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Showing 421–450 of 1709 reference entries

Mathematics & logicVariation of parameters for forced equations

For y″+p(x)y′+q(x)y=f(x), use independent homogeneous solutions y₁,y₂ and set yₚ=u₁y₁+u₂y₂.

Method
Mathematics & logicSubset counting and Pascal recurrence

An n-element set has 2ⁿ subsets; its k-element subsets correspond to length-n binary strings with k ones.

Mathematical statement
Mathematics & logicCharacteristic roots for second-order recurrences

For aₙ=saₙ₋₁+taₙ₋₂ with t≠0, distinct roots r₁,r₂ of r²−sr−t give aₙ=Ar₁ⁿ+Br₂ⁿ; a repeated root r gives aₙ=(A+Bn)rⁿ.

Method
Mathematics & logicResidual diagnostics and model adequacy

Residuals eᵢ=yᵢ−f(xᵢ;β̂) compare observed and fitted responses.

Method
Mathematics & logicTime-homogeneous Markov chains

A chain satisfies P(Xₙ₊₁=j|X₀,…,Xₙ)=Pᵢⱼ when Xₙ=i, where P has nonnegative entries and each row sums to one.

Model
Mathematics & logicStationarity, recurrence and Markov equilibrium

A stationary distribution is a nonnegative row vector π with Σπᵢ=1 and πP=π.

Mathematical statement
Mathematics & logicHomogeneous Poisson process

A rate-λ Poisson counting process starts at zero, has independent increments and N(t+s)−N(s) distributed Poisson(λt).

Model
Mathematics & logicStandard Brownian motion

Standard Brownian motion has B(0)=0, almost surely continuous paths and independent increments with B(t)−B(s)∼N(0,t−s) for 0≤s<t.

Model
InformationBinary search and its invariant

On a sorted random-access array, compare the target with the middle key and discard the half that cannot contain it; repeat until a matching key is found or the remaining interval is empty.

Method
InformationMerge sort and divide-and-conquer recurrence

Split an array into two nearly equal halves, sort each recursively, and merge sorted halves by repeatedly choosing the next ordered key.

Method
InformationGreedy interval scheduling and exchange proof

To maximize the number of compatible intervals, repeatedly take the available interval finishing earliest and discard overlapping intervals.

Method
InformationMinimum-spanning-tree cut property

In a connected undirected weighted graph, if a set of chosen edges lies within some minimum spanning tree and a cut crosses none of them, a lightest edge crossing that cut can be added while preserving this invariant.

Mathematical statement
InformationKruskal minimum spanning tree

Process edges in nondecreasing weight order, adding an edge exactly when its endpoints belong to different current components, then merge those components.

Method
InformationTheta and lower asymptotic bounds

For eventually nonnegative costs f,g, f=Θ(g) means c₁g(n)≤f(n)≤c₂g(n) for all sufficiently large n and constants c₁,c₂>0.

Definition
InformationPotential-method amortized cost

If operation i changes state Dᵢ₋₁ to Dᵢ, define ĉᵢ=cᵢ+Φ(Dᵢ)−Φ(Dᵢ₋₁).

Method
InformationDynamic-array doubling

Append to an array with spare capacity; when full, allocate twice the capacity and copy existing entries.

Method
Information3SAT to CLIQUE reduction

For a 3CNF formula with m clauses, make a vertex for each literal occurrence.

Method
InformationSystematic binary linear code construction

Over F₂ take H=[A|Iₘ] and G=[Iₙ₋ₘ;A].

Method
InformationSingle-bit syndrome decoding

For received r=c+e with Hc=0, syndrome Hr=He.

Method
Mathematics & logicBasis coordinates and similarity

If columns of invertible P are an ordered basis B in standard coordinates, v=P[v]B.

Method
Mathematics & logicOrthogonal projection and Gram–Schmidt

From independent real vectors v₁,…,vₖ form wⱼ=vⱼ−Σ_(i<j)[(vⱼ·wᵢ)/(wᵢ·wᵢ)]wᵢ.

