Meet and join within the lattice of set partitions (Q5928527)

This paper presents results which are based on the work of \textit{B. Pittel} [Electron. J. Comb. 7, No. 1, Research paper R5, 15 p. (2000; Zbl 0940.05007)] concerning the number \(M^{(t)}_n\) of \(t\)-tuples of partitions whose meet is the minimal partition \(\{\{1\},\{2\},\dots, \{n\}\}\), and the number \(J^{(t)}_n\) of \(t\)-tuples whose join is the maximal partition \(\{\{1,2,\dots, n\}\}\) in the lattice of set partitions. One of the results gives \(M^{(t)}_n\) as a sum of products of Bell number powers with Stirling numbers of the first kind. Another result improves on Pittel's estimate that \(J^{(t)}_n\) is \((B_n)^t(1+ O(r^{t+ 1}/n^{t- 1}))\). As an application of an inclusion/exclusion formula derived in this paper, another proof of the beautiful formula found by Pittel has been given.