A combinatorial interpretation of the inverse kostka matrix

The Kostka matrix K relates the. homogeneous and the Schur bases in the ring of symmetric functions where K_λ,μenumerates the number of column strict tableaux of shape λ and type μ. We make use of the Jacobi -Trudi identity to give a combinatorial interpretation for the inverse of the Kostka matrix in terms of certain types of signed rim hook tabloids. Using this interpretation, the matrix identity KK^-1=Iis given a purely combinatorial proof. The generalized Jacobi-Trudi identity itself is also shown to admit a combinatorial proof via these rim hook tabloids. A further application of our combinatorial interpretation is a simple rule for the evaluation of a specialization of skew Schur functions that arises in the computation of plethysms.