Exercise · ZW-STIRLING-NUMBER-OF-THE-SECOND-KIND-004 · ★☆☆ Basic

What is the value of \(S(n,1)\) for \(n\ge 1\)?

Choose one option.

Show answer
  • D. 1

Explanation

With a single block, all elements stay together, and there is only one possible partition. The option 2^n counts subsets, not partitions into one block.

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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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