THE STRUCTURE OF RANDOM PARTITIONS OF LARGE INTEGERS

Random partitions of integers are treated in the case where all partitions of an integer are assumed to have the same probability. The focus is on limit theorems as the number being partitioned approaches infinity. The limiting probability distribution of the appropriately normalized number of parts of some small size is exponential. The large parts are described by a particular Markov chain. A central limit theorem and a law of large numbers holds for the numbers of intermediate parts of certain sizes. The major tool is a simple construction of random partitions that treats the number being partitioned as a random variable. The same technique is useful when some restriction is placed on partitions, such as the requirement that all parts must be distinct.