Question on combinatorics notation: Philosophy Forums

Question on combinatorics notation

moonlight
Lunatic

Usergroup: Members
Joined: Oct 09, 2005
Location: stuck on earth
Total Topics: 17
Total Posts: 546

Posted 04/08/08 - 09:01 AM: Subject: Question on combinatorics notation	#1
Hi, I'm reading an old combinatorics paper and the author (Ramsey) writes at one point something like: k = h(3, n, 5) Does somebody know how to read this notation? Is k a number of combinations, or of permutations, or something? Many thanks in advance for any help on this. Cordially, moonlight.
All are lunatics, but he who can analyze his delusion is called a philosopher. - Ambrose Bierce -

The Bearded Monkey
Professor

Usergroup: Members
Joined: May 02, 2003
Total Topics: 100
Total Posts: 643

Posted 04/13/08 - 07:12 AM:	#2
you know with no context to this we can't make any more than you.
i shall take the whichpath to quantum catastrophe theory.

rabeldin
Probabalistic Philosopher

Usergroup: Members
Joined: Oct 06, 2003
Location: Puerto Rico
Total Topics: 30
Total Posts: 5415

Posted 04/14/08 - 04:33 AM:	#3
Ramsey was not given to using other people's notations. I suggest that you need to need to read the text surrounding the formula cited to discover the meaning. That said, it's very possible his h(x,y,z) represents a generalization of binomial coefficients like hypergeometric coefficients. h(n,r,N) could be the number of combinations of n items drawn from a population of N which match some condition involving r, but that's just speculation.
Leave no assumption unquestioned.

You don't have permission to post.