English

Convolutive sequences, I: Through the lens of integer partition functions

Combinatorics 2025-12-05 v2 Discrete Mathematics Number Theory

Abstract

Motivated by the convolutive behavior of the counting function for partitions with designated summands in which all parts are odd, we consider coefficient sequences (an)n0(a_n)_{n\ge 0} of primitive eta-products that satisfy the generic convolutive property \begin{align*} \sum_{n\ge 0} a_{mn} q^n = \left(\sum_{n\ge 0} a_n q^n\right)^m \end{align*} for a specific positive integer mm. Given the results of an exhaustive search of the Online Encyclopedia of Integer Sequences for such sequences for mm up to 66, we first focus on the case where m=2m=2 with our attention mainly paid to the combinatorics of two 22-convolutive sequences, featuring bijective proofs for both. For other 22-convolutive sequences discovered in the OEIS, we apply generating function manipulations to show their convolutivity. We also give two examples of 33-convolutive sequences. Finally, we discuss other convolutive series that are not eta-products.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.2507.10965,
  title  = {Convolutive sequences, I: Through the lens of integer partition functions},
  author = {Shane Chern and Dennis Eichhorn and Shishuo Fu and James A. Sellers},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2507.10965},
  year   = {2025}
}

Comments

23 pages, accepted by Experimental Mathematics