arXiv subjects

William Y. C. Chen

Publications and source records attributed to William Y. C. Chen.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

arXiv2013

Infinitely Log-monotonic Combinatorial Sequences

We introduce the notion of infinitely log-monotonic sequences. By establishing a connection between completely monotonic functions and infinitely log-monotonic sequences, we show that the sequences of the Bernoulli numbers, the Catalan numbers and the central binomial coefficients are infinitely log-monotonic. In particular, if a sequence $\{a_n\}_{n\geq 0}$ is log-monotonic of order two, then it is ratio log-concave in the sense that the sequence $\{a_{n+1}/a_{n}\}_{n\geq 0}$ is log-concave. Furthermore, we prove that if a sequence $\{a_n\}_{n\geq k}$ is ratio log-concave, then the sequence $\{\sqrt[n]{a_n}\}_{n\geq k}$ is strictly log-concave subject to a certain initial condition. As consequences, we show that the sequences of the derangement numbers, the Motzkin numbers, the Fine numbers, the central Delannoy numbers, the numbers of tree-like polyhexes and the Domb numbers are ratio log-concave. For the case of the Domb numbers $D_n$, we confirm a conjecture of Sun on the log-concavity of the sequence $\{\sqrt[n]{D_n}\}_{n\geq 1}$.

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arXiv2013

The spt-Crank for Ordinary Partitions

The spt-function $spt(n)$ was introduced by Andrews as the weighted counting of partitions of $n$ with respect to the number of occurrences of the smallest part. Andrews, Garvan and Liang defined the spt-crank of an $S$-partition which leads to combinatorial interpretations of the congruences of $spt(n)$ mod 5 and 7. Let $N_S(m,n)$ denote the net number of $S$-partitions of $n$ with spt-crank $m$. Andrews, Garvan and Liang showed that $N_S(m,n)$ is nonnegative for all integers $m$ and positive integers $n$, and they asked the question of finding a combinatorial interpretation of $N_S(m,n)$. In this paper, we introduce the structure of doubly marked partitions and define the spt-crank of a doubly marked partition. We show that $N_S(m,n)$ can be interpreted as the number of doubly marked partitions of $n$ with spt-crank $m$. Moreover, we establish a bijection between marked partitions of $n$ and doubly marked partitions of $n$. A marked partition is defined by Andrews, Dyson and Rhoades as a partition with exactly one of the smallest parts marked. They consider it a challenge to find a definition of the spt-crank of a marked partition so that the set of marked partitions of $5n+4$ and $7n+5$ can be divided into five and seven equinumerous classes. The definition of spt-crank for doubly marked partitions and the bijection between the marked partitions and doubly marked partitions leads to a solution to the problem of Andrews, Dyson and Rhoades.

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arXiv2013

Proof of a Conjecture of Hirschhorn and Sellers on Overpartitions

Let $\bar{p}(n)$ denote the number of overpartitions of $n$. It was conjectured by Hirschhorn and Sellers that $\bar{p}(40n+35)\equiv 0\ ({\rm mod\} 40)$ for $n\geq 0$. Employing 2-dissection formulas of quotients of theta functions due to Ramanujan, and Hirschhorn and Sellers, we obtain a generating function for $\bar{p}(40n+35)$ modulo 5. Using the $(p, k)$-parametrization of theta functions given by Alaca, Alaca and Williams, we give a proof of the congruence $\bar{p}(40n+35)\equiv 0\ ({\rm mod\} 5)$. Combining this congruence and the congruence $\bar{p}(4n+3)\equiv 0\ ({\rm mod\} 8)$ obtained by Hirschhorn and Sellers, and Fortin, Jacob and Mathieu, we give a proof of the conjecture of Hirschhorn and Sellers.

