English

The Eulerian numbers can D.I.E

Combinatorics 2025-11-25 v1

Abstract

The Eulerian numbers form a triangular array with many interesting properties. The numbers arise from various combinatorial and probabilistic interpretations, and have been studied in a variety of mathematical contexts. In this article we examine two distinct alternating sign formulas for the Eulerian numbers and show how they can be proved using a sign-reversing involution technique described by Benjamin and Quinn known as the ``D.I.E.'' method. Each of these arguments lends itself to a broad generalization, shedding light on different parts of mathematics.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.2511.19076,
  title  = {The Eulerian numbers can D.I.E},
  author = {Matjaž Konvalinka and T. Kyle Petersen},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2511.19076},
  year   = {2025}
}

Comments

Accepted for publication in Mathematics Magazine

R2 v1 2026-07-01T07:52:05.405Z