[Math] How many ways are there to put 6 balls in 3 boxes if the balls are distinguishable but the boxes are not

combinatorics

Thanks.

How many ways are there to put 6 balls in 3 boxes if the balls are distinguishable but the boxes are not?

I've tried finding the cases and then brute forcing it, but that won't work. Any help?

Best Answer

You are looking for the ways for partitioning a set with $6$ elements in three subsets. If you allow empty subsets, the answer is given by $${6\brace 1}+{6\brace 2}+{6\brace 3} = 122$$ otherwise it is given by ${6\brace 3}=90$, with ${n\brace k}$ being a Stirling number of the second kind.