A Combinatorial Approach to Frobenius Numbers of Some Special Sequences (Complete Version)

Abstract

Let $A=(a_1, a_2, ..., a_n)$ be relative prime positive integers with $a_i\geq 2$. The Frobenius number $g(A)$ is the greatest integer not belonging to the set $\big\{ \sum_{i=1}^na_ix_i\ |x_i\in \mathbb{N}\big\}$. The general Frobenius problem includes the determination of $g(A)$ and the related Sylvester number $n(A)$ and Sylvester sum $s(A)$. We present a new approach to the Frobenius problem. Basically, we transform the problem into an easier optimization problem. If the new problem can be solved explicitly, then we will be able to obtain a formula of $g(A)$. We illustrate the idea by giving concise proof of some existing formulas and finding some interesting new formulas of $g(A), n(A), s(A)$. Moreover, we find that MacMahon's partition analysis applies to give a new way of calculating $n(A), s(A)$ by using a rational function representation of a polynomial determined by $A$.