The part-frequency matrices of a partition

Abstract

A new combinatorial object is introduced, the part-frequency matrix sequence of a partition, which is elementary to describe and is naturally motivated by Glaisher's bijection. We prove results that suggest surprising usefulness for such a simple tool, including the existence of a related statistic that realizes every possible Ramanujan-type congruence for the partition function. To further exhibit its research utility, we give an easy generalization of a theorem of Andrews, Dixit and Yee on the mock theta functions. Throughout, we state a number of observations and questions that can motivate an array of investigations.

Presented at the Kliakhandler Conference 2015, Algebraic Combinatorics and Applications, at Michigan Technological University. To appear in the Proceedings