prove that $a_n=sum_{k=1}^{n}binom{n-1}{k-1}(k-1)!a_{n-k}rightarrow a_n=n!$












0












$begingroup$


I try to prove that:
Given $a_n=sum_{k=1}^{n}binom{n-1}{k-1}(k-1)!a_{n-k},a_0 = a_1 = 1$. Prove that $a_n=n!$ for any natural $n$, by finding a combinatorics problem that fits both. any solution (combinatorial proofs)?










share|cite|improve this question











$endgroup$












  • $begingroup$
    $a_n=sum_{k=1}^{n}binom{n-1}{k-1}(k-1)!a_{n-k},a_1=1,a_0=1rightarrow a_n=n!$ really doesn't make sense. Moreover, induction proof should work !
    $endgroup$
    – Surb
    Feb 1 at 12:59












  • $begingroup$
    what doesn't make any sense? this identity is right. you can check it.
    $endgroup$
    – proven
    Feb 1 at 13:03










  • $begingroup$
    Maybe it make sense for you, but not for me ! What does mean $a_n=sum_{k=1}^{n}binom{n-1}{k-1}(k-1)!a_{n-k},a_1=1,a_0=1rightarrow a_n=n!$ ? is it a limit ?
    $endgroup$
    – Surb
    Feb 1 at 13:11












  • $begingroup$
    if n is 0, then a_n is 1. if n is 1, then a_n is 1. if n is natural and greater than 1, it is the formula with the sum. The identity claims, that the general formula of a_n is exactly n!
    $endgroup$
    – proven
    Feb 1 at 13:12












  • $begingroup$
    make sense now?
    $endgroup$
    – proven
    Feb 1 at 13:12
















0












$begingroup$


I try to prove that:
Given $a_n=sum_{k=1}^{n}binom{n-1}{k-1}(k-1)!a_{n-k},a_0 = a_1 = 1$. Prove that $a_n=n!$ for any natural $n$, by finding a combinatorics problem that fits both. any solution (combinatorial proofs)?










share|cite|improve this question











$endgroup$












  • $begingroup$
    $a_n=sum_{k=1}^{n}binom{n-1}{k-1}(k-1)!a_{n-k},a_1=1,a_0=1rightarrow a_n=n!$ really doesn't make sense. Moreover, induction proof should work !
    $endgroup$
    – Surb
    Feb 1 at 12:59












  • $begingroup$
    what doesn't make any sense? this identity is right. you can check it.
    $endgroup$
    – proven
    Feb 1 at 13:03










  • $begingroup$
    Maybe it make sense for you, but not for me ! What does mean $a_n=sum_{k=1}^{n}binom{n-1}{k-1}(k-1)!a_{n-k},a_1=1,a_0=1rightarrow a_n=n!$ ? is it a limit ?
    $endgroup$
    – Surb
    Feb 1 at 13:11












  • $begingroup$
    if n is 0, then a_n is 1. if n is 1, then a_n is 1. if n is natural and greater than 1, it is the formula with the sum. The identity claims, that the general formula of a_n is exactly n!
    $endgroup$
    – proven
    Feb 1 at 13:12












  • $begingroup$
    make sense now?
    $endgroup$
    – proven
    Feb 1 at 13:12














0












0








0





$begingroup$


I try to prove that:
Given $a_n=sum_{k=1}^{n}binom{n-1}{k-1}(k-1)!a_{n-k},a_0 = a_1 = 1$. Prove that $a_n=n!$ for any natural $n$, by finding a combinatorics problem that fits both. any solution (combinatorial proofs)?










share|cite|improve this question











$endgroup$




I try to prove that:
Given $a_n=sum_{k=1}^{n}binom{n-1}{k-1}(k-1)!a_{n-k},a_0 = a_1 = 1$. Prove that $a_n=n!$ for any natural $n$, by finding a combinatorics problem that fits both. any solution (combinatorial proofs)?







