Proof of Ira Gessel's Lattice Path Conjecture

Abstract

We present a computer-aided, yet fully rigorous, proof of Ira Gessel's tantalizingly simply-stated conjecture that the number of ways of walking $2n$ steps in the region $x+y \geq 0, y \geq 0$ of the square-lattice with unit steps in the east, west, north, and south directions, that start and end at the origin, equals $16^n\frac{(5/6)_n(1/2)_n}{(5/3)_n(2)_n}$ .