Method
Mathematics & logicOne-step local error and global convergence

For uᵢ₊₁=uᵢ+hφ(tᵢ,uᵢ,h), if the exact-value one-step defect is bounded by Chᵖ⁺¹ and |∂ᵤφ|≤L, L>0, then exact initialization gives |u(tᵢ)−uᵢ|≤(Chᵖ/L)(eᴸ⁽ᵗⁱ⁻ᵃ⁾−1).

Mathematical statement
Mathematics & logicAffine transformations and invariants

An invertible affine transformation of ℝⁿ has form T(x)=Ax+b with A invertible.

Mathematical statement
Mathematics & logicEuclidean isometries and orthogonal matrices

Every distance-preserving bijection of ℝⁿ has form T(x)=Qx+b with QᵀQ=I; conversely each such map is an isometry.

Mathematical statement
Mathematics & logicEuclidean similarities

A bijection of ℝⁿ uniformly scaling all distances by s>0 is a similarity and has form T(x)=sQx+b with Q orthogonal.

Mathematical statement
Mathematics & logicSymmetry groups of Euclidean figures

The symmetries of a figure S⊂ℝⁿ are the Euclidean isometries g with g(S)=S.

Definition
Mathematics & logicJacobian change of variables

For a one-to-one C¹ transformation T mapping a planar or spatial integration region G onto R, with nonzero interior Jacobian, ∫R f(x)dx=∫G f(T(u))|det DT(u)|du.

Method
Mathematics & logicCurve length and curvature

A regular C¹ plane or space curve r(t), a≤t≤b, has length ∫ₐᵇ‖r′(t)‖dt.

Method
Mathematics & logicRegular surfaces, area and flux

A C¹ regular parameterization r(u,v) has rᵤ×rᵥ≠0 and area element dS=‖rᵤ×rᵥ‖du dv.

Method
Mathematics & logicCyclic groups and element order

The subgroup generated by a is ⟨a⟩={aᵏ:k∈Z}; its order is the smallest positive n with aⁿ=e, or infinite if none exists.

Definition
Mathematical statementSource checked

Subset counting and Pascal recurrence

Mathematics & logic

An n-element set has 2ⁿ subsets; its k-element subsets correspond to length-n binary strings with k ones.

Key knowledge

An n-element set has 2ⁿ subsets; its k-element subsets correspond to length-n binary strings with k ones. Their number is C(n,k), with C(n,0)=C(n,n)=1. For n≥2 and 1≤k≤n−1, Pascal’s recurrence is C(n,k)=C(n−1,k−1)+C(n−1,k). C(n,k) is also the coefficient of xᵏyⁿ⁻ᵏ in (x+y)ⁿ.

Conditions and scope

  • 0≤k≤n are integers and subset order is ignored.
  • Ordered selections and selections with repetition are different counting problems.
  • The displayed Pascal recurrence applies to interior coefficients, n≥2 and 1≤k≤n−1; endpoint values are supplied separately, including C(0,0)=1.
Sources · 2

References

Sources retain their recorded scope. A source link alone does not establish verification of every statement.

  1. Discrete Mathematics: An Open Introduction, third edition, section 1.2Oscar LevinTextbook chapterdiscrete.openmathbooks.orgRead source
  2. MAM1000W Calculus notesJonathan Shock, University of Cape TownTeaching resourceopen.uct.ac.zaRead source

Evidence and review

Finite subset/bit-string correspondence, binomial coefficient interpretation and Pascal’s recurrence for interior coefficients; endpoint identities are separate.

2026-10-10 · Independent Physics and Measurement reference editor (AI editorial bounded review). Exact bounded introductory reference claims and this practical concept inventory are approved after closure. Existing university/research proof and source scopes remain separate; no universal knowledge-completeness or experimental-validation assertion.

Foundational review

2026-10-10 · Fresh primary-source inspection of the complete compact record, including every statement, equation, quantity and material condition, followed by independent AI editorial review. This check does not certify all linked lessons or every passage of every cited publication.

Sources from other places

Scope or convention differs

Unordered choices, binomial coefficients, Pascal recurrence and binomial expansion.

The repository explicitly covers the empty choice and uses binary subsets to state the total two-to-n count.

  • University of Cape Town, Department of Mathematics and Applied Mathematics

Entry detailsPermanent link to this entry ↗
Record identity
math-binomial-counting
Revision
foundations-audit.1
Structured reference record
University core expansion