The Hillman-Grassl correspondence and the enumeration of reverse plane partitions

Hillman and Grassl have devised a correspondence between reverse plane partitions and nonnegative integer arrays of the same shape that allowed them to easily enumerate reverse plane partitions and provided a combinatorial connection between hook lengths and plane partitions. In this work, a collection of properties of this correspondence are presented, including two characterizations that relate this map to the familiar Schensted-Knuth correspondence. These properties are used to derive simple expressions for the generating functions of reverse plane partitions and symmetric reverse plane partitions with respect to sums along the diagonals. Equally general results are obtained for shifted reverse plane partitions using a new type of hook, thereby proving a conjecture of Stanley.     

Bivariate segment approximation and splines

The problem to determine partitions of a given rectangle which are optimal for segment approximation (e.g., by bivariate piecewise polynomials) is investigated. We give criteria for optimal partitions and develop algorithms for computing optimal partitions of certain types. It is shown that there is a surprising relationship between various types of optimal partitions. In this way, we obtain good partitions for interpolation by tensor product spline spaces. Our numerical examples show that the methods work efficiently.     

Pattern Avoidance in Ordered Set Partitions

In this paper we consider the enumeration of ordered set partitions avoiding a permutation pattern of length 2 or 3. We provide an exact enumeration for avoiding the permutation 12. We also give exact enumeration for ordered partitions with 3 blocks and ordered partitions with n?1 blocks avoiding a permutation of length 3. We use enumeration schemes to recursively enumerate 123-avoiding ordered partitions with any block sizes. Finally, we give some asymptotic results for the growth rates of the number of ordered set partitions avoiding a single pattern; including a Stanley-Wilf type result that exhibits existence of such growth rates.     

Hall-Littlewood Polynomials and Cohen-Lenstra Heuristics for Jacobians of Random Graphs

Cohen-Lenstra heuristics for Jacobians of random graphs give rise to random partitions. We connect these random partitions to the Hall-Littlewood polynomials of symmetric function theory, and use this connection to give combinatorial proofs of properties of these random partitions. In addition, we use Markov chains to give an algorithm for generating these partitions.     

Classification of partitions of all triples on ten points into copies of Fano and affine planes

We continue our study of partitions of the full set of triples chosen from a v-set into copies of the Fano plane PG(2,2) (Fano partitions) or copies of the affine plane AG(2,3) (affine partitions) or into copies of both of these planes (mixed partitions). The smallest cases for which such partitions can occur are v=8 where Fano partitions exist, v=9 where affine partitions exist, and v=10 where both affine and mixed partitions exist. The Fano partitions for v=8 and the affine partitions for v=9 and 10 have been fully classified, into 11, two and 77 isomorphism classes, respectively. Here we classify (1) the sets of i pairwise disjoint affine planes for i=1,…,7, and (2) the mixed partitions for v=10 into their 22 isomorphism classes. We consider the ways in which these partitions relate to the large sets of AG(2,3).     

Localizing combinatorial properties of partitions

The purpose of this paper is to develop a framework for the analysis of combinatorial properties of partitions. Our focus is on the relation between global properties of partitions and their localization to subpartitions. First, we study properties that are characterized by their local behavior. Second, we determine sufficient conditions for classes of partitions to have a member that has a given property. These conditions entail the possibility of being able to move from an arbitrary partition in the class to one that satisfies the given property by sequentially satisfying local variants of the property. We apply our approach to several properties of partitions that include consecutiveness, nestedness, order-consecutiveness, full nestedness and balancedness, and we demonstrate its usefulness in determining the existence of optimal partitions that satisfy such properties.     

Enumeration of bilaterally symmetric 3-noncrossing partitions

Schützenberger’s theorem for the ordinary RSK correspondence naturally extends to Chen et al.’s correspondence for matchings and partitions. Thus the counting of bilaterally symmetric k-noncrossing partitions naturally arises as an analogue for involutions. In obtaining the analogous result for 3-noncrossing partitions, we use a different technique to develop a Maple package for 2-dimensional vacillating lattice walk enumeration problems. The package also applies to the hesitating case. As applications, we find several interesting relations for some special bilaterally symmetric partitions.     

