Partition a Number n into k Parts: 7 Possible Solutions

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The discussion focuses on the mathematical problem of partitioning a number n into k non-zero parts, specifically examining the case of partitioning 9 into 3 parts. The user identifies a discrepancy between the combinatorial formula C(n-1, n-k) and the actual number of unique partitions, which is 7. The user highlights that permutations of the same combination (e.g., (1,1,7) and (7,1,1)) should not be counted multiple times. The conversation also touches on a generalized version of this problem and includes a code snippet that appears to be written in QBasic.

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ziad1985
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I want to partition a number n into k parts
for example 9 into 3 parts
x+y+z=9
and each element must be non zero , first look tells me it's combination with repetition.
however C(n-1,n-k) doesn't give the same number of possibilities when trying all of them.
x+y+z=9 C(8,6)=28
while trying them give only 7 possibilities
(7,1,1) (6,2,1) (5,2,2) (5,3,1) (4,4,1) (4,3,2) (3,3,3)
(1,7,1) is the same as (1,1,7) and (7,1,1) this small condition is changing the outcome , what kind of problem is this called ?
 
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ziad1985 said:
I want to partition a number n into k parts
for example 9 into 3 parts
x+y+z=9
and each element must be non zero , first look tells me it's combination with repetition.

9 into 3 positive parts, is the same as 6 into 3 nonnegative parts, which is http://www.research.att.com/~njas/sequences/A038505 (6) = 28. I don't know a term for this better than "partitioning".
 
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first thing , i didn't quiet understand what this is , plus i already stated that the number actually is 7 not 28.
any help with what I'm dealing with here?
 
if you really "partitioning" that I believe that (1,1,7), (1,7,1) and (7,1,1) are identical in this context. nCr doesn't work because you have an addition constraint namely, x+y+z=constant. There is also a generalised version of this problem where you partition a number intoN parts (not just 3) where N\geq 1. more interesting properties will ensure there too.
 
where i can i find more info regarding this ?
 
already find some stuff , but one question , in what language is this program written in?
INPUT m
DIM a(m),p(m)
FOR i = 0 TO m: p(i) = 1: NEXT i

FOR u = 2 TO m
FOR i = 0 TO m: a(i) = p(i): p(i) = 0: NEXT i
FOR j = 0 TO m STEP u
FOR k = j TO m
p(k) = p(k) + a(k-j)
NEXT k
NEXT j
NEXT u

REM
 
I think it looks like qbasic
 

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