Specific formulae for some success run distributions (Q919370)

Let \(S_ n\), \(N_ n^{(k)}\) and \(L_ n\) denote, respectively, the number of successes, the number of success runs of length k (\(\geq 1)\), and the length of the longest success run in n Bernoulli trials each with success probability p, \(0<p<1\). Also set \(q=1-p\). The exact probability distribution of \(N_ n^{(k)}\) was derived by the reviewer and \textit{F. S. Makri} [ibid. 4, 211-215 (1986; Zbl 0594.62013)], and independently by \textit{K. Hirano} [Fibonacci numbers and their applications, Pap. 1st Int. Conf., Patras/Greece 1984, Math. Appl., D. Reidel Publ. Co. 28, 43-53 (1986; Zbl 0601.62023)], in terms of multinomial coefficients. Using results and ideas from the above-mentioned first paper, the author establishes an alternative formula for \(P(N_ n^{(k)}=x)\) in terms of binomial coefficients. He also establishes alternative formulas for the geometric, negative binomial and Poisson distributions of order k, all in terms of binomial coefficients. Reviewer's remark: Two other formulas for the geometric and negative binomial distributions of order k, in terms of binomial coefficients, have been derived by the reviewer and \textit{C. Georghiou} [Fibonacci Q. 27, No.3, 209-216 (1989; Zbl 0677.60012)].