Multiplicative Properties of the Number of <Emphasis Type="Italic">k</Emphasis>-Regular Partitions

In a previous paper of the second author with K. Ono, surprising multiplicative properties of the partition function were presented. Here, we deal with k-regular partitions. Extending the generating function for k-regular partitions multiplicatively to a function on k-regular partitions, we show that it takes its maximum at an explicitly described small set of partitions, and can thus easily be computed. The basis for this is an extension of a classical result of Lehmer, from which an inequality for the generating function for k-regular partitions is deduced which seems not to have been noticed before.     

Integrals, partitions and MacMahon's Theorem

In two previous papers, the study of partitions with short sequences has been developed both for its intrinsic interest and for a variety of applications. The object of this paper is to extend that study in various ways. First, the relationship of partitions with no consecutive integers to a theorem of MacMahon and mock theta functions is explored independently. Secondly, we derive in a succinct manner a relevant definite integral related to the asymptotic enumeration of partitions with short sequences. Finally, we provide the generating function for partitions with no sequences of length K and part exceeding N.     

The lattice of integer partitions and its infinite extension

In this paper, we use a simple discrete dynamical model to study integer partitions and their lattice. The set of reachable configurations of the model, with the order induced by the transition rule defined on it, is the lattice of all partitions of a positive integer, equipped with a dominance ordering. We first explain how this lattice can be constructed by an algorithm in linear time with respect to its size by showing that it has a self-similar structure. Then, we define a natural extension of the model to infinity, which we compare with the Young lattice. Using a self-similar tree, we obtain an encoding of the obtained lattice which makes it possible to enumerate easily and efficiently all the partitions of a given integer. This approach also gives a recursive formula for the number of partitions of an integer, and some informations on special sets of partitions, such as length bounded partitions.     

Partitioning Sets of Triples into Small Planes

We study partitions of the set of all ₃ ^v triples chosen from a v-set intopairwise disjoint planes with three points per line. Our partitions may contain copies of PG(2,2) only (Fano partitions) or copies of AG(2, 3) only (affine partitions)or copies of some planes of each type (mixed partitions).We find necessary conditions for Fano or affine partitions to exist. Such partitions are already known in severalcases: Fano partitions for v = 8 and affine partitions for v = 9 or 10. We constructsuch partitions for several sporadic orders, namely, Fano partitions for v = 14, 16, 22, 23, 28, andan affine partition for v = 18. Using these as starter partitions, we prove that Fano partitionsexist for v = 7 ⁿ + 1, 13 ⁿ + 1,27 ⁿ + 1, and affine partitions for v = 8 ⁿ + 1,9 ⁿ + 1, 17 ⁿ + 1. In particular, both Fano and affine partitionsexist for v = 3⁶ⁿ + 1. Using properties of 3-wise balanced designs, weextend these results to show that affine partitions also exist for v = 3²ⁿ .Similarly, mixed partitions are shown to exist for v = 8 ⁿ ,9 ⁿ , 11 ⁿ + 1.     

A symmetrical plane partition correspondence

MacMahon conjectured the form of the generating function for symmetrical plane partitions, and as a special case deduced the following theorem. The set of partitions of a number n whose part magnitude and number of parts are both no greater than m is equinumerous with the set of symmetrical plane partitions of 2n whose part magnitude does not exceed 2 and whose largest axis does not exceed m. This theorem, together with a companion theorem for the symmetrical plane partitions of odd numbers, are proved by establishing 1-1 correspondences between the sets of partitions.     

On graphical partitions and planarity

Chvátal gave a necessary condition for a partition to have a planar realization. It is of interest to find: (i) partitions which satisfy the condition of the theorem but have no planar realization, and also (ii) partitions which satisfy the condition and have only planar realizations. We give a list of all such partitions with 6, 7, 8 and 9 elements. We also give an algorithm for generating all graphs with a given partition, an algorithm for generating all subcompositions of a given composition and some general classes of partitions which have planar realizations only and some which have non-planar realizations only.     

