Properties of Gessel Walks

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 26 views

Introduction

In the realm of combinatorics, a fascinating problem has been studied extensively, known as the Gessel walk. This problem involves counting the number of walks on a square lattice that start and end at the origin, with specific step constraints. The Gessel walk has been a subject of interest in mathematics, particularly in the field of combinatorics, and has also been explored in the context of code golf. In this article, we will delve into the world of Gessel walks, exploring their definition, properties, and the methods used to count them.

What is a Gessel Walk?

A Gessel walk is a walk on the square lattice that starts and ends at the origin. The possible steps in a Gessel walk are:

(1,0): a step to the right
(-1,0): a step to the left
(1,1): a step diagonally up and to the right
(-1,-1): a step diagonally down and to the left

These steps are the only allowed movements in a Gessel walk. The walk can be of any length, but it must start and end at the origin.

Properties of Gessel Walks

Gessel walks have several interesting properties that make them a fascinating subject of study. Some of these properties include:

Symmetry: Gessel walks have symmetry under reflection about the x-axis and y-axis. This means that if we have a Gessel walk that starts at the origin and ends at a point (x,y), then we also have a Gessel walk that starts at the origin and ends at the point (x,-y) or (-x,y).
Combinatorial structure: Gessel walks can be represented as a sequence of steps, where each step is one of the four allowed movements. This sequence can be thought of as a combinatorial object, with each step being a choice from a set of possible movements.
Recursion: Gessel walks can be counted recursively, using the fact that a walk of length 2n can be broken down into two walks of length n.

Counting Gessel Walks

The main problem of interest in the context of Gessel walks is to count the number of walks of a given length. This is a classic problem in combinatorics, and several methods have been developed to solve it. Some of these methods include:

Recursion: As mentioned earlier, Gessel walks can be counted recursively. This involves breaking down a walk of length 2n into two walks of length n, and then counting the number of ways to combine these two walks.
Generating functions: Generating functions are a powerful tool for counting combinatorial objects. In the context of Gessel walks, generating functions can be used to count the number of walks of a given length.
Dynamic programming: Dynamic programming is a method for solving problems by breaking them down into smaller sub-problems. In the context of Gessel walks, dynamic programming can be used to count the number of walks of a given length.

Code Golf and Gessel Walks

Code golf is a competitive programming community that focuses on writing short and efficient code to solve problems. Gessel walks have been a subject of interest in the code golf community, with several challenges and puzzles being developed around this topic. Some of the challenges and puzzles include:

Counting Gessel walks: The main challenge in the context of Gessel walks is to count the number of walks of a given length. This can be done using recursion, generating functions, or dynamic programming.
Finding the shortest Gessel walk: Another challenge is to find the shortest Gessel walk that starts and ends at the origin. This can be done using a breadth-first search or a depth-first search algorithm.
Generating Gessel walks: A final challenge is to generate all possible Gessel walks of a given length. This can be done using a recursive function or a dynamic programming approach.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Gessel walks are a fascinating subject of study in combinatorics and code golf. They have several interesting properties, including symmetry and combinatorial structure, and can be counted using recursion, generating functions, or dynamic programming. The code golf community has developed several challenges and puzzles around Gessel walks, including counting, finding the shortest walk, and generating all possible walks. We hope that this article has provided a comprehensive introduction to the world of Gessel walks and has inspired readers to explore this fascinating topic further.

References

OEIS A135404: The Online Encyclopedia of Integer Sequences (OEIS) entry for Gessel walks.
Gessel, I. M.: The paper by I. M. Gessel that introduced the concept of Gessel walks.
Stanley, R. P.: The book by R. P. Stanley that discusses Gessel walks and other combinatorial objects.

Code Examples

Here are some code examples in Python that demonstrate how to count Gessel walks using recursion, generating functions, and dynamic programming:

Recursion

def count_gessel_walks(n):
    if n == 0:
        return 1
    else:
        count = 0
        for i in range(n+1):
            count += count_gessel_walks(i) * count_gessel_walks(n-i)
        return count

Generating Functions

import sympy as sp
x = sp.symbols('x')
f = 1 + x + x2 + x3 + x4 + x5 + x6 + x7 + x8 + x9 + x**10
def count_gessel_walks(n):
return f.coeff(x, 2*n)

Dynamic Programming

def count_gessel_walks(n):
    dp = [[0 for _ in range(n+1)] for _ in range(n+1)]
    dp[0][0] = 1
    for i in range(1, n+1):
        for j in range(i+1):
            if j == 0:
                dp[i][j] = dp[i-1][j]
            elif j == i:
                dp[i][j] = dp[i-1][j-1]
            else:
                dp[i][j] = dp[i-1][j-1] + dp[i-1][j]
    return dp[n][n]

Introduction

Gessel walks are a fascinating subject of study in combinatorics and code golf. In this article, we will answer some of the most frequently asked questions about Gessel walks, covering topics such as their definition, properties, and counting methods.

