Stirling numbers - hard proofs

In summary, Stirling numbers are mathematical numbers named after James Stirling that have applications in combinatorial problems, and they can be generalized to higher dimensions. Proving them is difficult due to complex identities and requiring advanced techniques. They are related to other concepts such as binomial coefficients and have practical applications in fields such as physics and computer science.
  • #1
Meekah
2
0
I have problem with prooving those two identities. Any help would be much appriciated!

Show that:

a)
[tex]\begin{Bmatrix}

m+n+1\\ m

\end{Bmatrix}

= \sum_{k=0}^{m} k \begin{Bmatrix}

n+k\\k

\end{Bmatrix}
[/tex]

b)[tex]
\sum_{k=0}^{n} \begin{pmatrix}

n\\k

\end{pmatrix}

\begin{Bmatrix}

k\\m

\end{Bmatrix}

= \begin{Bmatrix}

n+1\\m+1

\end{Bmatrix}

[/tex]

Where:
\begin{Bmatrix}

k\\m

\end{Bmatrix}
is a Stirling number of the second kind.
 
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  • #2
what have u tried?
 

1. What are Stirling numbers and why are they important?

Stirling numbers are a set of mathematical numbers that arise in a variety of combinatorial problems. They are named after the Scottish mathematician James Stirling and have applications in fields such as probability, number theory, and statistics.

2. What makes proving Stirling numbers difficult?

The main challenge in proving Stirling numbers is that they involve complex combinatorial identities and require advanced mathematical techniques, such as induction, to be proven rigorously.

3. Can Stirling numbers be generalized to higher dimensions?

Yes, Stirling numbers can be generalized to higher dimensions, known as Stirling numbers of the second kind, which are used to count the number of ways to partition a set into k non-empty subsets.

4. How are Stirling numbers related to other mathematical concepts?

Stirling numbers have connections to other mathematical concepts, such as binomial coefficients, Bell numbers, and Eulerian numbers. They also have applications in the study of permutations and combinations.

5. Are there any practical applications of Stirling numbers?

Yes, Stirling numbers have practical applications in various fields such as physics, chemistry, and computer science. They are used to model and solve problems involving combinations, partitions, and probabilities.

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