Symbolic Computation Group

David R. Cheriton School of Computer Science
University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada

Friday, November 7, 2025, at the University of Waterloo
Automated Sequence Asymptotics
Stephen Melczer, Associate Professor, University of Waterloo

Abstract:

Computing with any sort of object requires a way of encoding it on a computer, which poses a problem in enumerative combinatorics where the objects of interest are (infinite) combinatorial sequences. Thankfully, the generating function of a combinatorial sequence often satisfies natural algebraic/differential/functional equations, which can then be viewed as data structures for the sequence. In this talk we survey methods to take a sequence encoded by such data structures and automatically determine asymptotic behaviour using techniques from the field of analytic combinatorics. We also discuss methods to automatically characterize the asymptotic behaviour of multivariate sequences using analytic combinatorics in several variables (ACSV). The focus of each topic will be rigorous algorithms that have already been implemented in computer algebra systems and can be easily used by anyone.

 

Last modified on Saturday, 21 February 2026, at 20:06 hours.