text
stringlengths
17
3.36M
source
stringlengths
3
333
__index_level_0__
int64
0
518k
We classify finite posets with a particular sorting property, generalizing a result for rectangular arrays. Each poset is covered by two sets of disjoint saturated chains such that, for any original labeling, after sorting the labels along both sets of chains, the labels of the chains in the first set remain sorted. We also characterize posets with more restrictive sorting properties.
A Non-Messing-Up Phenomenon for Posets
14,000
We give an extension of the lower bound of Vucic and Zivaljevic for the number of Tverberg partitions from the prime to the prime power case. Our proof is inspired by the Z_p-index version of the proof in Matousek's book "Using the Borsuk-Ulam Theorem" and uses Volovikov's Lemma. Analogously, one obtains an extension of the lower bound for the number of different splittings of a generic necklace to the prime power case.
On the number of Tverberg partitions in the prime power case
14,001
Ordinary polytopes were introduced by Bisztriczky as a (nonsimplicial) generalization of cyclic polytopes. We show that the colex order of facets of the ordinary polytope is a shelling order. This shelling shares many nice properties with the shellings of simplicial polytopes. We also give a shallow triangulation of the ordinary polytope, and show how the shelling and the triangulation are used to compute the toric h-vector of the ordinary polytope. As one consequence, we get that the contribution from each shelling component to the h-vector is nonnegative. Another consequence is a combinatorial proof that the entries of the h-vector of any ordinary polytope are simple sums of binomial coefficients.
Shelling and triangulating the (extra)ordinary polytope
14,002
We start with a bijective proof of Schur's theorem due to Alladi and Gordon and describe how a particular iteration of it leads to some very general theorems on colored partitions. These theorems imply a number of important results, including Schur's theorem, Bressoud's generalization of a theorem of G\"ollnitz, two of Andrews' generalizations of Schur's theorem, and the Andrews-Olsson identities.
An iterative-bijective approach to generalizations of Schur's theorem
14,003
We provide a direct proof that a finite graded lattice with a maximal chain of left modular elements is supersolvable. This result was first established via a detour through EL-labellings in [McNamara-Thomas] by combining results of McNamara and Liu. As part of our proof, we show that the maximum graded quotient of the free product of a chain and a single-element lattice is finite and distributive.
Graded left modular lattices are supersolvable
14,004
In this paper, we investigate tropical secant varieties of ordinary linear spaces. These correspond to the log-limit sets of ordinary toric varieties; we show that their interesting parts are combinatorially isomorphic to a certain natural subcomplex of the complex of regular subdivisions of a corresponding point set, and we display the range of behavior of this object. We also use this characterization to reformulate the question of determining Barvinok rank into a question regarding regular subdivisions of products of simplices.
Tropical secant varieties of linear spaces
14,005
The k-Young lattice Y^k is a weak subposet of the Young lattice containing partitions whose first part is bounded by an integer k>0. The Y^k poset was introduced in connection with generalized Schur functions and later shown to be isomorphic to the weak order on the quotient of the affine symmetric group by a maximal parabolic subgroup. We prove a number of properties for $Y^k$ including that the covering relation is preserved when elements are translated by rectangular partitions with hook-length $k$. We highlight the order ideal generated by an $m\times n$ rectangular shape. This order ideal, L^k(m,n), reduces to L(m,n) for large k, and we prove it is isomorphic to the induced subposet of L(m,n) whose vertex set is restricted to elements with no more than k-m+1 parts smaller than m. We provide explicit formulas for the number of elements and the rank-generating function of L^k(m,n). We conclude with unimodality conjectures involving q-binomial coefficients and discuss how implications connect to recent work on sieved q-binomial coefficients.
Order ideals in weak subposets of Young's lattice and associated unimodality conjectures
14,006
An r-book of size q is a union of q (r+1)-cliques sharing a common r-clique. We find exactly the Ramsey number of a p-clique versus r-books of sufficiently large size. Furthermore, we find asymptotically the Ramsey number of any fixed p-chromatic graph versus r-books of sufficiently large size. The key element in our proofs is Szemeredi's Regularity Lemma.
Large generalized books are p-good
14,007
Magic labelings of graphs are studied in great detail by Stanley and Stewart. In this article, we construct and enumerate magic labelings of graphs using Hilbert bases of polyhedral cones and Ehrhart quasi-polynomials of polytopes. We define polytopes of magic labelings of graphs and digraphs. We give a description of the faces of the Birkhoff polytope as polytopes of magic labelings of digraphs.
Magic graphs and the faces of the Birkhoff polytope
14,008
Consider a single walker on the slit plane, that is, the square grid Z^2 without its negative x-axis, who starts at the origin and takes his steps from a given set S. Mireille Bousquet-Melou conjectured that -- excluding pathological cases -- the generating function counting the number of possible walks is algebraic if and only if the walker cannot cross the negative x-axis without touching it. In this paper we prove a special case of her conjecture.
Transcendence of generating functions of walks on the slit plane
14,009
We introduce a permutation analogue of the celebrated Szemeredi Regularity Lemma, and derive a number of consequences. This tool allows us to provide a structural description of permutations which avoid a specified pattern, a result that permutations which scatter small intervals contain all possible patterns of a given size, a proof that every permutation avoiding a specified pattern has a nearly monotone linear-sized subset, and a ``thin deletion'' result. We also show how one can count sub-patterns of a permutation with an integral, and relate our results to permutation quasirandomness in a manner analogous to the graph-theoretic setting.
A Permutation Regularity Lemma
14,010
Inspired by Coxeter's notion of Petrie polygon for $d$-polytopes (see \cite{Cox73}), we consider a generalization of the notion of zigzag circuits on complexes and compute the zigzag structure for several interesting families of $d$-polytopes, including semiregular, regular-faced, Wythoff Archimedean ones, Conway's 4-polytopes, half-cubes, folded cubes. Also considered are regular maps and Lins triality relations on maps.
Zigzag structure of complexes
14,011
In a recent paper, Backelin, West and Xin describe a map $\phi ^*$ that recursively replaces all occurrences of the pattern $k... 21$ in a permutation $\sigma$ by occurrences of the pattern $(k-1)... 21 k$. The resulting permutation $\phi^*(\sigma)$ contains no decreasing subsequence of length $k$. We prove that, rather unexpectedly, the map $\phi ^*$ commutes with taking the inverse of a permutation. In the BWX paper, the definition of $\phi^*$ is actually extended to full rook placements on a Ferrers board (the permutations correspond to square boards), and the construction of the map $\phi^*$ is the key step in proving the following result. Let $T$ be a set of patterns starting with the prefix $12... k$. Let $T'$ be the set of patterns obtained by replacing this prefix by $k... 21$ in every pattern of $T$. Then for all $n$, the number of permutations of the symmetric group $\Sn_n$ that avoid $T$ equals the number of permutations of $\Sn_n$ that avoid $T'$. Our commutation result, generalized to Ferrers boards, implies that the number of {\em involutions} of $\Sn_n$ that avoid $T$ is equal to the number of involutions of $\Sn_n$ avoiding $T'$, as recently conjectured by Jaggard.
