StirlingS2[n,m]
gives the Stirling number of the second kind .


StirlingS2
StirlingS2[n,m]
gives the Stirling number of the second kind .
Details

- Integer mathematical function, suitable for both symbolic and numerical manipulation.
- StirlingS2 is defined as the conversion matrix from Power of continuous calculus to FactorialPower of discrete calculus
, where
.
gives the number of ways of partitioning a set of
elements into
non‐empty subsets. »
- StirlingS2 automatically threads over lists.
Examples
open all close allBasic Examples (1)
Scope (2)
Applications (5)
Plot Stirling numbers of the second kind on a logarithmic scale:
Define a recursive function for generating set partitions:
Generate all set partitions of n elements:
Count the number of set partitions that have 1, 2, … n disjoint subsets:
The Stirling number of the second kind counts the number of disjoint subsets:
Closed form of derivatives of compositions with exponential functions:
A fair ‐sided die is thrown
times independently. The probability that all faces appear at least once is given in terms of Stirling numbers of the second kind:
Properties & Relations (7)
Generate values from the ordinary generating function:
Generate values from the exponential generating function:
Stirling numbers of the second kind are effectively inverses of Stirling numbers of the first kind:
Calculate large Stirling numbers of the second kind using Cauchy's theorem:
Generate Stirling numbers of the second kind from the commutation relation :
The limit of finite differences of powers are Stirling numbers of the second kind:
Stirling numbers of the second kind are given by a partial Bell polynomial with unit arguments:
Possible Issues (2)
Tech Notes
Related Guides
Related Links
History
Introduced in 1988 (1.0)
Text
Wolfram Research (1988), StirlingS2, Wolfram Language function, https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/StirlingS2.html.
CMS
Wolfram Language. 1988. "StirlingS2." Wolfram Language & System Documentation Center. Wolfram Research. https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/StirlingS2.html.
APA
Wolfram Language. (1988). StirlingS2. Wolfram Language & System Documentation Center. Retrieved from https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/StirlingS2.html
BibTeX
@misc{reference.wolfram_2025_stirlings2, author="Wolfram Research", title="{StirlingS2}", year="1988", howpublished="\url{https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/StirlingS2.html}", note=[Accessed: 14-August-2025]}
BibLaTeX
@online{reference.wolfram_2025_stirlings2, organization={Wolfram Research}, title={StirlingS2}, year={1988}, url={https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/StirlingS2.html}, note=[Accessed: 14-August-2025]}