Q: What is a Gessel walk?

A: A Gessel walk is a walk on the square lattice that starts and ends at the origin. The possible steps in a Gessel walk are:

(1,0): a step to the right
(-1,0): a step to the left
(1,1): a step diagonally up and to the right
(-1,-1): a step diagonally down and to the left

Q: What are the properties of Gessel walks?

A: Gessel walks have several interesting properties, including:

Symmetry: Gessel walks have symmetry under reflection about the x-axis and y-axis. This means that if we have a Gessel walk that starts at the origin and ends at a point (x,y), then we also have a Gessel walk that starts at the origin and ends at the point (x,-y) or (-x,y).
Combinatorial structure: Gessel walks can be represented as a sequence of steps, where each step is one of the four allowed movements. This sequence can be thought of as a combinatorial object, with each step being a choice from a set of possible movements.
Recursion: Gessel walks can be counted recursively, using the fact that a walk of length 2n can be broken down into two walks of length n.

Q: How can I count Gessel walks?

A: There are several methods for counting Gessel walks, including:

Recursion: Gessel walks can be counted recursively, using the fact that a walk of length 2n can be broken down into two walks of length n.
Generating functions: Generating functions are a powerful tool for counting combinatorial objects. In the context of Gessel walks, generating functions can be used to count the number of walks of a given length.
Dynamic programming: Dynamic programming is a method for solving problems by breaking them down into smaller sub-problems. In the context of Gessel walks, dynamic programming can be used to count the number of walks of a given length.

Q: What is the relationship between Gessel walks and code golf?

A: Gessel walks have been a subject of interest in the code golf community, with several challenges and puzzles being developed around this topic. Some of the challenges and puzzles include:

Counting Gessel walks: The main challenge in the context of Gessel walks is to count the number of walks of a given length. This can be done using recursion, generating functions, or dynamic programming.
Finding the shortest Gessel walk: Another challenge is to find the shortest Gessel walk that starts and ends at the origin. This can be done using a breadth-first search or a depth-first search algorithm.
Generating Gessel walks: A final challenge is to generate all possible Gessel walks of a given length. This can be done using a recursive function or a dynamic programming approach.

Q: How can I implement Gessel walks in code?

A: Here are some code examples in Python that demonstrate how to count Gessel walks using recursion, generating functions, and dynamic programming:

Recursion

def count_gessel_walks(n):
    if n == 0:
        return 1
    else:
        count = 0
        for i in range(n+1):
            count += count_gessel_walks(i) * count_gessel_walks(n-i)
        return count

Generating Functions

import sympy as sp
x = sp.symbols('x')
f = 1 + x + x2 + x3 + x4 + x5 + x6 + x7 + x8 + x9 + x**10
def count_gessel_walks(n):
return f.coeff(x, 2*n)

Dynamic Programming

def count_gessel_walks(n):
    dp = [[0 for _ in range(n+1)] for _ in range(n+1)]
    dp[0][0] = 1
    for i in range(1, n+1):
        for j in range(i+1):
            if j == 0:
                dp[i][j] = dp[i-1][j]
            elif j == i:
                dp[i][j] = dp[i-1][j-1]
            else:
                dp[i][j] = dp[i-1][j-1] + dp[i-1][j]
    return dp[n][n]

These code examples demonstrate how to count Gessel walks using recursion, generating functions, and dynamic programming. They can be used as a starting point for further exploration and optimization.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Gessel walks are a fascinating subject of study in combinatorics and code golf. They have several interesting properties, including symmetry and combinatorial structure, and can be counted using recursion, generating functions, or dynamic programming. We hope that this article has provided a comprehensive introduction to the world of Gessel walks and has inspired readers to explore this fascinating topic further.

References

OEIS A135404: The Online Encyclopedia of Integer Sequences (OEIS) entry for Gessel walks.
Gessel, I. M.: The paper by I. M. Gessel that introduced the concept of Gessel walks.
Stanley, R. P.: The book by R. P. Stanley that discusses Gessel walks and other combinatorial objects.