Decreasing subsequences in permutations and Wilf equivalence for involutions
14,012
Let $d, r \in \N$, $\|\cdot\|$ any norm on $\R^d$ and $B$ denote the unit ball with respect to this norm. We show that any sequence $v_1,v_2,...$ of vectors in $B$ can be partitioned into $r$ subsequences $V_1, ..., V_r$ in a balanced manner with respect to the partial sums: For all $n \in \N$, $\ell \le r$, we have $\|\sum_{i \le k, v_i \in V_\ell} v_i - \tfrac 1r \sum_{i \le k} v_i\| \le 2.0005 d$. A similar bound holds for partitioning sequences of vector sets. Both results extend an earlier one of B\'ar\'any and Grinberg (1981) to partitions in arbitrarily many classes.
Balanced Partitions of Vector Sequences
14,013
Associated with every graph $G$ of chromatic number $\chi$ is another graph $G'$. The vertex set of $G'$ consists of all $\chi$-colorings of $G$, and two $\chi$-colorings are adjacent when they differ on exactly one vertex. According to a conjecture of Bj\"{o}rner and Lov\'asz, this graph $G'$ must be disconnected. In this note we give a counterexample to this conjecture.
A counterexample to a conjecture of Björner and Lovász on the $χ$-coloring complex
14,014
MacMahon's classic theorem states that the 'length' and 'major index' statistics are equidistributed on the symmetric group S_n. By defining natural analogues or generalizations of those statistics, similar equidistribution results have been obtained for the alternating group A_n by Regev and Roichman, for the hyperoctahedral group B_n by Adin, Brenti and Roichman, and for the group of even-signed permutations D_n by Biagioli. We prove analogues of MacMahon's equidistribution theorem for the group of signed even permutations and for its subgroup of even-signed even permutations.
MacMahon-type Identities for Signed Even Permutations
14,015
We define an equivalence relation on integer compositions and show that two ribbon Schur functions are identical if and only if their defining compositions are equivalent in this sense. This equivalence is completely determined by means of a factorization for compositions: equivalent compositions have factorizations that differ only by reversing some of the terms. As an application, we can derive identities on certain Littlewood-Richardson coefficients. Finally, we consider the cone of symmetric functions having a nonnnegative representation in terms of the fundamental quasisymmetric basis. We show the Schur functions are among the extremes of this cone and conjecture its facets are in bijection with the equivalence classes of compositions.
Decomposable compositions, symmetric quasisymmetric functions and equality of ribbon Schur functions
14,016
We describe how to construct and enumerate Magic squares, Franklin squares, Magic cubes, and Magic graphs as lattice points inside polyhedral cones using techniques from Algebraic Combinatorics. The main tools of our methods are the Hilbert Poincare series to enumerate lattice points and the Hilbert bases to generate lattice points. We define polytopes of magic labelings of graphs and digraphs, and give a description of the faces of the Birkhoff polytope as polytopes of magic labelings of digraphs.
Algebraic Combinatorics of Magic Squares
14,017
Louis Solomon showed that the group algebra of the symmetric group $\mathfrak{S}_{n}$ has a subalgebra called the descent algebra, generated by sums of permutations with a given descent set. In fact, he showed that every Coxeter group has something that can be called a descent algebra. There is also a commutative, semisimple subalgebra of Solomon's descent algebra generated by sums of permutations with the same number of descents: an "Eulerian" descent algebra. For any Coxeter group that is also a Weyl group, Paola Cellini proved the existence of a different Eulerian subalgebra based on a modified definition of descent. We derive the existence of Cellini's subalgebra for the case of the symmetric group and of the hyperoctahedral group using a variation on Richard Stanley's theory of $P$-partitions.
Cyclic descents and P-partitions
14,018
We bound several quantities related to the packing density of the patterns 1(L+1)L...2. These bounds sharpen results of B\'ona, Sagan, and Vatter and give a new proof of the packing density of these patterns, originally computed by Stromquist in the case L=2 and by Price for larger L. We end with comments and conjectures.
Bounding quantities related to the packing density of 1(L+1)L...2
14,019
We prove that the order complex of a geometric lattice has a convex ear decomposition. As a consequence, if D(L) is the order complex of a rank (r+1) geometric lattice L, then for all i \leq r/2 the h-vector of D(L) satisfies h(i-1) \leq h(i) and h(i) \leq h(r-i). We also obtain several inequalities for the flag h-vector of D(L) by analyzing the weak Bruhat order of the symmetric group. As an application, we obtain a zonotopal cd-analogue of the Dowling-Wilson characterization of geometric lattices which minimize Whitney numbers of the second kind. In addition, we are able to give a combinatorial flag h-vector proof of h(i-1) \leq h(i) when i \leq (2/7)(r + 5/2).
Inequalities for the h- and flag h-vectors of geometric lattices
14,020
We consider sums of the form \[\sum_{j=0}^{n-1}F_1(a_1n+b_1j+c_1)F_2(a_2n+b_2j+c_2)... F_k(a_kn+b_kj+c_k),\] in which each $\{F_i(n)\}$ is a sequence that satisfies a linear recurrence of degree $D(i)<\infty$, with constant coefficients. We assume further that the $a_i$'s and the $a_i+b_i$'s are all nonnegative integers. We prove that such a sum always has a closed form, in the sense that it evaluates to a linear combination of a finite set of monomials in the values of the sequences $\{F_i(n)\}$ with coefficients that are polynomials in $n$. We explicitly describe two different sets of monomials that will form such a linear combination, and give an algorithm for finding these closed forms, thereby completely automating the solution of this class of summation problems. We exhibit tools for determining when these explicit evaluations are unique of their type, and prove that in a number of interesting cases they are indeed unique. We also discuss some special features of the case of ``indefinite summation," in which $a_1=a_2=... = a_k = 0$.
