English

Random sets and intersections

Probability 2016-08-30 v1

Abstract

The following class of problems arose out of vain attempts to show that the Pascal's triangle adic transformation has trivial spectrum. Partition a set of size NN into sets of size SS(N)S \equiv S(N) (ignoring leftovers). What is the likelihood that a set of size KK(N)K \equiv K(N) will intersect each set in the partition in at least RR(N)R \equiv R(N) members (as NN increases)? Via elementary techniques and under reasonable hypotheses, we obtain an easy-to-use formula. Although different from the corresponding minimum problem for balls and bins (with m=Km = K balls and n=N/Sn = N/S bins), under modest constraints, the asymptotic probabilities are the same.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.1608.07635,
  title  = {Random sets and intersections},
  author = {David Handelman},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1608.07635},
  year   = {2016}
}

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R2 v1 2026-06-22T15:32:32.066Z