On the `problème des ménages' from a probabilistic viewpoint (Q1174118)
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| Language | Label | Description | Also known as |
|---|---|---|---|
| English | On the `problème des ménages' from a probabilistic viewpoint |
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On the `problème des ménages' from a probabilistic viewpoint (English)
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25 June 1992
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The ``problème des ménages'' consists of finding the number of ways of seating \(n\) married couples at a circular table, in such a way that men and women alternate and that no couple sits together. Here, the (more general) quantity of interest is the distribution of \(W\), the number of couples seated together, if a random alternate seating plan is used. A new proof of the exact distribution of \(W\) is given, and it is also shown that the \(Bi(2n,1/n)\) distribution is an approximation accurate to order \(n^{-2}\) in total variation.
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ménage problem
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Poisson approximation
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binomial approximation
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random permutations
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