Closed form summation of C-finite sequences
14,021
Inversion formulas have been found, converting between Stirling, tanh and Lah numbers. Tanh and Lah polynomials, analogous to the Stirling polynomials, have been defined and their basic properties established. New identities for Stirling and tangent numbers and polynomials have been derived from the general inverse relations. In the second part of the paper, it has been shown that if shifted-gamma probability densities and negative binomial distributions are matched by equating their first three semi-invariants (cumulants), then the cumulants of the two distributions are related by a pair of reciprocal linear combinations equivalent to the inversion formulas established in the first part.
Inversions relating Stirling, tanh, Lah numbers and an application to Mathematical Statistics
14,022
We introduce analogues of the Hopf algebra of Free quasi-symmetric functions with bases labelled by colored permutations. As applications, we recover in a simple way the descent algebras associated with wreath products $\Gamma\wr\SG_n$ and the corresponding generalizations of quasi-symmetric functions. Also, we obtain Hopf algebras of colored parking functions, colored non-crossing partitions and parking functions of type $B$.
Free quasi-symmetric functions of arbitrary level
14,023
We generalize the notion of graded posets to what we call sign-graded (labeled) posets. We prove that the $W$-polynomial of a sign-graded poset is symmetric and unimodal. This extends a recent result of Reiner and Welker who proved it for graded posets by associating a simplicial polytopal sphere to each graded poset $P$. By proving that the $W$-polynomials of sign-graded posets has the right sign at -1, we are able to prove the Charney-Davis Conjecture for these spheres (whenever they are flag).
Sign-graded posets, unimodality of $W$-polynomials and the Charney-Davis Conjecture
14,024
We consider a multivariate generating function F(z), whose coefficients are indexed by d-tuples of nonnegative integers: F(z) = sum_r a_r z^r where z^r denotes the product of z_j^{r_j} over j = 1, ..., d. Suppose that F(z) is meromorphic in some neighborhood of the origin in complex d-space. Let V be the set where the denominator of F vanishes. Effective asymptotic expansions for the coefficients can be obtained by complex contour integration near points of V. In the first article in this series, we treated the case of smooth points of V. In this article we deal with multiple points of V. Our results show that the central limit (Ornstein-Zernike) behavior typical of the smooth case does not hold in the multiple point case. For example, when V has a multiple point singularity at the point (1, ..., 1), rather than a_r decaying on the order of |r|^{-1/2} as |r| goes to infinity, a_r is a polynomial plus a rapidly decaying term.
Asymptotics of multivariate sequences, II: multiple points of the singular variety
14,025
We survey results on the pebbling numbers of graphs as well as their historical connection with a number-theoretic question of Erd\H os and Lemke. We also present new results on two probabilistic pebbling considerations, first the random graph threshold for the property that the pebbling number of a graph equals its number of vertices, and second the pebbling threshold function for various natural graph sequences. Finally, we relate the question of the existence of pebbling thresholds to a strengthening of the normal property of posets, and show that the multiset lattice is not supernormal.
A Survey of Graph Pebbling
14,026
The main contribution of this work is a new type of graph product, which we call the {\it zig-zag product}. Taking a product of a large graph with a small graph, the resulting graph inherits (roughly) its size from the large one, its degree from the small one, and its expansion properties from both! Iteration yields simple explicit constructions of constant-degree expanders of arbitrary size, starting from one constant-size expander. Crucial to our intuition (and simple analysis) of the properties of this graph product is the view of expanders as functions which act as ``entropy wave" propagators -- they transform probability distributions in which entropy is concentrated in one area to distributions where that concentration is dissipated. In these terms, the graph products affords the constructive interference of two such waves. Subsequent work [ALW01], [MW01] relates the zig-zag product of graphs to the standard semidirect product of groups, leading to new results and constructions on expanding Cayley graphs.
Entropy waves, the zig-zag graph product, and new constant-degree
14,027
We say that a graph G is Class 0 if its pebbling number is exactly equal to its number of vertices. For a positive integer d, let k(d) denote the least positive integer so that every graph G with diameter at most d and connectivity at least k(d) is Class 0. The existence of the function k was conjectured by Clarke, Hochberg and Hurlbert, who showed that if the function k exists, then it must satisfy k(d)=\Omega(2^d/d). In this note, we show that k exists and satisfies k(d)=O(2^{2d}). We also apply this result to improve the upper bound on the random graph threshold of the Class 0 property.
A Note on Graph Pebbling
14,028
In this paper we prove two multiset analogs of classical results. We prove a multiset analog of Lovasz's version of the Kruskal-Katona Theorem and an analog of the Bollobas-Thomason threshold result. As a corollary we obtain the existence of pebbling thresholds for arbitrary graph sequences. In addition, we improve both the lower and upper bounds for the `random pebbling' threshold of the sequence of paths.
Thresholds for families of multisets, with an application to graph pebbling
14,029
We study the positive Bergman complex B+(M) of an oriented matroid M, which is a certain subcomplex of the Bergman complex B(M) of the underlying unoriented matroid. The positive Bergman complex is defined so that given a linear ideal I with associated oriented matroid M_I, the positive tropical variety associated to I is equal to the fan over B+(M_I). Our main result is that a certain "fine" subdivision of B+(M) is a geometric realization of the order complex of the proper part of the Las Vergnas face lattice of M. It follows that B+(M) is homeomorphic to a sphere. For the oriented matroid of the complete graph K_n, we show that the face poset of the "coarse" subdivision of B+(K_n) is dual to the face poset of the associahedron A_{n-2}, and we give a formula for the number of fine cells within a coarse cell.
The Positive Bergman Complex of an Oriented Matroid
14,030
A configuration of pebbles on the vertices of a graph is solvable if one can place a pebble on any given root vertex via a sequence of pebbling steps. The pebbling number of a graph G is the minimum number pi(G) so that every configuration of pi(G) pebbles is solvable. A graph is Class 0 if its pebbling number equals its number of vertices. A function is a pebbling threshold for a sequence of graphs if a randomly chosen configuration of asymptotically more pebbles is almost surely solvable, while one of asymptotically fewer pebbles is almost surely not. Here we prove that graphs on n>=9 vertices having minimum degree at least floor(n/2) are Class 0, as are bipartite graphs with m>=336 vertices in each part having minimum degree at least floor(m/2)+1. Both bounds are best possible. In addition, we prove that the pebbling threshold of graphs with minimum degree d, with sqrt{n} << d, is O(n^{3/2}/d), which is tight when d is proportional to n.
