Enumeration of sequences of given specification according to rises,falls and maxima

Letn = (a₁.a₂ … a_N) denote a sequence of integers a_i={1.2.…n}. A rise is a part a_i.a_i+1 with a_i <a_i+1: a fall is a pair with a_ia_i+1: a level is a pair with a_i = a_i+1. A maximum is a triple a_i-1.a_ia_i+1 with a_i-1?a_i.a_i?a_i+1. If e_i is the number of a_j?n witha_j = i, then [e₁…e_n] is called the specification of n. In addition, a conventional rise is counted to the left of a₁ and a conventional fall to the right of a_N: ifa₁?a₂, then a₁ is counted as a conventional maximum, similarly if a_N-1 ? a_N thena_N is a conventional maximum. Simon Newcomb's problem is to find the number of sequences n with given specification and r rises; the refined problem of determining the number of sequences of given specification with r rises and s falls has also been solved recently. The present paper is concerned with the problem of finding the number of sequences of given specification with r rises, s falls. λ levels and λ maxima. A generating function for this enumerant is obtained as the quotient of two continuants. In certain special cases this result simplifies considerably.