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Montmort matching problem

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2020 Mathematics Subject Classification: Primary: 01A50 Secondary: 60-03 [MSN][ZBL]

derangement problem, problème des rencontres

Take two sets, $A$ and $B$, and a bijection, $\phi$, between them. (E.g., take $n$ married couples and let $A$ be the set of husbands and $B$ the set of wives.) Now, take a random pairing (a bijection again). What is the chance that this random pairing gives at least one "correct match" (i.e. coincides with $\phi$ in at least one element). Asymptotically, this probability is $1-e^{-1}$. This follows immediately from the formula given in Classical combinatorial problems for the number of derangements: permutations $\pi$ such that $\pi(i)\neq i$ for all $i=1,\ldots,n$.

This problem was considered first by P.R. de Montmort (around 1700) in connection with a card game known as the "jeu du treize", "jeu de rencontre" or simply "rencontre".

References

[a1] E. Knobloch, "Euler and the history of a problem in probability theory" Ganita–Bharati , 6 (1984) pp. 1–12
How to Cite This Entry:
Problème des rencontres. Encyclopedia of Mathematics. URL: http://encyclopediaofmath.org/index.php?title=Probl%C3%A8me_des_rencontres&oldid=39889