Pebbling in Dense Graphs
14,031
A configuration of pebbles on the vertices of a graph is solvable if one can place a pebble on any given root vertex via a sequence of pebbling steps. A function is a pebbling threshold for a sequence of graphs if a randomly chosen configuration of asymptotically more pebbles is almost surely solvable, while one of asymptotically fewer pebbles is almost surely not. In this note we show that the spectrum of pebbling thresholds for graph sequences spans the entire range from n^{1/2} to n. This answers a question of Czygrinow, Eaton, Hurlbert and Kayll. What the spectrum looks like above n remains unknown.
On the Pebbling Threshold Spectrum
14,032
We show that with any finite partially ordered set one can associate a matrix whose determinant factors nicely. As corollaries, we obtain a number of results in the literature about GCD matrices and their relatives. Our main theorem is proved combinatorially using nonintersecting paths in a directed graph.
GCD matrices, posets, and nonintersecting paths
14,033
In this note we answer a question of Hurlbert about pebbling in graphs of high girth. Specifically we show that for every g there is a Class 0 graph of girth at least g. The proof uses the so-called Erdos construction and employs a recent result proved by Czygrinow, Hurlbert, Kierstead and Trotter. We also use the Czygrinow et al. result to prove that Graham's pebbling product conjecture holds for dense graphs. Finally, we consider a generalization of Graham's conjecture to thresholds of graph sequences and find reasonably tight bounds on the pebbling threshold of the sequence of d-dimensional grids, verifying an important instance the generalization.
Girth, Pebbling, and Grid Thresholds
14,034
Given an initial configuration of pebbles on a graph, one can move pebbles in pairs along edges, at the cost of one of the pebbles moved, with the objective of reaching a specified target vertex. The pebbling number of a graph is the minimum number of pebbles so that every configuration of that many pebbles can reach any chosen target. The pebbling threshold of a sequence of graphs is roughly the number of pebbles so that almost every (resp. almost no) configuration of asymptotically more (resp. fewer) pebbles can reach any chosen target. In this paper we find the pebbling threshold of the sequence of squares of cliques, improving upon an earlier result of Boyle and verifying an important instance of a probabilistic version of Graham's product conjecture.
The Pebbling Threshold of the Square of Cliques
14,035
We construct compact polyhedra with triangular faces whose links are generalized 3-gons. They are interesting compact spaces covered by Euclidean buildings of type $A_2$. Those spaces give us two-dimensional subshifts, which can be used to construct some $C^*$-algebras.
$C^*$-algebras coming from some buildings
14,036
In this paper, we present a reduction algorithm which transforms $m$-regular partitions of $[n]=\{1, 2, ..., n\}$ to $(m-1)$-regular partitions of $[n-1]$. We show that this algorithm preserves the noncrossing property. This yields a simple explanation of an identity due to Simion-Ullman and Klazar in connection with enumeration problems on noncrossing partitions and RNA secondary structures. For ordinary noncrossing partitions, the reduction algorithm leads to a representation of noncrossing partitions in terms of independent arcs and loops, as well as an identity of Simion and Ullman which expresses the Narayana numbers in terms of the Catalan numbers.
Reduction of $m$-Regular Noncrossing Partitions
14,037
A pebbling move on a graph consists of taking two pebbles off of one vertex and placing one pebble on an adjacent vertex. In the traditional pebbling problem we try to reach a specified vertex of the graph by a sequence of pebbling moves. In this paper we investigate the case when every vertex of the graph must end up with at least one pebble after a series of pebbling moves. The cover pebbling number of a graph is the minimum number of pebbles such that however the pebbles are initially placed on the vertices of the graph we can eventually put a pebble on every vertex simultaneously. We find the cover pebbling numbers of trees and some other graphs. We also consider the more general problem where (possibly different) given numbers of pebbles are required for the vertices.
The Cover Pebbling Number of Graphs
14,038
For $z_1,z_2,z_3 \in \Z^n$, the \emph{tristance} $d_3(z_1,z_2,z_3)$ is a generalization of the $L_1$-distance on $\Z^n$ to a quantity that reflects the relative dispersion of three points rather than two. A tristance anticode $\cA_d$ of diameter $d$ is a subset of $\Z^n$ with the property that $d_3(z_1,z_2,z_3) \leq d$ for all $z_1,z_2,z_3 \in \cA_d$. An anticode is optimal if it has the largest possible cardinality for its diameter $d$. We determine the cardinality and completely classify the optimal tristance anticodes in $\Z^2$ for all diameters $d \ge 1$. We then generalize this result to two related distance models: a different distance structure on $\Z^2$ where $d(z_1,z_2) = 1$ if $z_1,z_2$ are adjacent either horizontally, vertically, or diagonally, and the distance structure obtained when $\Z^2$ is replaced by the hexagonal lattice $A_2$. We also investigate optimal tristance anticodes in $\Z^3$ and optimal quadristance anticodes in $\Z^2$, and provide bounds on their cardinality. We conclude with a brief discussion of the applications of our results to multi-dimensional interleaving schemes and to connectivity loci in the game of Go.
Optimal Tristance Anticodes in Certain Graphs
14,039
We introduce the notion of the cutting strip of an outside decomposition of a skew shape, and show that cutting strips are in one-to-one correspondence with outside decompositions for a given skew shape. Outside decompositions are introduced by Hamel and Goulden and are used to give an identity for the skew Schur function that unifies the determinantal expressions for the skew Schur functions including the Jacobi-Trudi determinant, its dual, the Giambelli determinant and the rim ribbon determinant due to Lascoux and Pragacz. Using cutting strips, one obtains a formula for the number of outside decompositions of a given skew shape. Moreover, one can define the basic transformations which we call the twist transformation among cutting strips, and derive a transformation theorem for the determinantal formula of Hamel and Goulden. The special case of the transformation theorem for the Giambelli identity and the rim ribbon identity was obtained by Lascoux and Pragacz. Our transformation theorem also applies to the supersymmetric skew Schur function.
Transformations of Border Strips and Schur Function Determinants
14,040
Consider the $2n$-by-$2n$ matrix $M=(m_{i,j})_{i,j=1}^{2n}$ with $m_{i,j} = 1$ for $i,j$ satisfying $|2i-2n-1|+|2j-2n-1| \leq 2n$ and $m_{i,j} = 0$ for all other $i,j$, consisting of a central diamond of 1's surrounded by 0's. When $n \geq 4$, the $\lambda$-determinant of the matrix $M$ (as introduced by Robbins and Rumsey) is not well-defined. However, if we replace the 0's by $t$'s, we get a matrix whose $\lambda$-determinant is well-defined and is a polynomial in $\lambda$ and $t$. The limit of this polynomial as $t \to 0$ is a polynomial in $\lambda$ whose value at $\lambda=1$ is the number of domino tilings of a $2n$-by-$2n$ square.
