# Amount of distinct numbers in a sequence of $k$ random numbers in range $[1,\ldots,n]$

Let $D$ be the amount of distinct numbers in a sequence of $k$ random numbers in range $[1,\ldots,n]$ (n>k). I want to show that: $D=\Omega(k)$ with exponential high probability. I'm interested in the case where $k/n \rightarrow 0$, e.g., $k=\sqrt{n}$.

I tried the following approach:

$D$ is the amount of nonempty bins when throwing $k$ balls into $n$ bins. $Y$ is the amount of empty bins when throwing $k$ balls into $n$ bins. So, $D=n-Y$.

Now, using Chernoff bound and the fact that $\text{E}[Y]=ne^{\frac{-k}{n}}$:

\begin{align}\Pr(Y>(1+\delta)\text{E}[Y])\le 2^{-\delta \text{E}[Y]}\\ \Pr(D<n-(1+\delta)\text{E}[Y])\le 2^{-\delta \text{E}[Y]}\end{align}

where $\delta>2e-1$.

I want to find $\Pr(D<\beta k)$, but to do so I have to take $\delta=\frac{n-\beta k-\text{E}[Y]}{\text{E}[Y]}$ which is negative since $\text{E}[Y]\rightarrow n$.

What I'm doing wrong, or there is some other way to show that $D=\Omega(k)$ with exponential high probability? Or maybe this statement is wrong?

Thanks!

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Your first task is to make precise the asymptotics you consider: $k\to\infty$ and $n\gt k$ but how? $n=k+1$, or $n\gg k$, or $n/k\to\alpha$ positive and finite? –  Did Jan 27 '13 at 16:22
Thank for the comment. I'm interested in the case where $k/n \rightarrow 0$, e.g., $k=\sqrt{n}$. –  Michael Jan 27 '13 at 16:27

so I have to take $\delta=\frac{n-\beta k-\text{E}[Y]}{\text{E}[Y]}$ which is negative since $\text{E}[Y]\rightarrow\infty$ (first version of the question), or $\text{E}[Y]\rightarrow n$ (revised version of the question).

Not quite...

• First, the mean of $Y$ is not what you write but $\mathbb E(Y)=n\left(1-\frac1n\right)^k$.
• Second, $\delta$ has the sign of the numerator divided by $n$, which is $$\gamma=1-\beta\frac{k}n-\left(1-\frac1n\right)^k.$$ For every fixed $\beta\lt1$, when $n\to\infty$ with $k\ll n$, one gets $$\gamma=1-\beta\frac{k}n-\left(1-\frac{k}n+o\left(\frac{k}n\right)\right)\sim(1-\beta)\frac{k}n,$$ hence $\gamma\gt0$ for every $n$ large enough.

Edit: One can control the distribution of $D$ as follows. Consider the event $[D\leqslant k-i]$ and choose the $k$ numbers sequentially. Then $D\leqslant k-i$ means that at least $i$ times, one chooses an already chosen number. This happens each time with probability $\leqslant\frac{k}n$ and there are $\binom{k}i\leqslant2^k$ ways of choosing these $i$ moments, hence $\mathbb P(D\leqslant k-i)\leqslant2^k\left(\frac{k}n\right)^i$ $(\ast)$.

For example, $\mathbb P(D\leqslant\frac12k)\leqslant\mathrm e^{-\Lambda(n,k)}$ with $\Lambda(n,k)=-\frac12k\log\left(\frac{k}n\right)-k\log2$. One sees that, if $1\ll k\ll n$, then $\Lambda(n,k)\gg k$ hence the control on $\mathbb P(D\leqslant\frac12k)$ is at least exponential in $k$.

Edit 2: To see that $(\ast)$ holds, for every subset $I$ of $\{1,2,\ldots,k\}$ of size $i$, call $A_I$ the event that at every time in $I$ one chooses an already chosen number and at every time not in $I$ but earlier than some element in $I$ one chooses a new number (at every time not in $I$ later than the whole set $I$, the choice is free). Then the events $A_I$ are disjoint and their union over every $I$ of size $i$ included in $\{1,2,\ldots,k\}$ is $[D\leqslant k-i]$. There are exactly ${k\choose i}\leqslant2^k$ such sets $I$, and for every such set $I$, $\mathbb P(A_I)\leqslant\left(\frac{k}n\right)^i$. The upper bound of $\mathbb P(D\leqslant k-i)$ follows.

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Thanks Did! I will check it tonight. –  Michael Jan 27 '13 at 16:47
No, it didn't work... to use this formula ($2^{-\delta \text{E}[Y]}$), we have to ensure that $\delta > 2e-1$ which is not the case here... And if I use the general Chernoff bound: $$\Pr(D<n-(1+\delta)\text{E}[Y])\le \left(\frac{e^{\delta}}{(1+\delta)^{1+\delta}}\right)^{\text{E}[Y]},$$ I get that this probability goes to 1 and not to 0... So maybe the statement that $D=\Omega(k)$ w.h.p. is not correct? –  Michael Jan 28 '13 at 9:29
Hmmm, rather unconventional, I would say. // Anyway, see Edit. –  Did Jan 28 '13 at 14:00
Forget my last comment and see Edit 2. –  Did Feb 18 '13 at 17:14
No. Please read: for every subset $I$ of {1,2,…,k} *of size $i$**, *call $A_I$ the event... and, later on, *There are exactly ${k\choose i}$*... **such sets** $I$. –  Did Feb 19 '13 at 7:58