Generating function
Revision as of 19:13, 4 August 2006 by ComplexZeta (talk | contribs) (generatings functions are power series, not polynomials in general)
The idea behind generating functions is to represent a combinatorial function in terms of a power series which is equivalent for all purposes. This function is , where the coefficient of is the number of ways an event can occur.
Simple Example
If we let , then we have .
This function can be described as the number of ways we can get heads when flipping different coins.
The reason to go to such lengths is that our above polynomial is equal to (which is clearly seen due to the Binomial Theorem). By using this equation, we can rapidly uncover identities such as (let ), also .
See also
- Combinatorics
- Polynomials
- Series
- generatingfunctionology a PDF version