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All nine derangements of a four-element set listed, and the count checked against the formula and both recurrences

Example

Take A:=4={0,1,2,3} and write a bijection f:A→A as the tuple (f(0),f(1),f(2),f(3)). The derangements of A (The derangement number Dn: the number of bijections of an n-element set with no fixed point) are exactly

(1,0,3,2)(1,2,3,0)(1,3,0,2)(2,0,3,1)(2,3,0,1)(2,3,1,0)(3,0,1,2)(3,2,0,1)(3,2,1,0)

so D4=9. Each tuple lists four distinct values, hence is a bijection, and no entry equals its position.

Against the formula. ι(Dn)=ι(n!)∑i<n+1(−1)i/ι(i!), with the term at i=0 equal to 1 and D0=1 gives

ι(D4)=ι(4!)∑i<5(−1)iι(i!)=24(1−1+12−16+124)=24⋅924=9.

Against the two recurrences. The earlier values are D0=1, D1=0, D2=1 and, by the first recurrence, D3=3 D2+(−1)3=3−1=2. Then ι(Dn)=ι(n) ι(Dn−1)+(−1)n for n≥1, and Dn=(n−1)(Dn−1+Dn−2) for n≥2 gives ι(D4)=ι(4) ι(D3)+(−1)4=4⋅2+1=9 from its first clause, and D4=3 (D3+D2)=3 (2+1)=9 from its second.

Facts & Assumptions

Given: A=4={0,1,2,3}, the tuple notation above, and the canonical natural ι (The canonical natural ι(n)=n⋅1F of a field).

[L2]

For every finite set B, Der⁡(B) is the set of bijections f:B→B with f(b)≠b for every b∈B, and ∣Der⁡(B)∣=D∣B∣; hence D4=∣Der⁡(A)∣ because ∣A∣=4 (The derangement number Dn: the number of bijections of an n-element set with no fixed point, The cardinality ∣A∣ of a finite set, clause (a)). The values D0=1, D1=0 and D2=1 are also recorded in the cited definition.

[L3]

For every n∈N, ι(Dn)=ι(n!)∑i<n+1(−1)i/ι(i!). For n≥1, ι(Dn)=ι(n)ι(Dn−1)+(−1)n; and for n≥2, Dn=(n−1)(Dn−1+Dn−2) (ι(Dn)=ι(n!)∑i<n+1(−1)i/ι(i!), with the term at i=0 equal to 1 and D0=1, ι(Dn)=ι(n) ι(Dn−1)+(−1)n for n≥1, and Dn=(n−1)(Dn−1+Dn−2) for n≥2).

[L4]

Factorials: 0!=1, 1!=1, 2!=2, 3!=6, 4!=24 (The factorial n! and the falling factorial nk‾, defined by recursion in N).

[L5]

Real finite sums and the arithmetic of R: recursion clause, additivity and scaling (Finite sums and finite products, by recursion, Laws of finite sums and finite products, Ordered field); and (−1)0=1, (−1)p+1=−(−1)p (Integer powers am).

[L6]

Cardinality of a listed set with distinct entries (The cardinality ∣A∣ of a finite set, clauses (a) and (c)).

[L7]

The canonical natural ι:N→R is additive, multiplicative and injective (Laws of finite sums and products in N, and ι(∑k<nak)=∑k<nι(ak), clauses 0 and 7).

Verification

technique · cases
1.1

Each of the nine listed tuples has four distinct entries and no entry equal to its position, so each is a derangement of A by [L1] and [L2]; and the nine tuples are pairwise distinct, so the listed set has nine elements by [L6].

givenL1L2L6
1.2

The enumeration is complete, and the cases are indexed by the value f(0), which is 1, 2 or 3 since f(0)≠0.

givenL2
2.1

Case f(0)=1. Then f(1)∈{0,2,3}. If f(1)=0 the remaining values {2,3} go to positions 2 and 3 with f(2)≠2, forcing (1,0,3,2). If f(1)=2 the remaining values are {0,3} with f(3)≠3, forcing (1,2,3,0). If f(1)=3 the remaining values are {0,2} with f(2)≠2, forcing (1,3,0,2).

assume-case onestep 1.2L2
2.2

Case f(0)=2. Then f(1)∈{0,3}. If f(1)=0 the remaining values {1,3} go to positions 2 and 3 with f(3)≠3, forcing (2,0,3,1). If f(1)=3 the remaining values are {0,1} and neither placement is excluded, giving (2,3,0,1) and (2,3,1,0).

assume-case twostep 1.2L2
2.3

Case f(0)=3. Then f(1)∈{0,2}. If f(1)=0 the remaining values {1,2} go to positions 2 and 3 with f(2)≠2, forcing (3,0,1,2). If f(1)=2 the remaining values are {0,1} and neither placement is excluded, giving (3,2,0,1) and (3,2,1,0).

assume-case threestep 1.2L2
3.1

The three cases are exhaustive and produce exactly the nine listed tuples, so D4=9.

step 1.1step 2.1step 2.2step 2.3cases-exhaustiveL2
4.1

Against the formula. By [L3] and [L4], ι(D4)=ι(24)(1−1+1/2−1/6+1/24); the bracket is 9/24 by [L5], so ι(D4)=9, matching step 3.1.

step 3.1L3L4L5
4.2

Against the recurrences. By [L2] and the first clause of [L3], ι(D3)=ι(3)ι(D2)+(−1)3=ι(3)−ι(1)=ι(2), so D3=2 by injectivity of ι. Then ι(D4)=ι(4)ι(D3)+(−1)4=ι(8)+ι(1)=ι(9); by the second clause, D4=3(D3+D2)=3⋅3=9. Both match step 3.1.

step 3.1L2L3L5L7
5.1

The list, the formula and the two recurrences therefore all give D4=9.

step 3.1step 4.1step 4.2∎

Remarks

  • The case analysis is on f(0) and then on f(1), and the remaining two positions are then forced or free according to whether the two leftover values can be placed without creating a fixed point. Where exactly one placement avoids a fixed point the tuple is determined; where both do, the subcase splits. The branching pattern therefore differs between the cases even though each contributes the same number of derangements.

  • The recurrences are checked at their first legal indices too. The first recurrence is used at n=3 and at n=4, both at least 1; the second at n=4, which is at least 2. Neither is evaluated where its hypothesis fails.

Depends on

Used by

Nothing in the library uses this result yet.

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