combinatorics combinatorial-proofs






share|cite|improve this question















share|cite|improve this question













share|cite|improve this question




share|cite|improve this question








edited Feb 1 at 13:29







proven

















asked Feb 1 at 12:55









provenproven

12




12












  • $begingroup$
    $a_n=sum_{k=1}^{n}binom{n-1}{k-1}(k-1)!a_{n-k},a_1=1,a_0=1rightarrow a_n=n!$ really doesn't make sense. Moreover, induction proof should work !
    $endgroup$
    – Surb
    Feb 1 at 12:59












  • $begingroup$
    what doesn't make any sense? this identity is right. you can check it.
    $endgroup$
    – proven
    Feb 1 at 13:03










  • $begingroup$
    Maybe it make sense for you, but not for me ! What does mean $a_n=sum_{k=1}^{n}binom{n-1}{k-1}(k-1)!a_{n-k},a_1=1,a_0=1rightarrow a_n=n!$ ? is it a limit ?
    $endgroup$
    – Surb
    Feb 1 at 13:11












  • $begingroup$
    if n is 0, then a_n is 1. if n is 1, then a_n is 1. if n is natural and greater than 1, it is the formula with the sum. The identity claims, that the general formula of a_n is exactly n!
    $endgroup$
    – proven
    Feb 1 at 13:12












  • $begingroup$
    make sense now?
    $endgroup$
    – proven
    Feb 1 at 13:12


















  • $begingroup$
    $a_n=sum_{k=1}^{n}binom{n-1}{k-1}(k-1)!a_{n-k},a_1=1,a_0=1rightarrow a_n=n!$ really doesn't make sense. Moreover, induction proof should work !
    $endgroup$
    – Surb
    Feb 1 at 12:59












  • $begingroup$
    what doesn't make any sense? this identity is right. you can check it.
    $endgroup$
    – proven
    Feb 1 at 13:03










  • $begingroup$
    Maybe it make sense for you, but not for me ! What does mean $a_n=sum_{k=1}^{n}binom{n-1}{k-1}(k-1)!a_{n-k},a_1=1,a_0=1rightarrow a_n=n!$ ? is it a limit ?
    $endgroup$
    – Surb
    Feb 1 at 13:11












  • $begingroup$
    if n is 0, then a_n is 1. if n is 1, then a_n is 1. if n is natural and greater than 1, it is the formula with the sum. The identity claims, that the general formula of a_n is exactly n!
    $endgroup$
    – proven
    Feb 1 at 13:12












  • $begingroup$
    make sense now?
    $endgroup$
    – proven
    Feb 1 at 13:12
















$begingroup$
$a_n=sum_{k=1}^{n}binom{n-1}{k-1}(k-1)!a_{n-k},a_1=1,a_0=1rightarrow a_n=n!$ really doesn't make sense. Moreover, induction proof should work !
$endgroup$
– Surb
Feb 1 at 12:59






$begingroup$
$a_n=sum_{k=1}^{n}binom{n-1}{k-1}(k-1)!a_{n-k},a_1=1,a_0=1rightarrow a_n=n!$ really doesn't make sense. Moreover, induction proof should work !
$endgroup$
– Surb
Feb 1 at 12:59














$begingroup$
what doesn't make any sense? this identity is right. you can check it.
$endgroup$
– proven
Feb 1 at 13:03




$begingroup$
what doesn't make any sense? this identity is right. you can check it.
$endgroup$
– proven
Feb 1 at 13:03












$begingroup$
Maybe it make sense for you, but not for me ! What does mean $a_n=sum_{k=1}^{n}binom{n-1}{k-1}(k-1)!a_{n-k},a_1=1,a_0=1rightarrow a_n=n!$ ? is it a limit ?
$endgroup$
– Surb
Feb 1 at 13:11






$begingroup$
Maybe it make sense for you, but not for me ! What does mean $a_n=sum_{k=1}^{n}binom{n-1}{k-1}(k-1)!a_{n-k},a_1=1,a_0=1rightarrow a_n=n!$ ? is it a limit ?
$endgroup$
– Surb
Feb 1 at 13:11