Lambda-determinants and domino-tilings
14,041
We derive a collection of identities for bivariate Fibonacci and Lucas polynomials using essentially a matrix approach as well as properties of such polynomials when the variables $x$ and $y$ are replaced by polynomials. A wealth of combinatorial identities can be obtained for selected values of the variables.
Some formulae for bivariate Fibonacci and Lucas polynomials
14,042
In 1981, Stanley applied the Aleksandrov-Fenchel inequalities to prove a logarithmic concavity theorem for regular matroids. Using ideas from electrical network theory we prove a generalization of this for the wider class of matroids with the ``half-plane property''. Then we explore a nest of inequalities for weighted basis-generating polynomials that are related to these ideas. As a first result from this investigation we find that every matroid of rank three or corank three satisfies a condition only slightly weaker than the conclusion of Stanley's theorem.
Remarks on one combinatorial application of the Aleksandrov-Fenchel inequalities
14,043
The classical Ramsey theorem, states that every graph contains either a large clique or a large independent set. Here we investigate similar dichotomic phenomena in the context of finite metric spaces. Namely, we prove statements of the form "Every finite metric space contains a large subspace that is nearly quilateral or far from being equilateral". We consider two distinct interpretations for being "far from equilateral". Proximity among metric spaces is quantified through the metric distortion D. We provide tight asymptotic answers for these problems. In particular, we show that a phase transition occurs at D=2.
On Metric Ramsey-type Dichotomies
14,044
Let the Bessel number of the second kind B(n,k) be the number of set partitions of [n] into k blocks of size one or two, and let the Bessel number of the first kind b(n,k) be a certain coefficient in n-th Bessel polynomial. In this paper, we show that Bessel numbers satisfy two properties of Stirling numbers: The two kinds of Bessel numbers are related by inverse formulas, and both Bessel numbers of the first kind and the second kind form log-concave sequences. By constructing sign-reversing involutions, we prove the inverse formulas. We review Krattenthaler's injection for the log-concavity of Bessel numbers of the second kind, and give a new explicit injection for the log-concavity of signless Bessel numbers of the first kind.
Combinatorial proofs of inverse relations and log-concavity for Bessel numbers
14,045
Here we give two bijections, one to show that the number of UUU-free Dyck n-paths is the Motzkin number M_n, the other to obtain the (known) distributions of the parameters "number of UDUs" and "number of DDUs" on Dyck n-paths. The first bijection is straightforward, the second not quite so obvious.
Two Bijections for Dyck Path Parameters
14,046
We prove that the mixed discriminant of doubly stochastic $n$-tuples of semidefinite hermitian $n \times n$ matrices is bounded below by $\frac{n!}{n^{n}}$ and that this bound is uniquely attained at the $n$-tuple $(\frac{1}{n} I,...,\frac{1}{n} I)$. This result settles a conjecture posed by R. Bapat in 1989. We consider various generalizations and applications of this result.
Van der Waerden Conjecture for Mixed Discriminants
14,047
We prove Stanley's plethysm conjecture for the $2 \times n$ case, which composed with the work of Black and List provides another proof of Foulkes conjecture for the $2 \times n$ case. We also show that the way Stanley formulated his conjecture, it is false in general, and suggest an alternative formulation.
On plethysm conjectures of Stanley and Foulkes: the $2 \times n$ case
14,048
We apply the method of characteristics for the solution of pde's to two combinatorial problems. The first is finding an explicit form for a distribution that arises in bio-informatics. The second is a question raised by Graham, Knuth and Patashnik abiout a sequence of generalized binomial coefficients. We find an exact formula, which factors in an interesting way, in the case where one of the six parameters of the problem vanishes. We also show that the associated polynomial sequence has real zeros only, provided that one parameter vanishes, and the other five are nonnegative.
The method of characteristics, and "problem 89" of Graham, Knuth and Patashnik
14,049
If for any $k$ the $k$-th coefficient of a polynomial I(G;x) is equal to the number of stable sets of cardinality $k$ in the graph $G$, then it is called the independence polynomial of $G$ (Gutman and Harary, 1983). Let $a$ be the size of a maximum stable set. Alavi, Malde, Schwenk and Erdos (1987)conjectured that I(T,x) is unimodal for any tree T, while, in general, they proved that for any permutation $p$ of {1,2,...,a} there is a graph such that s_{p(1)}<s_{p(2)}<...<s_{p(a)}. Brown, Dilcher and Nowakowski (2000) conjectured that I(G;x) is unimodal for any well-covered graph. Michael and Traves (2002) provided examples of well-covered graphs with non-unimodal independence polynomials. They proposed the "roller-coaster" conjecture: for a well-covered graph, the subsequence (s_{a/2},s_{a/2+1},...,s_{a}) is unconstrained in the sense of Alavi et al. The conjecture of Brown et al. is still open for very well-covered graphs. In this paper we prove that s_{(2a-1)/3}>=...>=s_{a-1}>=s_{a} are valid for any (a) bipartite graph $G$; (b) quasi-regularizable graph $G$ on $2a$ vertices. In particular, we infer that this is true for (a) trees, thus doing a step in an attempt to prove Alavi et al.' conjecture; (b) very well-covered graphs. Consequently, for this case, the unconstrained subsequence appearing in the roller-coaster conjecture can be shorten to (s_{a/2},s_{a/2+1},...,s_{(2a-1)/3}). We also show that the independence polynomial of a very well-covered graph $G$ is unimodal for a<10, and is log-concave whenever a<6.
Very well-covered graphs and the unimodality conjecture
14,050
Rook polynomials are a powerful tool in the theory of restricted permutations. It is known that the rook polynomial of any board can be computed recursively, using a cell decomposition technique of Riordan. In this paper, we give a new decomposition theorem, which yields a more efficient algorithm for computing the rook polynomial. We show that, in the worst case, this block decomposition algorithm is equivalent to Riordan's method.
A block decomposition algorithm for computing rook polynomials
14,051
Rook polynomials have been studied extensively since 1946, principally as a method for enumerating restricted permutations. However, they have also been shown to have many fruitful connections with other areas of mathematics, including graph theory, hypergeometric series, and algebraic geometry. It is known that the rook polynomial of any board can be computed recursively. The naturally arising inverse question -- given a polynomial, what board (if any) is associated with it? -- remains open. In this paper, we solve the inverse problem completely for the class of Ferrers boards, and show that the increasing Ferrers board constructed from a polynomial is unique.
