English

On Deranged Unit-Interval Parking Functions and the Deranged Bell Numbers

Combinatorics 2026-06-30 v1

Abstract

Unit-interval parking functions of length nn are enumerated by the Fubini numbers FnF_n and are in explicit bijection with the ordered set partitions of [n][n]. We use this bijection to single out the unit-interval parking functions whose associated ordered set partition is \emph{deranged} in the sense of Belbachir, Djemmada, and N\'emeth -- no block occupies the position indexed by its minimum element -- and call them the \emph{deranged unit-interval parking functions} \DUPFn\DUPF_n. Since the bijection restricts to the deranged objects, \DUPFn=F~n|\DUPF_n| = \tilde F_n, the nn-th deranged Bell number. We give an intrinsic, coordinate-wise characterization of the deranged condition through the lucky cars (equivalently, the block leaders) of a parking function, and we refine the enumeration by total displacement, obtaining dm\Stirnmd_m\Stir{n}{m} deranged unit-interval parking functions with mm blocks. We derive the exponential generating function e1ex/(2ex)e^{1-e^x}/(2-e^x) by the symbolic method, prove a fixed-block convolution relating FnF_n, the Bell numbers, and F~n\tilde F_n, refine the count by singleton blocks via 22-associated Stirling numbers, and describe an rr-start extension together with a deranged Cayley-permutation model. Worked examples and a table of values are included.

Cite

@article{arxiv.2607.01273,
  title  = {On Deranged Unit-Interval Parking Functions and the Deranged Bell Numbers},
  author = {Yahia Djemmada},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2607.01273},
  year   = {2026}
}