The story of 1,2,7,42,429,7436,.. (Q757373): Difference between revisions

This is a fascinating and very readable account of how the numbers \(S_ n=\prod^{n-1}_{i=0}\frac{(3i+1)!}{(n+i)!},\) which have been shown by G. E. Andrews to count descending plane partitions, appear also to count both alternating sign matrices and self-complementary total symmetric plane partitions. Other conjectures relating to plane partitions and alternating sign matrices are given. The paper covers work due to Robbins, Mills, Rumsey, Andrews, Stanley and I. G. Macdonald. ``These conjectures are of such compelling simplicity that it is hard to understand how any mathematician can bear the pain of living without understanding why they are true.''