Use a Ferrers diagram to prove that $\sum\limits_{k=1}^m{P_k(n)} = P_m(n+m)$

224 Views Asked by At

I can show that $\sum\limits_{k=1}^m{P_k(n)} = P_m(n+m)$ with induction, but I can't figure out how to create an argument based on Ferrers diagrams which proves this equation.

Any hints in the right direction would be appreciated.

1

There are 1 best solutions below

2
On BEST ANSWER

HINT: Start with a Ferrers diagram for a partition of $n+m$ into $m$ parts and remove the leftmost column. What remains is a Ferrers diagram for what? Then show that the correspondence is reversible.