
  • 1,411
9 votes
1 answer
742 views

Young projectors in Fulton and Harris

In Section 4 of Fulton and Harris' book Representation Theory, they give the definition of a Young tableau of shape $\lambda = (\lambda_1,\dots,\lambda_k)$ and then define two subgroups of $S_d$, the ...
Alex Ortiz's user avatar
  • 25.2k
9 votes
1 answer
412 views

A "binomial" generalization of harmonic numbers

For positive integers $s$ and $n$ (let's limit the generality), define $$H_s(n)=\sum_{k=1}^{n}\frac{1}{k^s},\qquad G_s(n)=\sum_{k=1}^{n}\binom{n}{k}\frac{(-1)^{k-1}}{k^s}.$$ The former is well-known; ...
metamorphy's user avatar
  • 40.1k

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