T(m, n) is the total number of ordered sets of size 1 to n that can be created from m distinct items. For example, for 4 items taken 1 to 3 at a time, there are P(4, 1) + P(4, 2) + P(4, 3) = 4 + 12 + 24 = 40 total sets: 1, 12, 123, 124, 13, 132, 134, 14, 142, 143, 2, 21, 213, 214, 23, 231, 234, 24, 241, 243, 3, 31, 312, 314, 32, 321, 324, 34, 341, 342, 4, 41, 412, 413, 42, 421, 423, 43, 431, 432.
T(m, n) is the total number of tests in a software program that generates all P(m, n) possible solutions to a problem, allowing early-termination testing on each partial permutation, and not doing any such early termination. For example, from a deck of 52 cards, evaluate all possible 5-card deals as each card is dealt. T(52, 5) = 318507904 total evaluations.
T(m, n) counts the numbers with <= n distinct nonzero digits in base m+1. -
M. F. Hasler, Oct 10 2019