General Formulas for the Central and Non-Central Moments of the Multinomial Distribution

We present the first general formulas for the central and non-central moments of the multinomial distribution, using a combinatorial argument and the factorial moments previously obtained in Mosimann (1962). We use the formulas to give explicit expressions for all the non-central moments up to order 8 and all the central moments up to order 4. These results expand significantly on those in Newcomer (2008) and Newcomer et al. (2008), where the non-central moments were calculated up to order 4.

Generalized Jacobsthal numbers and restricted k-ary words

We consider a generalization of the problem of counting ternary words of a given length which was recently investigated by Koshy and Grimaldi [10]. In particular, we use finite automata and ordinary generating functions in deriving a k-ary generalization. This approach allows us to obtain a general setting in which to study this problem over a k-ary language. The corresponding class of n-letter k-ary words is seen to be equinumerous with the closed walks of length n − 1 on the complete graph for k vertices as well as a restricted subset of colored square-and-domino tilings of the same length. A further polynomial extension of the k-ary case is introduced and its basic properties deduced. As a consequence, one obtains some apparently new binomial-type identities via a combinatorial argument.

A multi-parameter generalization of the symmetric algorithm

The symmetric algorithm is a variant of the well-known Euler-Seidel method which has proven useful in the study of linearly recurrent sequences. In this paper, we introduce a multivariate generalization of the symmetric algorithm which reduces to it when all parameters are unity. We derive a general explicit formula via a combinatorial argument and also an expression for the row generating function. Several applications of our algorithm to the q-Fibonacci and q-hyper-Fibonacci numbers are discussed. Among our results is an apparently new recursive formula for the Carlitz Fibonacci polynomials. Finally, a (p, q)-analogue of the algorithm is introduced and an explicit formula for it in terms of the (p, q)-binomial coefficient is found.

Solutions of equations over finite fields: Enumeration via bijections

We present a simple proof of the well-known fact concerning the number of solutions of diagonal equations over finite fields. In a similar manner, we give an alternative proof of the recent result on generalizations of Carlitz equations. In both cases, the use of character sums is avoided by using an elementary combinatorial argument.

Characterisations of Elementary Pseudo-Caps and Good Eggs

In this note, we use the theory of Desarguesian spreads to investigate good eggs. Thas showed that an egg in $PG(4n-1,q)$, $q$ odd, with two good elements is elementary. By a short combinatorial argument, we show that a similar statement holds for large pseudo-caps, in odd and even characteristic. As a corollary, this improves and extends the result of Thas, Thas and Van Maldeghem (2006) where one needs at least $4$ good elements of an egg in even characteristic to obtain the same conclusion. We rephrase this corollary to obtain a characterisation of the generalised quadrangle $T_3(O)$ of Tits. Lavrauw (2005) characterises elementary eggs in odd characteristic as those good eggs containing a space that contains at least $5$ elements of the egg, but not the good element. We provide an adaptation of this characterisation for weak eggs in odd and even characteristic. As a corollary, we obtain a direct geometric proof for the theorem of Lavrauw.

Negative $q$-Stirling numbers

International audience The notion of the negative $q$-binomial was recently introduced by Fu, Reiner, Stanton and Thiem. Mirroring the negative $q$-binomial, we show the classical $q$ -Stirling numbers of the second kind can be expressed as a pair of statistics on a subset of restricted growth words. The resulting expressions are polynomials in $q$ and $(1+q)$. We extend this enumerative result via a decomposition of the Stirling poset, as well as a homological version of Stembridge’s $q=-1$ phenomenon. A parallel enumerative, poset theoretic and homological study for the $q$-Stirling numbers of the first kind is done beginning with de Médicis and Leroux’s rook placement formulation. Letting $t=1+q$ we give a bijective combinatorial argument à la Viennot showing the $(q; t)$-Stirling numbers of the first and second kind are orthogonal. La notion de la $q$-binomial négative était introduite par Fu, Reiner, Stanton et Thiem. Réfléchissant la $q$-binomial négative, nous démontrons que les classiques $q$-nombres de Stirling de deuxième espèce peuvent être exprimés comme une paire de statistiques sur un sous-ensemble des mots de croissance restreinte. Les expressions résultantes sont les polynômes en $q$ et $1+q$. Nous étendons ce résultat énumératif via une décomposition du poset de Stirling, ainsi que d’une version homologique du $q=-1$ phénomène de Stembridge. Un parallèle énumératif, poset théorique et étude homologique des $q$-nombres de Stirling de première espèce se fait en commençant par la formulation du placement des tours par suite des auteurs de Médicis et Leroux. On laisse $t=1+q$ et on donne les arguments combinatoires et bijectifs à la Viennot qui démontrent que les $(q;t)$-nombres de Stirling de première et deuxième espèces sont orthogonaux.

Enumerating Lattice Paths Touching or Crossing the Diagonal at a Given Number of Lattice Points

We give bijective proofs that, when combined with one of the combinatorial proofs of the general ballot formula, constitute a combinatorial argument yielding the number of lattice paths from $(0,0)$ to $(n,rn)$ that touch or cross the diagonal $y = rx$ at exactly $k$ lattice points. This enumeration partitions all lattice paths from $(0,0)$ to $(n,rn)$. While the resulting formula can be derived using results from Niederhausen, the bijections and combinatorial proof are new.

Yet Another Hat Game

Several different "hat games" have recently received a fair amount of attention. Typically, in a hat game, one or more players are required to correctly guess their hat colour when given some information about other players' hat colours. Some versions of these games have been motivated by research in complexity theory and have ties to well-known research problems in coding theory, and some variations have led to interesting new research. In this paper, we review Ebert's Hat Game, which garnered a considerable amount of publicity in the late 90's and early 00's, and the Hats-on-a-line Game. Then we introduce a new hat game which is a "hybrid" of these two games and provide an optimal strategy for playing the new game. The optimal strategy is quite simple, but the proof involves an interesting combinatorial argument.