RUcore Resource Object
RUcore Resource Object
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TitleExperimental methods applied to the computation of integer sequences
NameRowland, Eric Samuel (author), Zeilberger, Doron (chair), Bumby, Richard (internal member), Greenfield, Stephen (internal member), Sloane, Neil (outside member), Rutgers University, Graduate School - New Brunswick,
Degree Date2009-05
Date Created2009
SubjectMathematics,
Number theory,
Combinatorial analysis
DescriptionWe apply techniques of experimental mathematics to certain problems in number theory and combinatorics. The goal in each case is to understand certain integer sequences, where foremost we are interested in computing a sequence faster than by its definition. Often this means taking a sequence of integers that is defined recursively and rewriting it without recursion as much as possible. The benefits of doing this are twofold. From the view of computational complexity, one obtains an algorithm for computing the system that is faster than the original; from the mathematical view, one obtains new information about the structure of the system.
Two particular topics are studied with the experimental method. The first is the recurrence a(n) = a(n - 1) + gcd(n, a(n - 1)), which is shown to generate primes in a certain sense. The second is the enumeration of binary trees avoiding a given pattern and extensions of this problem. In each of these problems, computing sequences quickly is intimately connected to understanding the structure of the objects and being able to prove theorems about them.
Two particular topics are studied with the experimental method. The first is the recurrence a(n) = a(n - 1) + gcd(n, a(n - 1)), which is shown to generate primes in a certain sense. The second is the enumeration of binary trees avoiding a given pattern and extensions of this problem. In each of these problems, computing sequences quickly is intimately connected to understanding the structure of the objects and being able to prove theorems about them.
NotePh.D.
NoteIncludes bibliographical references (p. 57-59)
Noteby Eric Samuel Rowland
Genretheses
Persistent URLhttp://hdl.rutgers.edu/1782.2/rucore10001600001.ETD.000051398
Languageeng
CollectionGraduate School - New Brunswick Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Organization NameRutgers, The State University of New Jersey
RightsThe author owns the copyright to this work.