Proving Fibonacci Number as Permutations with Restriction |p(k)-k| \leq 1

alec_tronn
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Homework Statement


Prove that the number of permutations p on the set {1,2,3,...,n} with the property that |p(k)-k| \leq 1, for all 1\leqk\leqn, is the fibonacci number f_{n}


The Attempt at a Solution


I guess I don't understand what it's asking. I thought I knew what a permutation was... but now I'm really confused. Can someone please restate this problem in a way that maybe I could understand? Thanks a lot!
 
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Consider constructing one of those permutations, to pick the first number I need to satisfy |p(1)-1|<=1. So p(1) can only be 1 or 2. Similarly p(2) can only be 1,2 or 3. p(3) can be 2,3 or 4. Etc.
 
There are two things I don't understand about this problem. First, when finding the nth root of a number, there should in theory be n solutions. However, the formula produces n+1 roots. Here is how. The first root is simply ##\left(r\right)^{\left(\frac{1}{n}\right)}##. Then you multiply this first root by n additional expressions given by the formula, as you go through k=0,1,...n-1. So you end up with n+1 roots, which cannot be correct. Let me illustrate what I mean. For this...
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