'selfish' set to be a set which has its own cardinality (number of elements) as an element











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Define a $textbf{selfish}$ set to be a set which has its own
cardinality (number of elements) as an element. Find, with proof, the
number of subsets of ${1, 2, ldots, n}$ which are textit{minimal}
selfish sets, that is, selfish sets none of whose proper subsets is selfish.



My Attempt.
Assume $textbf{A}$ to be a selfish set. If the cardinality of $textbf{A}$ is $c$, then can $textbf{A}$ contain $1,2,3....c-1$. Definitely answer is no. because if it contains $k<c$ then deleting $c-k$ elements except $k$ from $textbf{A}$ gives a subset of k elements contradicting the fact that $textbf{A}$ is minimal selfish.
Thus $textbf{A}$ must contain elements greater than or equal to $c$. But how do I find the minimal selfish sets with order $c$?










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    up vote
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    favorite
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    Define a $textbf{selfish}$ set to be a set which has its own
    cardinality (number of elements) as an element. Find, with proof, the
    number of subsets of ${1, 2, ldots, n}$ which are textit{minimal}
    selfish sets, that is, selfish sets none of whose proper subsets is selfish.



    My Attempt.
    Assume $textbf{A}$ to be a selfish set. If the cardinality of $textbf{A}$ is $c$, then can $textbf{A}$ contain $1,2,3....c-1$. Definitely answer is no. because if it contains $k<c$ then deleting $c-k$ elements except $k$ from $textbf{A}$ gives a subset of k elements contradicting the fact that $textbf{A}$ is minimal selfish.
    Thus $textbf{A}$ must contain elements greater than or equal to $c$. But how do I find the minimal selfish sets with order $c$?










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      up vote
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      Define a $textbf{selfish}$ set to be a set which has its own
      cardinality (number of elements) as an element. Find, with proof, the
      number of subsets of ${1, 2, ldots, n}$ which are textit{minimal}
      selfish sets, that is, selfish sets none of whose proper subsets is selfish.



      My Attempt.
      Assume $textbf{A}$ to be a selfish set. If the cardinality of $textbf{A}$ is $c$, then can $textbf{A}$ contain $1,2,3....c-1$. Definitely answer is no. because if it contains $k<c$ then deleting $c-k$ elements except $k$ from $textbf{A}$ gives a subset of k elements contradicting the fact that $textbf{A}$ is minimal selfish.
      Thus $textbf{A}$ must contain elements greater than or equal to $c$. But how do I find the minimal selfish sets with order $c$?










      share|cite|improve this question















      Define a $textbf{selfish}$ set to be a set which has its own
      cardinality (number of elements) as an element. Find, with proof, the
      number of subsets of ${1, 2, ldots, n}$ which are textit{minimal}
      selfish sets, that is, selfish sets none of whose proper subsets is selfish.



      My Attempt.
      Assume $textbf{A}$ to be a selfish set. If the cardinality of $textbf{A}$ is $c$, then can $textbf{A}$ contain $1,2,3....c-1$. Definitely answer is no. because if it contains $k<c$ then deleting $c-k$ elements except $k$ from $textbf{A}$ gives a subset of k elements contradicting the fact that $textbf{A}$ is minimal selfish.
      Thus $textbf{A}$ must contain elements greater than or equal to $c$. But how do I find the minimal selfish sets with order $c$?







      combinatorics discrete-mathematics






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      edited 40 mins ago









      Kemono Chen

      1,762332




      1,762332










      asked 58 mins ago









      Suraj

      898




      898






















          2 Answers
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          accepted










          Your argument is correct.



          Lets see if recursion helps.