$begingroup$
if n is 0, then a_n is 1. if n is 1, then a_n is 1. if n is natural and greater than 1, it is the formula with the sum. The identity claims, that the general formula of a_n is exactly n!
$endgroup$
– proven
Feb 1 at 13:12






$begingroup$
if n is 0, then a_n is 1. if n is 1, then a_n is 1. if n is natural and greater than 1, it is the formula with the sum. The identity claims, that the general formula of a_n is exactly n!
$endgroup$
– proven
Feb 1 at 13:12














$begingroup$
make sense now?
$endgroup$
– proven
Feb 1 at 13:12




$begingroup$
make sense now?
$endgroup$
– proven
Feb 1 at 13:12










1 Answer
1






active

oldest

votes


















1












$begingroup$

We'll show by induction that $a_n$ is the number of permutations of $n$ elements, and it'll follow from this that $a_n = n!$.



Base: $a_0 = a_1 = 1$ is indeed the number of permutations of 0 and 1 elements respectively.



Assume $a_t$ is the number of permutations of $t$ elements for all $t < l$. Then we'll prove that $a_l$ is the number of permutations of $l$ elements.



Assume we're permuting the numbers from 1 to $n$. First, we can choose any position for the number $1$. If 1 is in position $k$, we need choose the $k-1$ from the remaining $n-1$ numbers to come before it, and we have $(k-1)!$ ways to order them. We're left with $n-k$ numbers that we ween to place after the 1, and we can do that in $(n-k)! = a_{n-k}$ ways (by induction hypothesis). Thus, we have a total of
$$sum_{k=1}^n {n - 1 choose k - 1}(k-1)!a_{n-k}$$
ways to permute $n$ numbers. By definition, this is $a_n$.






share|cite|improve this answer









$endgroup$













  • $begingroup$
    sorry, I wish a combinatorial-proof
    $endgroup$
    – proven
    Feb 1 at 15:51






  • 1




    $begingroup$
    @proven What is not combinatorial about this?
    $endgroup$
    – Todor Markov
    Feb 1 at 16:07










  • $begingroup$
    Combinatorial proofs of identities use double counting and combinatorial characterizations of binomial coefficients, powers, factorials etc.
    $endgroup$
    – proven
    Feb 1 at 16:14






  • 1




    $begingroup$
    @proven This is double counting of permutations. If your issue is with induction, I don't think it's avoidable, because the sequence is recurrent. Pretty much the only way to formally prove something about it is induction (or theorems that have themselves been proved using induction).
    $endgroup$
    – Todor Markov
    Feb 1 at 16:45












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1 Answer
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active

oldest

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1 Answer
1






active

oldest

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active

oldest

votes






active

oldest

votes









1












$begingroup$

We'll show by induction that $a_n$ is the number of permutations of $n$ elements, and it'll follow from this that $a_n = n!$.



Base: $a_0 = a_1 = 1$ is indeed the number of permutations of 0 and 1 elements respectively.



Assume $a_t$ is the number of permutations of $t$ elements for all $t < l$. Then we'll prove that $a_l$ is the number of permutations of $l$ elements.



Assume we're permuting the numbers from 1 to $n$. First, we can choose any position for the number $1$. If 1 is in position $k$, we need choose the $k-1$ from the remaining $n-1$ numbers to come before it, and we have $(k-1)!$ ways to order them. We're left with $n-k$ numbers that we ween to place after the 1, and we can do that in $(n-k)! = a_{n-k}$ ways (by induction hypothesis). Thus, we have a total of
$$sum_{k=1}^n {n - 1 choose k - 1}(k-1)!a_{n-k}$$
ways to permute $n$ numbers. By definition, this is $a_n$.






share|cite|improve this answer









$endgroup$













  • $begingroup$
    sorry, I wish a combinatorial-proof
    $endgroup$
    – proven
    Feb 1 at 15:51