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arXiv2013

On Permutations with Bounded Drop Size

The maximum drop size of a permutation $π$ of $[n]=\{1,2,\ldots, n\}$ is defined to be the maximum value of $i-π(i)$. Chung, Claesson, Dukes and Graham obtained polynomials $P_k(x)$ that can be used to determine the number of permutations of $[n]$ with $d$ descents and maximum drop size not larger than $k$. Furthermore, Chung and Graham gave combinatorial interpretations of the coefficients of $Q_k(x)=x^k P_k(x)$ and $R_{n,k}(x)=Q_k(x)(1+x+\cdots+x^k)^{n-k}$, and raised the question of finding a bijective proof of the symmetry property of $R_{n,k}(x)$. In this paper, we establish a bijection $φ$ on $A_{n,k}$, where $A_{n,k}$ is the set of permutations of $[n]$ and maximum drop size not larger than $k$. The map $φ$ remains to be a bijection between certain subsets of $A_{n,k}$. %related to the symmetry property. This provides an answer to the question of Chung and Graham. The second result of this paper is a proof of a conjecture of Hyatt concerning the unimodality of polynomials in connection with the number of signed permutations of $[n]$ with $d$ type $B$ descents and the type $B$ maximum drop size not greater than $k$.

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arXiv2013

Linked Partitions and Permutation Tableaux

Linked partitions are introduced by Dykema in the study of transforms in free probability theory, whereas permutation tableaux are introduced by Steingrímsson and Williams in the study of totally positive Grassmannian cells. Let $[n]=\{1,2,\ldots,n\}$. Let $L(n,k)$ denote the set of linked partitions of $[n]$ with $k$ blocks, let $P(n,k)$ denote the set of permutations of $[n]$ with $k$ descents, and let $T(n,k)$ denote the set of permutation tableaux of length $n$ with $k$ rows. Steingrímsson and Williams found a bijection between the set of permutation tableaux of length $n$ with $k$ rows and the set of permutations of $[n]$ with $k$ weak excedances. Corteel and Nadeau gave a bijection from the set of permutation tableaux of length $n$ with $k$ columns to the set of permutations of $[n]$ with $k$ descents. In this paper, we establish a bijection between $L(n,k)$ and $P(n,k-1)$ and a bijection between $L(n,k)$ and $T(n,k)$. Restricting the latter bijection to noncrossing linked partitions, we find that the corresponding permutation tableaux can be characterized by pattern avoidance.

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arXiv2013

Proof of the Andrews-Dyson-Rhoades Conjecture on the spt-Crank

The notion of the spt-crank of a vector partition, or an $S$-partition, was introduced by Andrews, Garvan and Liang. Let $N_S(m,n)$ denote the number of $S$-partitions of $n$ with spt-crank $m$. Andrews, Dyson and Rhoades conjectured that $\{N_S(m,n)\}_m$ is unimodal for any $n$, and they showed that this conjecture is equivalent to an inequality between the rank and the crank of ordinary partitions. They obtained an asymptotic formula for the difference between the rank and the crank of ordinary partitions, which implies $N_S(m,n)\geq N_S(m+1,n)$ for sufficiently large $n$ and fixed $m$. In this paper, we introduce a representation of an ordinary partition, called the $m$-Durfee rectangle symbol, which is a rectangular generalization of the Durfee symbol introduced by Andrews. We give a proof of the conjecture of Andrews, Dyson and Rhoades by considering two cases. For $m\geq 1$, we construct an injection from the set of ordinary partitions of $n$ such that $m$ appears in the rank-set to the set of ordinary partitions of $n$ with rank not less than $-m$. The case for $m=0$ requires five more injections. We also show that this conjecture implies an inequality between the positive rank and crank moments obtained by Andrews, Chan and Kim.