The inverse rook problem on Ferrers boards
14,052
We give the complete list of the 29 irreducible triangulations of the Klein bottle. We show how the construction of Lawrencenko and Negami, which listed only 25 such irreducible triangulations, can be modified at two points to produce the 4 additional irreducible triangulations of the Klein bottle.
Note on the Irreducible Triangulations of the Klein Bottle
14,053
There is no field with only one element, yet there is a well-defined notion of what projective geometry over such a field means. This notion is familiar to experts and plays an interesting role behind the scenes in combinatorics and algebra, but it is rarely discussed as such. The purpose of this article is to bring it to the attention of a broader audience, as the solution to a puzzle about Gaussian binomial coefficients.
Projective geometry over F_1 and the Gaussian binomial coefficients
14,054
This note is dedicated to Professor Gould. The aim is to show how the identities in his book "Combinatorial Identities" can be used to obtain identities for Fibonacci and Lucas polynomials. In turn these identities allow to derive a wealth of numerical identities for Fibonacci and Lucas numbers.
Identities for Fibonacci and Lucas polynomials derived from a book of Gould
14,055
Hofmman's bound on the chromatic number of a graph states that $\chi \geq 1 - \frac {\lambda_1} {\lambda_n}$. Here we show that the same bound, or slight modifications of it, hold for several graph parameters related to the chromatic number: the vector coloring number, the $\psi$-covering number and the $\lambda$-clustering number.
Tales of Hoffman
14,056
For a permutation f of an n-dimensional vector space V over a finite field of order q we let k-affinity(f) denote the number of k-flats X of V such that f(X) is also a k-flat. By k-spectrum(n,q) we mean the set of integers k-affinity(f) where f runs through all permutations of V. The problem of the complete determination of k-spectrum(n,q) seems very difficult except for small or special values of the parameters. However, we are able to establish that k-spectrum(n,q) contains 0 in the following cases: (i) q>2 and 0<k<n; (ii) q=2, 2<k<n; (iii) q=2, k=2, odd n>2. The maximum of k-affinity(f) is, of course, obtained when f is any semi-affine mapping. We conjecture that the next to largest value of k-affinity(f) is when f is a transposition and we are able to prove this when q=2, k=2, n>2 and when q>2, k=1, n>1.
The Affinity of a Permutation of a Finite Vector Space
14,057
For positive integers $j\ge k$, an $L(j,k)$-labeling of a digraph $D$ is a function $f$ from $V(D)$ into the set of nonnegative integers such that $|f(x)-f(y)|\ge j$ if $x$ is adjacent to $y$ in $D$ and $|f(x)-f(y)|\ge k$ if $x$ is of distant two to $y$ in $D$. Elements of the image of $f$ are called labels. The $L(j,k)$-labeling problem is to determine the $\vec{\lambda}_{j,k}$-number $\vec{\lambda}_{j,k}(D)$ of a digraph $D$, which is the minimum of the maximum label used in an $L(j,k)$-labeling of $D$. This paper studies $\vec{\lambda}_{j,k}$- numbers of digraphs. In particular, we determine $\vec{\lambda}_{j,k}$- numbers of digraphs whose longest dipath is of length at most 2, and $\vec{\lambda}_{j,k}$-numbers of ditrees having dipaths of length 4. We also give bounds for $\vec{\lambda}_{j,k}$-numbers of bipartite digraphs whose longest dipath is of length 3. Finally, we present a linear-time algorithm for determining $\vec{\lambda}_{j,1}$-numbers of ditrees whose longest dipath is of length 3.
Distance-two labelings of digraphs
14,058
An isometric path between two vertices in a graph G is a shortest path joining them. The isometric-path number of G, denoted by ip(G), is the minimum number of isometric paths required to cover all vertices of G. In this paper, we determine exact values of isometric-path numbers of block graphs. We also give a linear-time algorithm for finding the corresponding paths.
Isometric-path numbers of block graphs
14,059
In this paper, we present an elementary proof of a theorem of Serre concerning the greatest eigenvalues of $k$-regular graphs. We also prove an analogue of Serre's theorem regarding the least eigenvalues of $k$-regular graphs: given $\epsilon>0$, there exist a positive constant $c=c(\epsilon,k)$ and a nonnegative integer $g=g(\epsilon,k)$ such that for any $k$-regular graph $X$ with no odd cycles of length less than $g$, the number of eigenvalues $\mu$ of $X$ such that $\mu \leq -(2-\epsilon)\sqrt{k-1}$ is at least $c|X|$. This implies a result of Winnie Li.
On the extreme eigenvalues of regular graphs
14,060
Let P be a polygon whose vertices have been colored (labeled) cyclically with the numbers 1,2,...,c. Motivated by conjectures of Propp, we are led to consider partitions of P into k-gons which are proper in the sense that each k-gon contains all c colors on its vertices. Counting the number of proper partitions involves a generalization of the k-Catalan numbers. We also show that in certain cases, any proper partition can be obtained from another by a sequence of moves called flips.
Proper partitions of a polygon and k-Catalan numbers
14,061
Let g(n) denote the minimum number of edges of a maximal nontraceable graph of order n. Dudek, Katona and Wojda (2003) showed that g(n)\geq\ceil{(3n-2)/2}-2 for n\geq 20 and g(n)\leq\ceil{(3n-2)/2} for n\geq 54 as well as for n\in I={22,23,30,31,38,39, 40,41,42,43,46,47,48,49,50,51}. We show that g(n)=\ceil{(3n-2)/2} for n\geq 54 as well as for n\in I\cup{12,13} and we determine g(n) for n\leq 9.
Lower bound for the size of maximal nontraceable graphs
14,062
We prove various congruences for Catalan and Motzkin numbers as well as related sequences. The common thread is that all these sequences can be expressed in terms of binomial coefficients. Our techniques are combinatorial and algebraic: group actions, induction, and Lucas' congruence for binomial coefficients come into play. A number of our results settle conjectures of Benoit Cloitre and Reinhard Zumkeller. The Thue-Morse sequence appears in several contexts.
Congruences for Catalan and Motzkin numbers and related sequences
14,063
Let F be a family of subsets of an n-element set not containing four distinct members such that A union B is contained in C intersect D. It is proved that the maximum size of F under this condition is equal to the sum of the two largest binomial coefficients of order n. The maximum families are also characterized. A LYM-type inequality for such families is given, too.
Largest family without A union B contained in C intersect D
14,064
We give several bijections among restricted Motzkin paths, explaining why various parameters on these paths are equidistributed. For example, the number of doublerise-free Motzkin paths of length n is the same as the number of peak-free Motzkin paths of length n+1 and the parameter "number of doublefalls" has the same distribution on the former set as "number of valleys" does on the latter. The bijections are most easily presented recursively but we also give explicit descriptions using the notion of Motzkin tree.
