Record statistics in a random composition

Arnold Knopfmacher, Toufik Mansour

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

A composition σ=a 1a 2...a m of n is an ordered collection of positive integers whose sum is n. An element a i in σ is a strong (weak) record if a i>a j (a i≥a j) for all j=1,2,...,i-1. Furthermore, the position of this record is i. We derive generating functions for the total number of strong (weak) records in all compositions of n, as well as for the sum of the positions of the records in all compositions of n, where the parts a i belong to A=[d]:=1,2,...,d or A=N. In particular when A=N, we find the asymptotic mean values for the number, and for the sum of positions of records in compositions of n.

Original languageAmerican English
Pages (from-to)593-603
Number of pages11
JournalDiscrete Applied Mathematics
Volume160
Issue number4-5
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 2012

Keywords

  • Asymptotic estimates
  • Composition
  • Generating function
  • Left-to-right maxima
  • Mellin transform
  • Record

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Discrete Mathematics and Combinatorics
  • Applied Mathematics

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Record statistics in a random composition'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this