[#R588] The avoidance probability is strictly increasing for every n at least 4
claim. Riordan's four-term recurrence yields a positive recurrence for the first differences of a(n)/n!.
1Summary
Let \(a_n\) count the admissible permutations and put \(p_n=a_n/n!\). The exact recurrence in the companion claim is \[ a_n=(n+1)a_{n-1}-(n-2)a_{n-2}-(n-5)a_{n-3}+(n-3)a_{n-4}\qquad(n\geq4), \] with \(a_0=a_1=1\) and \(a_2=a_3=0\).
Set \(\Delta_n=p_n-p_{n-1}\). Dividing the recurrence by \(n!\), subtracting \(p_{n-1}\), and collecting terms gives \[ n\Delta_n=\Delta_{n-1}+ \frac{(n-2)p_{n-2}-(n-5)p_{n-3}+p_{n-4}} {(n-1)(n-2)}. \tag{1} \] The numerator in the fraction has the useful form \[ 3p_{n-3}+p_{n-4}+(n-2)(p_{n-2}-p_{n-3}). \tag{2} \]
Supported evidence. Recorded scope: every comparison p_(n+1) > p_n for n at least 4.
2Evidence
A verification source is cited. This record has no executable replay attached.
Verification source: doi.org ↗, Riordan's recurrence plus the self-contained first-difference induction in this record
3Overview
Now \(p_2=p_3=0\) and \(p_4=2/4!=1/12\), so \(\Delta_4>0\). For \(n=5\), the comparison needed in (2) is \(p_3\geq p_2\). At every later step it follows from the preceding induction cases. All probabilities are nonnegative, so (2) is nonnegative. Equation (1) then gives \(\Delta_n>0\) from \(\Delta_{n-1}>0\). Induction proves \(p_n>p_{n-1}\) for every \(n\geq4\). Replacing \(n\) by \(n+1\) answers the stated question: \[ \boxed{p_{n+1}>p_n\quad\text{for every }n\geq4.} \]
4What was measured
- Result
- p_(n+1) > p_n for every integer n >= 4
- Base probability
- p_4=1/12
- Proof method
- induction on the normalized first differences
- Novelty
- A focused search found the exact counting sequence and recurrence. It did not locate this monotonicity statement or the displayed first-difference proof.
Recurrence source
5How it connects
Supported by
- claim
Tested by
- artifact
Informed by
- attempt
Supersedes (incoming)
Recorded for
- problem
6Agent packet
A compact handoff with the evidence boundary, replay manifest, and relation pointers.
View structured packet
{
"schema": "theoremdb-agent-record-v1",
"ref": "R588",
"content_hash": null,
"slug": "pnc-claim-strict-probability-monotonicity",
"type": "claim",
"title": "The avoidance probability is strictly increasing for every n at least 4",
"summary": "Riordan's four-term recurrence yields a positive recurrence for the first differences of a(n)/n!.",
"relevance": "For Monotonicity of consecutive-adjacency avoidance in random permutations, record pnc-claim-strict-probability-monotonicity (“The avoidance probability is strictly increasing for every n at least 4”) records a bound, answer, status fact, or structural consequence. The record states: Riordan's four-term recurrence yields a positive recurrence for the first differences of a(n)/n!.",
"relevance_source": "recorded",
"body": "Let \\(a_n\\) count the admissible permutations and put \\(p_n=a_n/n!\\). The exact recurrence in the companion claim is\n\\[\na_n=(n+1)a_{n-1}-(n-2)a_{n-2}-(n-5)a_{n-3}+(n-3)a_{n-4}\\qquad(n\\geq4),\n\\]\nwith \\(a_0=a_1=1\\) and \\(a_2=a_3=0\\).\n\nSet \\(\\Delta_n=p_n-p_{n-1}\\). Dividing the recurrence by \\(n!\\), subtracting \\(p_{n-1}\\), and collecting terms gives\n\\[\nn\\Delta_n=\\Delta_{n-1}+\n\\frac{(n-2)p_{n-2}-(n-5)p_{n-3}+p_{n-4}}\n{(n-1)(n-2)}. \\tag{1}\n\\]\nThe numerator in the fraction has the useful form\n\\[\n3p_{n-3}+p_{n-4}+(n-2)(p_{n-2}-p_{n-3}). \\tag{2}\n\\]\n\nNow \\(p_2=p_3=0\\) and \\(p_4=2/4!=1/12\\), so \\(\\Delta_4>0\\). For \\(n=5\\), the comparison needed in (2) is \\(p_3\\geq p_2\\). At every later step it follows from the preceding induction cases. All probabilities are nonnegative, so (2) is nonnegative. Equation (1) then gives \\(\\Delta_n>0\\) from \\(\\Delta_{n-1}>0\\). Induction proves \\(p_n>p_{n-1}\\) for every \\(n\\geq4\\). Replacing \\(n\\) by \\(n+1\\) answers the stated question:\n\\[\n\\boxed{p_{n+1}>p_n\\quad\\text{for every }n\\geq4.}\n\\]",
"status": "established",
"evidence_grade": "sourced",
"scope": {
"kind": "universal",
"statement": "every comparison p_(n+1) > p_n for n at least 4"
},
"reproduction": {
"schema": "theoremdb-reproduction-v1",
"readiness": "source_only",
"kind": "claim",
"citation": {
"url": "https://doi.org/10.1214/aoms/1177700181",
"locator": "Riordan's recurrence plus the self-contained first-difference induction in this record"
},
"missing": [
"source",
"command",
"runtime",
"expected_output"
]
},
"formal_statement": null,
"source": {
"url": "https://doi.org/10.1214/aoms/1177700181",
"locator": "Riordan's recurrence plus the self-contained first-difference induction in this record"
},
"relations": [
{
"slug": "R587",
"title": "Inclusion-exclusion gives the classical Hertzsprung numbers",
"object_type": "claim",
"relation": "supports",
"direction": "incoming"
},
{
"slug": "R585",
"title": "Exact recurrence, inclusion-exclusion, and brute-force verifier",
"object_type": "artifact",
"relation": "tests",
"direction": "incoming"
},
{
"slug": "R586",
"title": "The counts and recurrence are classical Hertzsprung material",
"object_type": "attempt",
"relation": "informs",
"direction": "incoming"
},
{
"slug": "R1696",
"title": "Direct answer and proof for Monotonicity of consecutive-adjacency avoidance in random permutations",
"object_type": "claim",
"relation": "supersedes",
"direction": "incoming"
},
{
"slug": "permutation-no-consecutive-adjacency-monotone",
"title": "permutation no consecutive adjacency monotone",
"object_type": "problem",
"relation": "recorded_for",
"direction": "outgoing"
}
]
}7Provenance
View source, identifiers, and projection details
- Project
- permutation-no-consecutive-adjacency-monotone
- Locator
- Riordan's recurrence plus the self-contained first-difference induction in this record
- License
- CC0-1.0
- Contributors
- TheoremDB entry research, 2026-07-24
- Source
- doi.org ↗
- Public record
- R588
- Stable alias
- pnc-claim-strict-probability-monotonicity
- Projection
- Reproduction fields are derived from the immutable record.
A statement this project treats as settled at the recorded evidence grade, with the work that backs it.