On the birthday problem: some generalizations and applications

We study the birthday problem and some possible extensions. We discuss the unimodality of the corresponding exact probability distribution and express the moments and generating functions by means of confluent hypergeometric functions U(−;−;−) which are computable using the software Mathematica. The...

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Main Authors: P. N. Rathie, P. Zörnig
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2003-01-01
Series:International Journal of Mathematics and Mathematical Sciences
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/S0161171203110101
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author P. N. Rathie
P. Zörnig
author_facet P. N. Rathie
P. Zörnig
author_sort P. N. Rathie
collection DOAJ
description We study the birthday problem and some possible extensions. We discuss the unimodality of the corresponding exact probability distribution and express the moments and generating functions by means of confluent hypergeometric functions U(−;−;−) which are computable using the software Mathematica. The distribution is generalized in two possible directions, one of them consists in considering a random graph with a single attracting center. Possible applications are also indicated.
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spelling doaj-art-1e934504d57c416a9589b49982753ff82025-02-03T05:48:16ZengWileyInternational Journal of Mathematics and Mathematical Sciences0161-17121687-04252003-01-012003603827384010.1155/S0161171203110101On the birthday problem: some generalizations and applicationsP. N. Rathie0P. Zörnig1Departamento de Estatística, Instituto de Ciências Exatas, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, DF 70910-900, BrazilDepartamento de Estatística, Instituto de Ciências Exatas, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, DF 70910-900, BrazilWe study the birthday problem and some possible extensions. We discuss the unimodality of the corresponding exact probability distribution and express the moments and generating functions by means of confluent hypergeometric functions U(−;−;−) which are computable using the software Mathematica. The distribution is generalized in two possible directions, one of them consists in considering a random graph with a single attracting center. Possible applications are also indicated.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/S0161171203110101
spellingShingle P. N. Rathie
P. Zörnig
On the birthday problem: some generalizations and applications
International Journal of Mathematics and Mathematical Sciences
title On the birthday problem: some generalizations and applications
title_full On the birthday problem: some generalizations and applications
title_fullStr On the birthday problem: some generalizations and applications
title_full_unstemmed On the birthday problem: some generalizations and applications
title_short On the birthday problem: some generalizations and applications
title_sort on the birthday problem some generalizations and applications
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/S0161171203110101
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