In combinatorics, the nth Bell number, named after Eric Temple Bell, is the number of partitions of a set with n members, or equivalently, the number of equivalence relations on it. Starting with B0 = B1 = 1, the first few Bell numbers are:
- 1, 1, 2, 5, 15, 52, 203, 877, 4140, 21147, 115975, … (sequence A000110 in OEIS).
(See also breakdown by number of subsets/equivalence classes.)
Read more about Bell Number: Partitions of A Set, Properties of Bell Numbers, Asymptotic Limit and Bounds, Triangle Scheme For Calculating Bell Numbers, Prime Bell Numbers
Famous quotes containing the words bell and/or number:
“I go, and it is done; the bell invites me.
Hear it not, Duncan, for it is a knell
That summons thee to heaven, or to hell.”
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616)
“The Oregon [matter] and the annexation of Texas are now all- important to the security and future peace and prosperity of our union, and I hope there are a sufficient number of pure American democrats to carry into effect the annexation of Texas and [extension of] our laws over Oregon. No temporizing policy or all is lost.”
—Andrew Jackson (1767–1845)