On the Asymptotic Statistics of the Number of Occurrences of Multiple Permutation Patterns

Abstract

We study statistical properties of the random variables $X_{\sigma}(\pi)$, the number of occurrences of the pattern $\sigma$ in the permutation $\pi$. We present two contrasting approaches to this problem: traditional probability theory and the ``less traditional'' computational approach. Through the perspective of the first one, we prove that for any pair of patterns $\sigma$ and $\tau$, the random variables $X_{\sigma}$ and $X_{\tau}$ are jointly asymptotically normal (when the permutation is chosen from $S_{n}$). From the other perspective, we develop algorithms that can show asymptotic normality and joint asymptotic normality (up to a point) and derive explicit formulas for quite a few moments and mixed moments empirically, yet rigorously. The computational approach can also be extended to the case where permutations are drawn from a set of pattern avoiders to produce many empirical moments and mixed moments. This data suggests that some random variables are not asymptotically normal in this setting.