Stirling Numbers

Stirling numbers are one of the most known classes of special numbers in Mathematics, especially in Combinatorics and Algebra. They were introduced by Scottish mathematician James Stirling (1692-1770) in his most important work, Differential Method with a Tract on Summation and Interpolation of Infinite Series (1730). Stirling numbers have a rich history; many arithmetic, number-theoretical, analytical and combinatorial connections; numerous classical properties; as well as many modern applications.This book collects much of the scattered material on the two subclasses of Stirling numbers to provide a holistic overview of the topic. From the combinatorial point of view, Stirling numbers of the second kind, S(n, k), count the number of ways to partition a set of n different objects (i.e., a given n-set) into k non-empty subsets. Stirling numbers of the first kind, s(n, k), give the number of permutations of n elements with k disjoint cycles. Both subclasses of Stirling numbers play an