User talk:CuriousTortoise
April 2025
[edit]
Hello, I'm Doniago. I noticed that you added or changed content in an article, Bell number, but you didn't provide a reliable source. It's been removed and archived in the page history for now, but if you'd like to include a citation and re-add it, please do so. You can have a look at referencing for beginners. If you think I made a mistake, you can leave me a message on my talk page. Thank you. DonIago (talk) 20:16, 18 April 2025 (UTC)
- Hello Doniago!
- Thank you for your thorough analysis of my edit!
- I had noticed only recursive formulas were (explicitly) given for Bell numbers, and I reckon it is quite useful for viewers to know it is possible to express them in a non-recursive closed form, hence the edit :)
- Regarding the reference, I used the Wikipedia page itself, for the definition of Stirling numbers of the second kind. What I did is basically use the line defining Bell numbers in terms of Stirling numbers of the second kind, which was already there, and plugged-in a direct formula for these Stirling numbers, coming from the Wikipedia page I cited. How do you think I should republish it in a clearer form? Adding an external reference for the definition of Stirling numbers or explain better the derivation of the formula, or both? :) CuriousTortoise (talk) 16:34, 19 April 2025 (UTC)
- I think you need a reliable source that explicitly references the calculation you wish to include, and if you add explanatory text, you'll need a source that corroborates that text. Otherwise readers have no idea where the calculation came from, including the possibility that we just made it up. Hope this helps! DonIago (talk) 01:45, 20 April 2025 (UTC)
- Ok thanks, I've just tried another version, feel free to tell me if you think it can be improved further :) CuriousTortoise (talk) 17:55, 20 April 2025 (UTC)
- My main concern was that your original edit didn't include a reference as to where you were getting your calculation from. Thank you for providing a reference in your new edit. I won't challenge it, though I can't presume to speak for other editors. DonIago (talk) 22:57, 20 April 2025 (UTC)
- Cool, let's see! Thank you for helping me, and for making Wikipedia better in general ! CuriousTortoise (talk) 23:20, 20 April 2025 (UTC)
- My main concern was that your original edit didn't include a reference as to where you were getting your calculation from. Thank you for providing a reference in your new edit. I won't challenge it, though I can't presume to speak for other editors. DonIago (talk) 22:57, 20 April 2025 (UTC)
- Ok thanks, I've just tried another version, feel free to tell me if you think it can be improved further :) CuriousTortoise (talk) 17:55, 20 April 2025 (UTC)
- I think you need a reliable source that explicitly references the calculation you wish to include, and if you add explanatory text, you'll need a source that corroborates that text. Otherwise readers have no idea where the calculation came from, including the possibility that we just made it up. Hope this helps! DonIago (talk) 01:45, 20 April 2025 (UTC)