          Let $[n]$ denote the set ${1,2,ldots,n}$, and let $f_n$ denote the
          number of minimal selfish subsets of $[n]$. Then the number of
          minimal selfish subsets of $[n]$ not containing $n$ is equal to
          $f_{n-1}$. On the other hand, for any minimal selfish subset of $[n]$
          containing $n$, by subtracting 1 from each element, and then taking
          away the element $n-1$ from the set, we obtain a minimal selfish
          subset of $[n-2]$ (since $1$ and $n$ cannot both occur in a selfish
          set). Conversely, any minimal selfish subset of $[n-2]$ gives rise to
          a minimal selfish subset of $[n]$ containing $n$ by the inverse
          procedure. Hence the number of minimal selfish subsets of $[n]$
          containing $n$ is $f_{n-2}$. Thus we obtain $f_n=f_{n-1}+f_{n-2}$.
          Since $f_1=f_2=1$, we have $f_n=F_n$, where $F_n$ denotes the $n$th
          term of the Fibonacci sequence.






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            Your logic so far is fine. So what you know is that, since $c$ is in the set, then the other $c-1$ elements must all be at least $c+1$. There are $binom{n-c}{c-1}$ ways to choose them.



            Summing over these gives you the total count. It turns out that this gives you the $n^{th}$ Fibonacci number, which you can prove by induction (hint: use Pascal’s identity).






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              Your Answer





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              2 Answers
              2






              active

              oldest

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              2 Answers
              2






              active

              oldest

              votes









              active

              oldest

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              active

              oldest

              votes








              up vote
              4
              down vote



              accepted










              Your argument is correct.



              Lets see if recursion helps.



              Let $[n]$ denote the set ${1,2,ldots,n}$, and let $f_n$ denote the
              number of minimal selfish subsets of $[n]$. Then the number of
              minimal selfish subsets of $[n]$ not containing $n$ is equal to
              $f_{n-1}$. On the other hand, for any minimal selfish subset of $[n]$
              containing $n$, by subtracting 1 from each element, and then taking
              away the element $n-1$ from the set, we obtain a minimal selfish
              subset of $[n-2]$ (since $1$ and $n$ cannot both occur in a selfish
              set). Conversely, any minimal selfish subset of $[n-2]$ gives rise to
              a minimal selfish subset of $[n]$ containing $n$ by the inverse
              procedure. Hence the number of minimal selfish subsets of $[n]$
              containing $n$ is $f_{n-2}$. Thus we obtain $f_n=f_{n-1}+f_{n-2}$.
              Since $f_1=f_2=1$, we have $f_n=F_n$, where $F_n$ denotes the $n$th
              term of the Fibonacci sequence.






              share|cite|improve this answer

























                up vote
                4
                down vote



                accepted










                Your argument is correct.



                Lets see if recursion helps.



                Let $[n]$ denote the set ${1,2,ldots,n}$, and let $f_n$ denote the
                number of minimal selfish subsets of $[n]$. Then the number of
                minimal selfish subsets of $[n]$ not containing $n$ is equal to
                $f_{n-1}$. On the other hand, for any minimal selfish subset of $[n]$
                containing $n$, by subtracting 1 from each element, and then taking
                away the element $n-1$ from the set, we obtain a minimal selfish
                subset of $[n-2]$ (since $1$ and $n$ cannot both occur in a selfish
                set). Conversely, any minimal selfish subset of $[n-2]$ gives rise to
                a minimal selfish subset of $[n]$ containing $n$ by the inverse
                procedure. Hence the number of minimal selfish subsets of $[n]$
                containing $n$ is $f_{n-2}$. Thus we obtain $f_n=f_{n-1}+f_{n-2}$.
                Since $f_1=f_2=1$, we have $f_n=F_n$, where $F_n$ denotes the $n$th
                term of the Fibonacci sequence.






                share|cite|improve this answer























                  up vote
                  4
                  down vote



                  accepted







                  up vote
                  4
                  down vote



                  accepted






                  Your argument is correct.



                  Lets see if recursion helps.