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arXiv2013

Ordered Partitions Avoiding a Permutation of Length 3

An ordered partition of $[n]=\{1, 2, \ldots, n\}$ is a partition whose blocks are endowed with a linear order. Let $\mathcal{OP}_{n,k}$ be set of ordered partitions of $[n]$ with $k$ blocks and $\mathcal{OP}_{n,k}(σ)$ be set of ordered partitions in $\mathcal{OP}_{n,k}$ that avoid a pattern $σ$. Recently, Godbole, Goyt, Herdan and Pudwell obtained formulas for the number of ordered partitions of $[n]$ with 3 blocks and the number of ordered partitions of $[n]$ with $n-1$ blocks avoiding a permutation pattern of length 3. They showed that $|\mathcal{OP}_{n,k}(σ)|=|\mathcal{OP}_{n,k}(123)|$ for any permutation $σ$ of length 3, and raised the question concerning the enumeration of $\mathcal{OP}_{n,k}(123)$. They also conjectured that the number of ordered partitions of $[2n]$ with blocks of size 2 avoiding a permutation pattern of length 3 satisfied a second order linear recurrence relation. In answer to the question of Godbole, et al., we obtain the generating function for $|\mathcal{OP}_{n,k}(123)|$ and we prove the conjecture on the recurrence relation.

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arXiv2013

Ramanujan-type Congruences for Broken 2-Diamond Partitions Modulo 3

The notion of broken $k$-diamond partitions was introduced by Andrews and Paule. Let $Δ_k(n)$ denote the number of broken k-diamond partitions of $n$. They also posed three conjectures on the congruences of $Δ_2(n)$ modulo 2, 5 and 25. Hirschhorn and sellers proved the conjectures for modulo 2, and Chan proved cases of modulo 5. For the case of modulo 3, Radu and Sellers obtained an infinite family of congruences for $Δ_2(n)$. In this paper, we obtain two infinite families of congruences for $Δ_2(n)$ modulo 3 based on a formula of Radu and Sellers, the 3-dissection formula of the generating function of triangular number due to Berndt, and the properties of the $U$-operator, the $V$-operator, the Hecke operator and the Hecke eigenform. For example, we find that $Δ_2(243n+142)\equiv Δ_2(243n+223)\equiv0\pmod{3}$. The infinite family of Radu and Sellers and the two infinite families derived in this paper have two congruences in common, namely, $Δ_2(27n+16)\equivΔ_2(27n+25)\equiv0 \pmod{3}$.

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arXiv2013

Combinatorial Proof of the Inversion Formula on the Kazhdan-Lusztig R-Polynomials

Let $W$ be a Coxeter group, and for $u,v\in W$, let $R_{u,v}(q)$ be the Kazhdan-Lusztig $R$-polynomial indexed by $u$ and $v$. In this paper, we present a combinatorial proof of the inversion formula on $R$-polynomials due to Kazhdan and Lusztig. This problem was raised by Brenti. Based on Dyer's combinatorial interpretation of the $R$-polynomials in terms of increasing Bruhat paths, we reformulate the inversion formula in terms of $V$-paths. By a $V$-path from $u$ to $v$ with bottom $w$ we mean a pair $(Δ_1,Δ_2)$ of Bruhat paths such that $Δ_1$ is a decreasing path from $u$ to $w$ and $Δ_2$ is an increasing path from $w$ to $v$. We find a reflection principle on $V$-paths, which leads to a combinatorial proof of the inversion formula. Moreover, we give two applications of the reflection principle. First, we restrict this involution to $V$-paths from $u$ to $v$ with maximal length. This provides a direct interpretation for the equi-distribution property that any nontrivial interval $[u,v]$ has as many elements of even length as elements of odd length. This property was obtained by Verma in his derivation of the Möbius function of the Bruhat order. Second, using the reflection principle for the symmetric group, we obtain a refinement of the inversion formula by restricting the summation to permutations ending with a given element.

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arXiv2012

Decomposition of Triply Rooted Trees

In this paper, we give a decomposition of triply rooted trees into three doubly rooted trees. This leads to a combinatorial interpretation of an identity conjectured by Lacasse in the study of the PAC-Bayesian machine learning theory, and proved by Younsi by using the Hurwitz identity on multivariate Abel polynomials. We also give a bijection between the set of functions from $[n+1]$ to $[n]$ and the set of triply rooted trees on $[n]$, which leads to the refined enumeration of functions from $[n+1]$ to $[n]$ with respect to the number of elements in the orbit of $n+1$ and the number of periodic points.

