Is Partition Theory Concerned with Multiples of a Number?

  • Context: Undergrad 
  • Thread starter Thread starter MathematicalPhysicist
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Partition Theory
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around whether partition theory (p.t) is concerned with the multiples of a number, particularly in relation to the concept of partitioning numbers and their sums. Participants explore the definitions and implications of partition theory, including its distinction from factorization and the calculation of partition numbers.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested
  • Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants question if partition theory includes multiples of a number, using the example of multiples of 4.
  • There is a suggestion that partition theory primarily deals with sums rather than multiples, with a distinction made between partitioning and factorization.
  • Participants discuss how to calculate the number of ways to partition a number, specifically referencing the partition of 4 and the number of partitions of 7.
  • One participant mentions two formulas related to partition theory, including an explicit formula by Hardy and Ramanujan and a recurrence relation for calculating the number of partitions.
  • Another participant shares observations about the number of partitions for various integers and notes a lack of discernible patterns in the partition numbers.
  • There is a mention of a "semi-pattern" observed in partition numbers from P(2) to P(6) being prime numbers.
  • A participant reiterates the original question regarding the relationship between partition theory and multiples, seeking clarification.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on whether partition theory encompasses multiples of a number. While some clarify that it primarily focuses on sums, the question remains unresolved as to the inclusion of multiples.

Contextual Notes

Participants reference various mathematical concepts and formulas without reaching a consensus on the relationship between partition theory and multiples. The discussion includes unresolved assumptions about definitions and the scope of partition theory.

Who May Find This Useful

Readers interested in number theory, particularly those exploring partition theory, factorization, and mathematical patterns in partitions may find this discussion relevant.

MathematicalPhysicist
Science Advisor
Gold Member
Messages
4,662
Reaction score
372
does p.t concern also with the multiples of a number, for example: the multiples of 4 are 2*2 and 4*1 meaning two?

p.s
i know that partition theory is concerned in the sums of a number (the partition of 4 is 5).
 
Mathematics news on Phys.org
Originally posted by loop quantum gravity
does p.t concern also with the multiples of a number, for example: the multiples of 4 are 2*2 and 4*1 meaning two?

p.s
i know that partition theory is concerned in the sums of a number (the partition of 4 is 5).

Loop, could you simply just refresh our memories about ordinary ADDITION partition theory?

Like, how do you figure out how many ways there are to write the number seven as a sum?

You are jumping ahead too fast. I cannot even remember the addition part.

I think that you would call the multiplication analog of that a theory of "factorization"
like how many ways can you factorize the number 24?
and I think that the main results having to do with factorization are theorems about prime numbers and prime factorization.
It would be a separate thing from the additive business you call "partitioning".

Partitioning is interesting in its own right. Even if you allow zero as a number and even if you count 2+3 and 3+2 as two separate partitions of 5. That is, you take account of the the order. I assume you know the "binomial coefficient" written as two numbers N and k in parens
and pronounced "N choose k"

/N\
\k/

and calculated N!/(k!(N-k)!)

You say "the partition of 4 is 5". How do you calculate that?
I don't happen to know a formula. Am not altogether sure what is meant either

4, 1+3, 2+2, 1+1+2, 1+1+1+1

well that is 5 all right

1 partition into one piece
2 partition into 2 pieces
1 partition into 3 pieces
1 partition into 4 pieces
adds up to 5 in all

you happen to know a formula?
 
partition theory doesn't account for order and you are right about the partition of four.
there are two formulas (or at least that's what i understand from this webpage: http://www.google.co.il/search?q=cache:yyMgmLqywAgJ:www.iwu.edu/~mdancs/teaching/m389/lecture_notes/Lecture_03_24.pdf+formula+in+partition+theory&hl=iw&ie=UTF-8 ):
1. an explicit formula given by hardy and ramanujan (which is given in the webpage above).
2. the second one is: p(n){the number of partitions}=p(n-1)+p(n-2)-p(n-5)-p(n-7)+p(n-12)+p(n-15)-p(n-22)-p(n-26)+...

that's all for now...
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Originally posted by loop quantum gravity
partition theory doesn't account for order and you are right about the partition of four.
there are two formulas (or at least that's what i understand from this webpage: http://www.google.co.il/search?q=cache:yyMgmLqywAgJ:www.iwu.edu/~mdancs/teaching/m389/lecture_notes/Lecture_03_24.pdf+formula+in+partition+theory&hl=iw&ie=UTF-8 ):
1. an explicit formula given by hardy and ramanujan (which is given in the webpage above).
2. the second one is: p(n){the number of partitions}=p(n-1)+p(n-2)-p(n-5)-p(n-7)+p(n-12)+p(n-15)-p(n-22)-p(n-26)+...

that's all for now...

Thanks, it is an interesting topic
I went to the webpage you suggested----lecture notes
by Michael Dancs for a number theory course
http://www.iwu.edu/~mdancs/teaching/m389/
and also tried a google search myself [formula partition function]
coming up with Eric Weisstein's MathWorld

Great people like Euler and Ramanujan have worked on the
partition function---most facts about it seem hard. But one source mentioned an easy fact. Did you see this?

"The number of partitions of N into exactly m parts is the same
as the number of partitions of N into parts with maximum size m."

There are 2 partitions of 5 into 2 parts, namely (4+1, 3+2)
and also 2 partitions of 5 with maximum=2, namely (2+2+1, 2+1+1+1)

There are 4 partitions of 7 into 3 parts, namely (5+1+1, 4+2+1, 4+1+1+1, 3+3+1)
and also 4 partitions of 7 with max=3, namely (3+3+1, 3+2+2, 3+2+1+1, 3+1+1+1+1)


I calculated the first 10 partition numbers to see if I could detect a pattern, but I could not see one:

P1 = 1
P2 = 2
P3 = 3
P4 = 5
P5 = 7
P6 = 11
P7 = 15
P8 = 22
P9 = 30
P10 = 42
 
Last edited by a moderator:
there's a "semi-pattern" from p(2) to p(6) the partitions are prime numbers.
 
so marcus, you didnt answer my original question:"does p.t concern also with the multiples of a number"? do you know?
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 17 ·
Replies
17
Views
2K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
3K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
3K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
3K