  • 1




    $begingroup$
    @proven What is not combinatorial about this?
    $endgroup$
    – Todor Markov
    Feb 1 at 16:07










  • $begingroup$
    Combinatorial proofs of identities use double counting and combinatorial characterizations of binomial coefficients, powers, factorials etc.
    $endgroup$
    – proven
    Feb 1 at 16:14






  • 1




    $begingroup$
    @proven This is double counting of permutations. If your issue is with induction, I don't think it's avoidable, because the sequence is recurrent. Pretty much the only way to formally prove something about it is induction (or theorems that have themselves been proved using induction).
    $endgroup$
    – Todor Markov
    Feb 1 at 16:45
















1












$begingroup$

We'll show by induction that $a_n$ is the number of permutations of $n$ elements, and it'll follow from this that $a_n = n!$.



Base: $a_0 = a_1 = 1$ is indeed the number of permutations of 0 and 1 elements respectively.



Assume $a_t$ is the number of permutations of $t$ elements for all $t < l$. Then we'll prove that $a_l$ is the number of permutations of $l$ elements.



Assume we're permuting the numbers from 1 to $n$. First, we can choose any position for the number $1$. If 1 is in position $k$, we need choose the $k-1$ from the remaining $n-1$ numbers to come before it, and we have $(k-1)!$ ways to order them. We're left with $n-k$ numbers that we ween to place after the 1, and we can do that in $(n-k)! = a_{n-k}$ ways (by induction hypothesis). Thus, we have a total of
$$sum_{k=1}^n {n - 1 choose k - 1}(k-1)!a_{n-k}$$
ways to permute $n$ numbers. By definition, this is $a_n$.






share|cite|improve this answer









$endgroup$













  • $begingroup$
    sorry, I wish a combinatorial-proof
    $endgroup$
    – proven
    Feb 1 at 15:51






  • 1




    $begingroup$
    @proven What is not combinatorial about this?
    $endgroup$
    – Todor Markov
    Feb 1 at 16:07










  • $begingroup$
    Combinatorial proofs of identities use double counting and combinatorial characterizations of binomial coefficients, powers, factorials etc.
    $endgroup$
    – proven
    Feb 1 at 16:14






  • 1




    $begingroup$
    @proven This is double counting of permutations. If your issue is with induction, I don't think it's avoidable, because the sequence is recurrent. Pretty much the only way to formally prove something about it is induction (or theorems that have themselves been proved using induction).
    $endgroup$
    – Todor Markov
    Feb 1 at 16:45














1












1








1





$begingroup$

We'll show by induction that $a_n$ is the number of permutations of $n$ elements, and it'll follow from this that $a_n = n!$.



Base: $a_0 = a_1 = 1$ is indeed the number of permutations of 0 and 1 elements respectively.



Assume $a_t$ is the number of permutations of $t$ elements for all $t < l$. Then we'll prove that $a_l$ is the number of permutations of $l$ elements.



Assume we're permuting the numbers from 1 to $n$. First, we can choose any position for the number $1$. If 1 is in position $k$, we need choose the $k-1$ from the remaining $n-1$ numbers to come before it, and we have $(k-1)!$ ways to order them. We're left with $n-k$ numbers that we ween to place after the 1, and we can do that in $(n-k)! = a_{n-k}$ ways (by induction hypothesis). Thus, we have a total of
$$sum_{k=1}^n {n - 1 choose k - 1}(k-1)!a_{n-k}$$
ways to permute $n$ numbers. By definition, this is $a_n$.






share|cite|improve this answer









$endgroup$



We'll show by induction that $a_n$ is the number of permutations of $n$ elements, and it'll follow from this that $a_n = n!$.



Base: $a_0 = a_1 = 1$ is indeed the number of permutations of 0 and 1 elements respectively.