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arXiv2012

On Pattern Avoiding Alternating Permutations

An alternating permutation of length $n$ is a permutation $π=π_1 π_2 ... π_n$ such that $π_1 < π_2 > π_3 < π_4 > ...$. Let $A_n$ denote set of alternating permutations of ${1,2,..., n}$, and let $A_n(σ)$ be set of alternating permutations in $A_n$ that avoid a pattern $σ$. Recently, Lewis used generating trees to enumerate $A_{2n}(1234)$, $A_{2n}(2143)$ and $A_{2n+1}(2143)$, and he posed several conjectures on the Wilf-equivalence of alternating permutations avoiding certain patterns. Some of these conjectures have been proved by Bóna, Xu and Yan. In this paper, we prove the two relations $|A_{2n+1}(1243)|=|A_{2n+1}(2143)|$ and $|A_{2n}(4312)|=|A_{2n}(1234)|$ as conjectured by Lewis.

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arXiv2012

Proof of Lassalle's Positivity Conjecture on Schur Functions

In the study of Zeilberger's conjecture on an integer sequence related to the Catalan numbers, Lassalle proposed the following conjecture. Let $(t)_n$ denote the rising factorial, and let $Λ_{\mathbb{R}}$ denote the algebra of symmetric functions with real coefficients. If $φ$ is the homomorphism from $Λ_{\mathbb{R}}$ to $\mathbb{R}$ defined by $φ(h_n)={1}/{((t)_nn!)}$ for some $t>0$, then for any Schur function $s_λ$, the value $φ(s_λ)$ is positive. In this paper, we provide an affirmative answer to Lassalle's conjecture by using the Laguerre-Pólya-Schur theory of multiplier sequences.

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arXiv2012

Euler's Partition Theorem with Upper Bounds on Multiplicities

We show that the number of partitions of n with alternating sum k such that the multiplicity of each part is bounded by 2m+1 equals the number of partitions of n with k odd parts such that the multiplicity of each even part is bounded by m. The first proof relies on two formulas with two parameters that are related to the four-parameter formulas of Boulet. We also give a combinatorial proof of this result by using Sylvester's bijection, which implies a stronger partition theorem. For m=0, our result reduces to Bessenrodt's refinement of Euler's Theorem. If the alternating sum and the number of odd parts are not taken into account, we are led to a connection to a generalization of Euler's theorem, which can be deduced from a theorem of Andrews on equivalent upper bound sequences of multiplicities. Analogously, we show that the number of partitions of n with alternating sum k such that the multiplicity of each even part is bounded by 2m+1 equals the number of partitions of n with k odd parts such that the multiplicity of each even part is also bounded by 2m+1. We provide a combinatorial proof as well.

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arXiv2012

Disposition Polynomials and Plane Trees

We define the disposition polynomial $R_{m}(x_1, x_2, ..., x_n)$ as $\prod_{k=0}^{m-1}(x_1+x_2+...+x_n+k)$. When $m=n-1$, this polynomial becomes the generating function of plane trees with respect to certain statistics as given by Guo and Zeng. When $x_i=1$ for $1\leq i\leq n$, $R_{m}(x_1, x_2, ..., x_n)$ reduces to the rising factorial $n(n+1)... (n+m-1)$. Guo and Zeng asked the question of finding a combinatorial proof of the formula for the generating function of plane trees with respect to the number of younger children and the number of elder children. We find a combinatorial interpretation of the disposition polynomials in terms of the number of right-to-left minima of each linear order in a disposition. Then we establish a bijection between plane trees on $n$ vertices and dispositions from ${1, 2,..., n-1}$ to ${1, 2,..., n}$ in the spirit of the Prüfer correspondence. It gives an answer to the question of Guo and Zeng, and it also provides an answer to another question of Guo and Zeng concerning an identity on the plane tree expansion of a polynomial introduced by Gessel and Seo.

