Some polynomials associated with the \(r\)-Whitney numbers (Q723457)

In this article, the authors study some families of combinatorial polynomials associated with the \(r\)-Whitney numbers of the second kind. They are the \(r\)-Dowling polynomials, \(r\)-Whitney-Fubini polynomials and the \(r\)-Eulerian-Fubini polynomials. They are defined by using generating functions in a similar way as in the classical cases. Then the authors derive several combinatorial results by using the algebraic method introduced by \textit{G.-C. Rota} [Am. Math. Mon. 71, 498--504 (1964; Zbl 0121.01803)] and combinatorial arguments by means of the set partitions. Finally, they study the root structure of the \(r\)-Dowling polynomials. In particular, they analyze the leftmost zero of these polynomials and its asymptotic behavior. Additionally, they show that the sequence of \(r\)-Whitney-Fubini polynomials is a log-convex sequence and they prove that these polynomials have only negative real zeros in the interval \((-1, 0)\).