Peter R. W. McNamara ; Bruce E. Sagan - Infinite log-concavity: developments and conjectures

dmtcs:2678 - Discrete Mathematics & Theoretical Computer Science, January 1, 2009, DMTCS Proceedings vol. AK, 21st International Conference on Formal Power Series and Algebraic Combinatorics (FPSAC 2009) - https://doi.org/10.46298/dmtcs.2678
Infinite log-concavity: developments and conjecturesArticle

Authors: Peter R. W. McNamara ; Bruce E. Sagan 1

  • 1 Department of Mathematics [Lansing]

Given a sequence $(a_k)=a_0,a_1,a_2,\ldots$ of real numbers, define a new sequence $\mathcal{L}(a_k)=(b_k)$ where $b_k=a_k^2-a_{k-1}a_{k+1}$. So $(a_k)$ is log-concave if and only if $(b_k)$ is a nonnegative sequence. Call $(a_k)$ $\textit{infinitely log-concave}$ if $\mathcal{L}^i(a_k)$ is nonnegative for all $i \geq 1$. Boros and Moll conjectured that the rows of Pascal's triangle are infinitely log-concave. Using a computer and a stronger version of log-concavity, we prove their conjecture for the $n$th row for all $n \leq 1450$. We can also use our methods to give a simple proof of a recent result of Uminsky and Yeats about regions of infinite log-concavity. We investigate related questions about the columns of Pascal's triangle, $q$-analogues, symmetric functions, real-rooted polynomials, and Toeplitz matrices. In addition, we offer several conjectures.


Volume: DMTCS Proceedings vol. AK, 21st International Conference on Formal Power Series and Algebraic Combinatorics (FPSAC 2009)
Section: Proceedings
Published on: January 1, 2009
Imported on: January 31, 2017
Keywords: real roots,binomial coefficients,computer proof,Gaussian polynomial,infinite log-concavity,symmetric functions,[MATH.MATH-CO] Mathematics [math]/Combinatorics [math.CO],[INFO.INFO-DM] Computer Science [cs]/Discrete Mathematics [cs.DM]

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