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arXiv2012

On the Number of Partitions with Designated Summands

Andrews, Lewis and Lovejoy introduced the partition function PD(n) as the number of partitions of $n$ with designated summands, where we assume that among parts with equal size, exactly one is designated. They proved that PD(3n+2) is divisible by 3. We obtain a Ramanujan type identity for the generating function of PD(3n+2) which implies the congruence of Andrews, Lewis and Lovejoy. For PD(3n), Andrews, Lewis and Lovejoy showed that the generating function can be expressed as an infinite product of powers of $(1-q^{2n+1})$ times a function $F(q^2)$. We find an explicit formula for $F(q^2)$, which leads to a formula for the generating function of PD(3n). We also obtain a formula for the generating function of PD(3n+1). Our proofs rely on Chan's identity on Ramanujan's cubic continued fraction and some identities on cubic theta functions. By introducing a rank for the partitions with designed summands, we give a combinatorial interpretation of the congruence of Andrews, Lewis and Lovejoy.

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arXiv2012

Context-free Grammars and Multivariate Stable Polynomials over Stirling Permutations

Recently, Haglund and Visontai established the stability of the multivariate Eulerian polynomials as the generating polynomials of the Stirling permutations, which serves as a unification of some results of Bóna, Brenti, Janson, Kuba, and Panholzer concerning Stirling permutations. Let $B_n(x)$ be the generating polynomials of the descent statistic over Legendre-Stirling permutations, and let $T_n(x)=2^nC_n(x/2)$, where $C_n(x)$ are the second-order Eulerian polynomials. Haglund and Visontai proposed the problems of finding multivariate stable refinements of the polynomials $B_n(x)$ and $T_n(x)$. We obtain context-free grammars leading to multivariate stable refinements of the polynomials $B_n(x)$ and $T_n(x)$. Moreover, the grammars enable us to obtain combinatorial interpretations of the multivariate polynomials in terms of Legendre-Stirling permutations and marked Stirling permutations. Such stable multivariate polynomials provide solutions to two problems posed by Haglund and Visontai.

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arXiv2012

Congruences of Multipartition Functions Modulo Powers of Primes

Let $p_r(n)$ denote the number of $r$-component multipartitions of $n$, and let $S_{γ,λ}$ be the space spanned by $η(24z)^γϕ(24z)$, where $η(z)$ is the Dedekind's eta function and $ϕ(z)$ is a holomorphic modular form in $M_λ({\rm SL}_2(\mathbb{Z}))$. In this paper, we show that the generating function of $p_r(\frac{m^k n +r}{24})$ with respect to $n$ is congruent to a function in the space $S_{γ,λ}$ modulo $m^k$. As special cases, this relation leads to many well known congruences including the Ramanujan congruences of $p(n)$ modulo $5,7,11$ and Gandhi's congruences of $p_2(n)$ modulo 5 and $p_{8}(n)$ modulo 11. Furthermore, using the invariance property of $S_{γ,λ}$ under the Hecke operator $T_{\ell^2}$, we obtain two classes of congruences pertaining to the $m^k$-adic property of $p_r(n)$.

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arXiv2012

On 021-Avoiding Ascent Sequences

Ascent sequences were introduced by Bousquet-Mélou, Claesson, Dukes and Kitaev in their study of $(\bf{2+2})$-free posets. An ascent sequence of length $n$ is a nonnegative integer sequence $x=x_{1}x_{2}... x_{n}$ such that $x_{1}=0$ and $x_{i}\leq \asc(x_{1}x_{2}...x_{i-1})+1$ for all $1<i\leq n$, where $\asc(x_{1}x_{2}...x_{i-1})$ is the number of ascents in the sequence $x_{1}x_{2}... x_{i-1}$. We let $\cA_n$ stand for the set of such sequences and use $\cA_n(p)$ for the subset of sequences avoiding a pattern $p$. Similarly, we let $S_{n}(τ)$ be the set of $τ$-avoiding permutations in the symmetric group $S_{n}$. Duncan and Steingr\'ımsson have shown that the ascent statistic has the same distribution over $\cA_n(021)$ as over $S_n(132)$. Furthermore, they conjectured that the pair $(\asc, \rlm)$ is equidistributed over $\cA_n(021)$ and $S_n(132)$ where $\rlm$ is the right-to-left minima statistic. We prove this conjecture by constructing a bistatistic-preserving bijection.

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