Exercise · ZW-PARTITION-GENERATING-FUNCTION-007 · ★★☆ Intermediate

Using \(1+x+2x^2+3x^3+5x^4+\cdots\), what is \(p(4)\)?

Choose one option.

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  • D. 5

Explanation

The coefficient of \(x^4\) in the expansion is 5, so \(p(4)=5\). Reading the coefficient of \(x^3\) instead gives 3, and adding an extra term gives 6.

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Review the concept: Partition generating function

The partition generating function is the formal series \(\sum_{n\ge 0} p(n)\,x^n\), where \(p(n)\) counts the partitions of the integer \(n\).

\[\sum_{n\ge 0} p(n)x^n=\prod_{k\ge 1}\frac{1}{1-x^k}\]

More practice problems: partition generating function

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