Algebra Universalis (special Rota memorial issue), 49, 2003, p. 387-395

Dominique Foata, Doron Zeilberger

The Collector's Brotherhood Problem Using the Newman-Shepp Symbolic Method

Abstract.Further computations are made on the traditional coupon collector's problem when the collector shares his harvest with his younger brothers. When the book of the p-th brother of the collector is completed, the books of the younger brothers have certain numbers of empty spots. On the average, how many? Several answers can be brought to that question.

foata@math.u-strasbg.fr, zeilberg@math.rutgers.edu

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