Partition of Integer need advice

AI Thread Summary
The discussion focuses on proving that the number of partitions of an integer n, where no summand is divisible by 4, equals the number of partitions where no even summand is repeated. The user defines two partition functions, P1(x) for the first condition and P2(x) for the second, and provides initial formulations for both. A key insight is that partitions containing multiples of four can be transformed into partitions with repeated even integers. However, the challenge arises from the non-uniqueness of the transformation, as multiple P1 partitions can correspond to the same P2 partition. The user acknowledges this issue and seeks further strategies to establish a one-to-one correspondence between the two types of partitions.
phoenixy
The Q is: show that the number of partitions of n within Z+ where no summand is divisible by 4 equals the number of partitions of n where no even summand is repeated


Here is what I got so far
Let the partition where no summand is divisible by 4 be P1(x)
Let the partition where no even summand is repeated be P2(x)

My goal is to show that P1(x) = P2(x)

P1(x) = (1+x+x^2 ... )(1+x^2+x^4 ... )(1+x^3+x^6 ...)(1+x^5+x^10 ...)...
(skip x^4, x^8, ... etc.)

P1(x) = [ let i go from 1 to infinity, the products of ( 1 / (1-x^i) ) ] /
[ let i go from 1 to infinity, the prodcuts of ( 1 / (1-x^(4i) )

P2(x) = [ (1+x^2)(1+x^4) ... ][ (1+x+x^2 ...)(1+x^3+x^6) ... ]

P2(x) = [ let i go from 1 to infinity,the products of ( 1 + x^(2i) ) ] *
[ let i go from 1 to infinity, the products of ( 1 / (1-x^(2i-1)) )



So are my equations correct? If so, how do I solve them?
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Physics news on Phys.org
I imagine finding a 1-1 correspondence between the two types of partitions might be easier.
 
As a start (but just a start, it's definitely not perfect) notice that any partition that has a multiple of four in it can be expressed as a partition that has a repeated integer. Starting with P1, a partition with multiples of 4 in it, simply replace all multiples of fours with two of their halfs, and you get P2, a parition with repeated evens. This is true because any multiple of four is in the form 2 x 2 x k for some k in N. We can clearly replace 2 x 2 x k with two of 2 x k, making 2 x k repeated, and it should be pretty clear that 2 x k is even. However, there are problems. For example, if we have P1 = {4,2,2}, then the corresponding P2 = {2,2,2,2} If we have P1 = {4,4}, the corresponding P2 = {2,2,2,2}, the same as before. This means that for each P1, there exist a P2, but that P2 is not necessarily unique to that P1. If it were, then we could nicely say that if we consider the set of all partitions, the set formed by removing all partitions with multiples of four has the same number of partitions as the set formed by removing all paritions with repeated evens, because for each partition with a multiple of four we remove, we remove one unique parition of the other type. However, this isn't true. You'll have to work around this problem; I'll think about it but this should give you a start.
 
Thread 'Collision of a bullet on a rod-string system: query'
In this question, I have a question. I am NOT trying to solve it, but it is just a conceptual question. Consider the point on the rod, which connects the string and the rod. My question: just before and after the collision, is ANGULAR momentum CONSERVED about this point? Lets call the point which connects the string and rod as P. Why am I asking this? : it is clear from the scenario that the point of concern, which connects the string and the rod, moves in a circular path due to the string...
Back
Top