How does FindGeneratingFunction work?

Question

How do FindGeneratingFunction and FindSequenceFunction work?

How might one implement similar functionality from scratch in Mathematica? I am looking for a description of a reasonable algorithm, not necessarily code. I am more interested in any computer algebra methods to solve this problem than in the specifics of the particular implementation Mathematica uses.

Did you see http://mathworld.wolfram.com/GeneratingFunction.html... there are some references also. — s.s.o, Dec 07 '16 at 22:59
For FindSequenceFunction I'd guess that you just try the simplest polynomial fit... But I have no idea, really — Jules Lamers, Dec 09 '16 at 00:17
This Generating Functions MIT Course Notes contain the basic recipes and some examples how to use them. — Karsten7, Dec 13 '16 at 00:35

score 2 · Answer 1 · edited Apr 13 '17 at 12:55

In Mathematica,some function is classified as kernel function,such as Sin,UnitStep or Abs and so on.We can use System`Private`HasAnyCodesQ to judge it is kernel function or not,I have metioned it in this post this answer recently.If the function is not a kernel function.Since they all are not,we can use GeneralUtilities`PrintDefinitions to get some some information of what you want.

<<GeneralUtilities`;GeneralUtilities`PrintDefinitions[FindGeneratingFunction]

http://o8aucf9ny.bkt.clouddn.com/2016-12-13-07-03-03.png

We can see the work fuction is call a name of findGeneratingFunctionParser,click on it.You will get its page of definition,then you will see findGeneratingFunctionDispatcher,findGeneratingFunctionPoints and iFunctionSpace.We can know it find generation function in 5 case: http://o8aucf9ny.bkt.clouddn.com/2016-12-13-07-09-55.png

You can use same method to find some information for FindSequenceFunction.Those information is more useful to you maybe.It's very clear.

How does FindGeneratingFunction work?

1 Answers1