Assume $a_t$ is the number of permutations of $t$ elements for all $t < l$. Then we'll prove that $a_l$ is the number of permutations of $l$ elements.



Assume we're permuting the numbers from 1 to $n$. First, we can choose any position for the number $1$. If 1 is in position $k$, we need choose the $k-1$ from the remaining $n-1$ numbers to come before it, and we have $(k-1)!$ ways to order them. We're left with $n-k$ numbers that we ween to place after the 1, and we can do that in $(n-k)! = a_{n-k}$ ways (by induction hypothesis). Thus, we have a total of
$$sum_{k=1}^n {n - 1 choose k - 1}(k-1)!a_{n-k}$$
ways to permute $n$ numbers. By definition, this is $a_n$.







share|cite|improve this answer












share|cite|improve this answer



share|cite|improve this answer










answered Feb 1 at 14:15









Todor MarkovTodor Markov

2,420412




2,420412












  • $begingroup$
    sorry, I wish a combinatorial-proof
    $endgroup$
    – proven
    Feb 1 at 15:51






  • 1




    $begingroup$
    @proven What is not combinatorial about this?
    $endgroup$
    – Todor Markov
    Feb 1 at 16:07










  • $begingroup$
    Combinatorial proofs of identities use double counting and combinatorial characterizations of binomial coefficients, powers, factorials etc.
    $endgroup$
    – proven
    Feb 1 at 16:14






  • 1




    $begingroup$
    @proven This is double counting of permutations. If your issue is with induction, I don't think it's avoidable, because the sequence is recurrent. Pretty much the only way to formally prove something about it is induction (or theorems that have themselves been proved using induction).
    $endgroup$
    – Todor Markov
    Feb 1 at 16:45


















  • $begingroup$
    sorry, I wish a combinatorial-proof
    $endgroup$
    – proven
    Feb 1 at 15:51






  • 1




    $begingroup$
    @proven What is not combinatorial about this?
    $endgroup$
    – Todor Markov
    Feb 1 at 16:07










  • $begingroup$
    Combinatorial proofs of identities use double counting and combinatorial characterizations of binomial coefficients, powers, factorials etc.
    $endgroup$
    – proven
    Feb 1 at 16:14






  • 1




    $begingroup$
    @proven This is double counting of permutations. If your issue is with induction, I don't think it's avoidable, because the sequence is recurrent. Pretty much the only way to formally prove something about it is induction (or theorems that have themselves been proved using induction).
    $endgroup$
    – Todor Markov
    Feb 1 at 16:45
















$begingroup$
sorry, I wish a combinatorial-proof
$endgroup$
– proven
Feb 1 at 15:51




$begingroup$
sorry, I wish a combinatorial-proof
$endgroup$
– proven
Feb 1 at 15:51




1




1




$begingroup$
@proven What is not combinatorial about this?
$endgroup$
– Todor Markov
Feb 1 at 16:07




$begingroup$
@proven What is not combinatorial about this?
$endgroup$
– Todor Markov
Feb 1 at 16:07












$begingroup$
Combinatorial proofs of identities use double counting and combinatorial characterizations of binomial coefficients, powers, factorials etc.
$endgroup$
– proven
Feb 1 at 16:14




$begingroup$
Combinatorial proofs of identities use double counting and combinatorial characterizations of binomial coefficients, powers, factorials etc.
$endgroup$
– proven
Feb 1 at 16:14




1




1




$begingroup$
@proven This is double counting of permutations. If your issue is with induction, I don't think it's avoidable, because the sequence is recurrent. Pretty much the only way to formally prove something about it is induction (or theorems that have themselves been proved using induction).
$endgroup$
– Todor Markov
Feb 1 at 16:45




$begingroup$
@proven This is double counting of permutations. If your issue is with induction, I don't think it's avoidable, because the sequence is recurrent. Pretty much the only way to formally prove something about it is induction (or theorems that have themselves been proved using induction).
$endgroup$
– Todor Markov
Feb 1 at 16:45


















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