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TheoremStatement: Literature-sourcedProof: AI-adaptedprecheck passaudited 2026-08-26
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There is a bijection Tn→Dn for every n

Statement

For every natural number n there is a bijection

Φn:Tn⟶Dn

from the binary trees of size n (Binary trees, defined recursively, and their size) to the Dyck paths of semilength n (Dyck paths of semilength n).

Facts & Assumptions

Given: a natural number n.

[F1]

Every tree in Tn+1 is determined by an index i≤n, a left subtree in Ti and a right subtree in Tn−i (Binary trees, defined recursively, and their size).

[L1]

Every Dyck path of semilength n+1 factors uniquely as U P D Q with P∈Di and Q∈Dn−i for a unique index i≤n (Every Dyck path of semilength n+1 factors uniquely as U P D Q with P∈Di and Q∈Dn−i).

Proof

technique · induction
1.1given

[base] The set T0 has the single tree {ε} and D0 has the single empty path, so Φ0 sending {ε} to the empty path is a bijection.

1.2given

[ih] Assume that for every index j≤n a bijection Φj:Tj→Dj has already been constructed.

2.1F1step 1.2

For a tree T∈Tn+1 write its recursive data as (i,L,R) as in [F1], with L∈Ti and R∈Tn−i, and define Φn+1(T) to be the Dyck path whose step word is U, then the step word of Φi(L), then D, then the step word of Φn−i(R). This lands in Dn+1 by the defining condition on Dyck paths.

2.2L1step 1.2

For a Dyck path Q∈Dn+1, the first-return factorisation of [L1] writes Q uniquely as U P D Q′ with P∈Di and Q′∈Dn−i for a unique i≤n, so the induction hypothesis supplies unique trees L:=Φi−1(P) and R:=Φn−i−1(Q′) and therefore a unique tree T with recursive data (i,L,R). Define Ψn+1(Q):=T.

3.1L2step 2.1step 2.2discharge-induction∎

The definitions of Φn+1 and Ψn+1 undo one another: starting from a tree, the factorisation recovered from its image is the same recursive split, and starting from a Dyck path, the tree recovered from its first return rebuilds the same path. Hence Ψn+1∘Φn+1=ΔTn+1 and Φn+1∘Ψn+1=ΔDn+1, so Φn+1 is a bijection by [L2].

Remarks

  • The proof is a transport of the same recursion on two different families. Binary trees split at the root into left and right subtrees; Dyck paths split at their first return into an inner and an outer path. The bijection is that identification written as a two-sided inverse.

Depends on

Used by

Dependency tree · two levels

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Sources