Exercise · ZW-STIRLING-NUMBER-OF-THE-SECOND-KIND-003 · ★☆☆ Basic

State what the Stirling number S(n,k) counts.

Choose one option.

Show answer
  • A. The partitions of n elements into k nonempty, indistinguishable blocks

Explanation

The definition is the number of partitions into nonempty, indistinguishable blocks. Sequences of k elements describe arrangements, not partitions.

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Review the concept: Stirling number of the second kind

The Stirling number of the second kind S(n,k) counts the partitions of a set of n elements into k nonempty, indistinguishable blocks.

\[S(n,k)=kS(n-1,k)+S(n-1,k-1)\]

More practice problems: stirling number of the second kind

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