Some bijections for restricted Motzkin paths
14,065
Combining results on quadrics in projective geometries with an algebraic interplay between finite fields and Galois rings, we construct the first known family of partial difference sets with negative Latin square type parameters in nonelementary abelian groups, the groups $\Z_4^{2k}\times \Z_2^{4 \ell-4k}$ for all $k$ when $\ell$ is odd and for all $k < \ell$ when $\ell$ is even. Similarly, we construct partial difference sets with Latin square type parameters in the same groups for all $k$ when $\ell$ is even and for all $k<\ell$ when $\ell$ is odd. These constructions provide the first example that the non-homomorphic bijection approach outlined by Hagita and Schmidt \cite{hagitaschmidt} can produce difference sets in groups that previously had no known constructions. Computer computations indicate that the strongly regular graphs associated to the PDSs are not isomorphic to the known graphs, and we conjecture that the family of strongly regular graphs will be new.
Negative Latin square type partial difference sets in nonelementary abelian 2-groups
14,066
We survey recent results on $p$-ranks and Smith normal forms of some $2-(v,k,\lambda)$ designs. In particular, we give a description of the recent work in \cite{csx} on the Smith normal forms of the 2-designs arising from projective and affine spaces over $\Ff_q$.
Recent results on $p$-ranks and Smith normal forms of some $2-(v,k,λ)$ designs
14,067
The $q$-round Renyi-Ulam pathological liar game with $k$ lies on the set $[n]:=\{1,...,n\}$ is a 2-player perfect information zero sum game. In each round Paul chooses a subset $A\subseteq [n]$ and Carole either assigns 1 lie to each element of $A$ or to each element of $[n]\setminus A$. Paul wins if after $q$ rounds there is at least one element with $k$ or fewer lies. The game is dual to the original Renyi-Ulam liar game for which the winning condition is that at most one element has $k$ or fewer lies. We prove the existence of a winning strategy for Paul to the existence of a covering of the discrete hypercube with certain relaxed Hamming balls. Defining $F^*_k(q)$ to be the minimum $n$ such that Paul can win the $q$-round pathological liar game with $k$ lies and initial set $[n]$, we find $F^*_1(q)$ and $F^*_2(q)$ exactly. For fixed $k$ we prove that $F_k^*(q)$ is within an absolute constant (depending only on $k$) of the sphere bound, $2^q/\binom{q}{\leq k}$; this is already known to hold for the original Renyi-Ulam liar game due to a result of J. Spencer.
The Renyi-Ulam pathological liar game with a fixed number of lies
14,068
In this paper we consider a model of particles jumping on a row of cells, called in physics the one dimensional totally asymmetric exclusion process (TASEP). More precisely we deal with the TASEP with open or periodic boundary conditions and with two or three types of particles. From the point of view of combinatorics a remarkable feature of this Markov chain is that it involves Catalan numbers in several entries of its stationary distribution. We give a combinatorial interpretation and a simple proof of these observations. In doing this we reveal a second row of cells, which is used by particles to travel backward. As a byproduct we also obtain an interpretation of the occurrence of the Brownian excursion in the description of the density of particles on a long row of cells.
A combinatorial approach to jumping particles
14,069
In this paper we study the homotopy type of $\Hom(C_m,C_n)$, where $C_k$ is the cyclic graph with $k$ vertices. We enumerate connected components of $\Hom(C_m,C_n)$ and show that each such component is either homeomorphic to a point or homotopy equivalent to $S^1$. Moreover, we prove that $\Hom(C_m,L_n)$ is either empty or is homotopy equivalent to the union of two points, where $L_n$ is an $n$-string, i.e., a tree with $n$ vertices and no branching points.
The homotopy type of complexes of graph homomorphisms between cycles
14,070
Consider n unit intervals, say [1,2], [3,4], ..., [2n-1,2n]. Identify their endpoints in pairs at random, with all (2n-1)!! = (2n-1) (2n-3) ... 3 1 pairings being equally likely. The result is a collection of cycles of various lengths, and we investigate the distribution of these lengths. The distribution is similar to that of the distribution of the lengths of cycles in a random permutation, but it also exhibits some striking differences.
Random cyclations
14,071
A \emph{$k$-tree} is a chordal graph with no $(k+2)$-clique. An \emph{$\ell$-tree-partition} of a graph $G$ is a vertex partition of $G$ into `bags', such that contracting each bag to a single vertex gives an $\ell$-tree (after deleting loops and replacing parallel edges by a single edge). We prove that for all $k\geq\ell\geq0$, every $k$-tree has an $\ell$-tree-partition in which every bag induces a connected $\floor{k/(\ell+1)}$-tree. An analogous result is proved for oriented $k$-trees.
Vertex Partitions of Chordal Graphs
14,072
A $\rho$-mean coloring of a graph is a coloring of the edges such that the average number of colors incident with each vertex is at most $\rho$. For a graph $H$ and for $\rho \geq 1$, the {\em mean Ramsey-Tur\'an number} $RT(n,H,\rho-mean)$ is the maximum number of edges a $\rho$-mean colored graph with $n$ vertices can have under the condition it does not have a monochromatic copy of $H$. It is conjectured that $RT(n,K_m,2-mean)=RT(n,K_m,2)$ where $RT(n,H,k)$ is the maximum number of edges a $k$ edge-colored graph with $n$ vertices can have under the condition it does not have a monochromatic copy of $H$. We prove the conjecture holds for $K_3$. We also prove that $RT(n,H,\rho-mean) \leq RT(n,K_{\chi(H)},\rho-mean)+o(n^2)$. This result is tight for graphs $H$ whose clique number equals their chromatic number. In particular we get that if $H$ is a 3-chromatic graph having a triangle then $RT(n,H,2-mean) = RT(n,K_3,2-mean)+o(n^2)=RT(n,K_3,2)+o(n^2)=0.4n^2(1+o(1))$.
Mean Ramsey-Turán numbers
14,073
Nicholas Pippenger and Kristin Schleich have recently given a combinatorial interpretation for the second-order super-Catalan numbers (u_{n})_{n>=0}=(3,2,3,6,14,36,...): they count "aligned cubic trees" on n internal vertices. Here we give a combinatorial interpretation of the recurrence u_{n} = Sum_{k=0}^{n/2-1} ({n-2}choose{2k} 2^{n-2-2k} u_{k}): it counts these trees by number of deep interior vertices where deep interior means "neither a leaf nor adjacent to a leaf".
