Proof strategy - Stirling numbers formula

I need to prove such a formula:

$$\left\{ \begin{matrix} n \\ k-1 \end{matrix} \right\} \cdot \left\{ \begin{matrix} n \\ k+1 \end{matrix} \right\} \le \left\{ \begin{matrix} n \\ k \end{matrix} \right\}^{2} \\$$ Where {} are Stirling numbers of the second kind.
(number of ways to partition a set of n objects into k non-empty subsets).

I tried to figure out some combinatorial proof, but failed.

I'd be grateful for any help.

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What is the source of this problem? – Aryabhata Mar 8 '12 at 21:55

3
– Sasha Mar 8 '12 at 22:26

1
– Mike Spivey Mar 8 '12 at 22:34
There is a fairly short but very non-combinatorial proof in Herbert S. Wilf’s generatingfunctionology, which may be downloaded here as a hyperlinked PDF. The desired result is Corollary 4.5.3. Do you just need a proof, or do you specifically want t combinatorial proof? – Brian M. Scott Mar 9 '12 at 8:53
Combinatorial proof was rather my personal guess. I just noticed that huge amount of Stirling-number-related formulas have clear and easy combinatorial proof, that's all. – Maria McKee Mar 9 '12 at 11:35
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