                  Let $[n]$ denote the set ${1,2,ldots,n}$, and let $f_n$ denote the
                  number of minimal selfish subsets of $[n]$. Then the number of
                  minimal selfish subsets of $[n]$ not containing $n$ is equal to
                  $f_{n-1}$. On the other hand, for any minimal selfish subset of $[n]$
                  containing $n$, by subtracting 1 from each element, and then taking
                  away the element $n-1$ from the set, we obtain a minimal selfish
                  subset of $[n-2]$ (since $1$ and $n$ cannot both occur in a selfish
                  set). Conversely, any minimal selfish subset of $[n-2]$ gives rise to
                  a minimal selfish subset of $[n]$ containing $n$ by the inverse
                  procedure. Hence the number of minimal selfish subsets of $[n]$
                  containing $n$ is $f_{n-2}$. Thus we obtain $f_n=f_{n-1}+f_{n-2}$.
                  Since $f_1=f_2=1$, we have $f_n=F_n$, where $F_n$ denotes the $n$th
                  term of the Fibonacci sequence.






                  share|cite|improve this answer












                  Your argument is correct.



                  Lets see if recursion helps.



                  Let $[n]$ denote the set ${1,2,ldots,n}$, and let $f_n$ denote the
                  number of minimal selfish subsets of $[n]$. Then the number of
                  minimal selfish subsets of $[n]$ not containing $n$ is equal to
                  $f_{n-1}$. On the other hand, for any minimal selfish subset of $[n]$
                  containing $n$, by subtracting 1 from each element, and then taking
                  away the element $n-1$ from the set, we obtain a minimal selfish
                  subset of $[n-2]$ (since $1$ and $n$ cannot both occur in a selfish
                  set). Conversely, any minimal selfish subset of $[n-2]$ gives rise to
                  a minimal selfish subset of $[n]$ containing $n$ by the inverse
                  procedure. Hence the number of minimal selfish subsets of $[n]$
                  containing $n$ is $f_{n-2}$. Thus we obtain $f_n=f_{n-1}+f_{n-2}$.
                  Since $f_1=f_2=1$, we have $f_n=F_n$, where $F_n$ denotes the $n$th
                  term of the Fibonacci sequence.







                  share|cite|improve this answer












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                  share|cite|improve this answer










                  answered 51 mins ago









                  Rakesh Bhatt

                  825113




                  825113






















                      up vote
                      0
                      down vote













                      Your logic so far is fine. So what you know is that, since $c$ is in the set, then the other $c-1$ elements must all be at least $c+1$. There are $binom{n-c}{c-1}$ ways to choose them.



                      Summing over these gives you the total count. It turns out that this gives you the $n^{th}$ Fibonacci number, which you can prove by induction (hint: use Pascal’s identity).






                      share|cite|improve this answer

























                        up vote
                        0
                        down vote













                        Your logic so far is fine. So what you know is that, since $c$ is in the set, then the other $c-1$ elements must all be at least $c+1$. There are $binom{n-c}{c-1}$ ways to choose them.



                        Summing over these gives you the total count. It turns out that this gives you the $n^{th}$ Fibonacci number, which you can prove by induction (hint: use Pascal’s identity).






                        share|cite|improve this answer























                          up vote
                          0
                          down vote










                          up vote
                          0
                          down vote









                          Your logic so far is fine. So what you know is that, since $c$ is in the set, then the other $c-1$ elements must all be at least $c+1$. There are $binom{n-c}{c-1}$ ways to choose them.



                          Summing over these gives you the total count. It turns out that this gives you the $n^{th}$ Fibonacci number, which you can prove by induction (hint: use Pascal’s identity).






                          share|cite|improve this answer












                          Your logic so far is fine. So what you know is that, since $c$ is in the set, then the other $c-1$ elements must all be at least $c+1$. There are $binom{n-c}{c-1}$ ways to choose them.



                          Summing over these gives you the total count. It turns out that this gives you the $n^{th}$ Fibonacci number, which you can prove by induction (hint: use Pascal’s identity).







                          share|cite|improve this answer












                          share|cite|improve this answer



                          share|cite|improve this answer










                          answered 53 mins ago









                          platty

                          2,830318




                          2,830318






























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