Combinatorial interpretations of congruences for the spt-function

Let spt(n) denote the total number of appearances of the smallest parts in all the partitions of n. In 1988, the second author gave new combinatorial interpretations of Ramanujan’s partition congruences mod 5, 7 and 11 in terms of a crank for weighted vector partitions. In 2008, the first author found Ramanujan-type congruences for the spt-function mod 5, 7 and 13. We give new combinatorial interpretations of the spt-congruences mod 5 and 7. These are in terms of the same crank but for a restricted set of vector partitions. The proof depends on relating the spt-crank with the crank of vector partitions and the Dyson rank of ordinary partitions. We derive a number of identities for spt-crank modulo 5 and 7. We prove the surprising result that all the spt-crank coefficients are nonnegative.     

Gray Codes,Loopless Algorithm and Partitions

The generation of efficient Gray codes and combinatorial algorithms that list all the members of a combinatorial object has received a lot of attention in the last few years. Knuth gave a code for the set of all partitions of [n] = {1,2,...,n}. Ruskey presented a modified version of Knuth’s algorithm with distance 2. Ehrlich introduced a looplees algorithm for the set of the partitions of [n]; Ruskey and Savage generalized Ehrlich’s results and introduced two Gray codes for the set of partitions of [n]. In this paper, we give another combinatorial Gray code for the set of the partitions of [n] which differs from the aforementioned Gray codes. Also, we construct a different loopless algorithm for generating the set of all partitions of [n] which gives a constant time between successive partitions in the construction process.      

N-graphs,Modular Sidon and Sum-Free Sets,and Partition Identities

Using a new graphical representation for partitions, the author obtains a family of partition identities associated with partitions into distinct parts of an arithmetic progression, or, more generally, with partitions into distinct parts of a set that is a finite union of arithmetic progressions associated with a modular sum-free Sidon set. Partition identities are also constructed for sets associated with modular sum-free sets.     

A Note on Partitions into Distinct Parts and Odd Parts

Bousquet-Mélou and Eriksson showed that the number of partitions of n into distinct parts whose alternating sum is k is equal to the number of partitions of n into k odd parts, which is a refinement of a well-known result by Euler. We give a different graphical interpretation of the bijection by Sylvester on partitions into distinct parts and partitions into odd parts, and show that the bijection implies the above statement.     

Consensus of partitions : a constructive approach

Given a profile (family) ?? of partitions of a set of objects or items X, we try to establish a consensus partition containing a maximum number of joined or separated pairs in X that are also joined or separated in the profile. To do so, we define a score function, S _?? associated to any partition on X. Consensus partitions for ?? are those maximizing this function. Therefore, these consensus partitions have the median property for the profile and the symmetric difference distance. This optimization problem can be solved, in certain cases, by integer linear programming. We define a polynomial heuristic which can be applied to partitions on a large set of items. In cases where an optimal solution can be computed, we show that the partitions built by this algorithm are very close to the optimum which is reached in practically all the cases, except for some sets of bipartitions.     

Fast Algorithm for Generating Ascending Compositions

In this paper we give a fast algorithm to generate all partitions of a positive integer n. Integer partitions may be encoded as either ascending or descending compositions for the purposes of systematic generation. It is known that the ascending composition generation algorithm is substantially more efficient than its descending composition counterpart. Using tree structures for storing the partitions of integers, we develop a new ascending composition generation algorithm which is substantially more efficient than the algorithms from the literature.     

Self-conjugate partitions with the same disparity

We give a bijection between the set of ordinary partitions and that of self-conjugate partitions with some restrictions. Also, we show the relationship between hook lengths of a self-conjugate partition and its corresponding partition via the bijection. As a corollary, we give new combinatorial interpretations for the Catalan number and the Motzkin number in terms of self-conjugate simultaneous core partitions.