A combinatorial interpretation for a super-Catalan recurrence
14,074
We show that if a sequence of dense graphs has the property that for every fixed graph F, the density of copies of F in these graphs tends to a limit, then there is a natural ``limit object'', namely a symmetric measurable 2-variable function on [0,1]. This limit object determines all the limits of subgraph densities. We also show that the graph parameters obtained as limits of subgraph densities can be characterized by ``reflection positivity'', semidefiniteness of an associated matrix. Conversely, every such function arises as a limit object. Along the lines we introduce a rather general model of random graphs, which seems to be interesting on its own right.
Limits of dense graph sequences
14,075
This is a translation of Leonhard Euler's ``De quadratis magicis'' . It is E795 in the Enestrom index. This paper studies how to construct magic squares with certain numbers of cells, in particular 9, 16, 25 and 36. It considers some general rules for making squares of even and odd orders. Euler uses Graeco-Latin squares and constrains the values that the variables can take to make magic squares. I think this is where the terms ``Latin'' and ``Graeco-Latin'' square comes from, since he uses Latin letters in one square and Greek (i.e. ``Graeco'') letters in another for each construction. (This paper was published before Euler's only other paper ``Recherches sur une nouvelle espece de quarres magiques'' E530 about Latin squares was, in 1782.)
On magic squares
14,076
Connection matrices were introduced by Freedman, Lovasz and Schrijver [1], who used them to characterize graph homomorphism functions. The goal of this note is to determine the exact rank of these matrices. The result can be rephrased in terms of graph algebras (also introduced in [1]. Yet another version proves that if two k-tuples of nodes behave the same way from the point of view of graph homomorphisms, then they are equivalent under the automorphism group.
The rank of connection matrices and the dimension of graph algebras
14,077
An alternating sign matrix is a square matrix with entries 1, 0 and -1 such that the sum of the entries in each row and each column is equal to 1 and the nonzero entries alternate in sign along each row and each column. To some of the symmetry classes of alternating sign matrices and their variations, G. Kuperberg associate square ice models with appropriate boundary conditions, and give determinanat and Pfaffian formulae for the partition functions. In this paper, we utilize several determinant and Pfaffian identities to evaluate Kuperberg's determinants and Pfaffians, and express the round partition functions in terms of irreducible characters of classical groups. In particular, we settle a conjecture on the number of vertically and horizontally symmetric alternating sign matrices (VHSASMs).
Enumeration of Symmetry Classes of Alternating Sign Matrices and Characters of Classical Groups
14,078
Acceptable but due to extensive usage of a computer rather unpleasant proof of the famous four color map problem of Francis Guthrie were settled eventually by W. Appel and K. Haken in 1976. Using the same method but shortening the proof twenty years later by another team, namely N. Robertson, D.P. Sanders, P.D. Seymour and R. Thomas would not improve considerably the readability of the proof either. Thus it has been widely accepted the need of more elegant and readable proof. There are considerable number of equivalent formulations of the problem but none of them promising for a possible non-computer proofs. On the other hand known proofs are used the concept of Kempe chain and reducibility of the configurations which were a century old ideas. With these in mind we have introduced a new concept which we call "spiral chains" in the maximal planar graphs. We have shown that for any maximal graph as long as spiral chains are being used we do not need the fifth color. Henceforth this paper offers another proof to the four color theorem which is not based on deep and abstract theories from the other branches of mathematics or using computing power of computers, but rather completely on a new idea in graph theory.
Spiral Chains: A New Proof of the Four Color Theorem
14,079
R. Redheffer described an $n\times n$ matrix of 0's and 1's the size of whose determinant is connected to the Riemann Hypothesis. We describe the permutations that contribute to its determinant and evaluate its permanent in terms of integer factorizations. We generalize the Redheffer matrix to finite posets that have a 0 element and find the analogous results in the more general situation.
The Redheffer matrix of a partially ordered set
14,080
A sequence $S$ is potentially $K_{p,1,1}$ graphical if it has a realization containing a $K_{p,1,1}$ as a subgraph, where $K_{p,1,1}$ is a complete 3-partite graph with partition sizes $p,1,1$. Let $\sigma(K_{p,1,1}, n)$ denote the smallest degree sum such that every $n$-term graphical sequence $S$ with $\sigma(S)\geq \sigma(K_{p,1,1}, n)$ is potentially $K_{p,1,1}$ graphical. In this paper, we prove that $\sigma (K_{p,1,1}, n)\geq 2[((p+1)(n-1)+2)/2]$ for $n \geq p+2.$ We conjecture that equality holds for $n \geq 2p+4.$ We prove that this conjecture is true for $p=3$.
An extremal problem on potentially $K_{p,1,1}$-graphic sequences
14,081
The Neggers-Stanley conjecture (also known as the Poset conjecture) asserts that the polynomial counting the linear extensions of a partially ordered set on $\{1,2,...,p\}$ by their number of descents has real zeros only. We provide counterexamples to this conjecture.
Counterexamples to the Neggers-Stanley conjecture
14,082
A sequence $S$ is potentially $K_{p_{1},p_{2},...,p_{t}}$ graphical if it has a realization containing a $K_{p_{1},p_{2},...,p_{t}}$ as a subgraph, where $K_{p_{1},p_{2},...,p_{t}}$ is a complete t-partite graph with partition sizes $p_{1},p_{2},...,p_{t} (p_{1}\geq p_{2}\geq ...\geq p_{t} \geq 1)$. Let $\sigma(K_{p_{1},p_{2},...,p_{t}}, n)$ denote the smallest degree sum such that every $n$-term graphical sequence $S$ with $\sigma(S)\geq \sigma(K_{p_{1},p_{2},...,p_{t}}, n)$ is potentially $K_{p_{1},p_{2},...,p_{t}}$ graphical. In this paper, we prove that $\sigma (K_{p_{1},p_{2},...,p_{t}}, n)\geq 2[((2p_{1}+2p_{2}+...+2p_{t}-p_{1}-p_{2}-...-p_{i}-2)n -(p_{1}+p_{2}+...+p_{t}-p_{i})(p_{i}+p_{i+1}+...+p_{t}-1)+2)/2]$ for $n \geq p_{1}+p_{2}+...+p_{t}, i=2,3,...,t.$
An extremal problem on potentially $K_{p_{1},p_{2},...,p_{t}}$-graphic sequences
14,083
We present a number of lower bounds for the h-vectors of k-CM, broken circuit and independence complexes. These lead to bounds on the coefficients of the characteristic and reliability polynomials of matroids. The main techniques are the use of series and parallel constructions on matroids and the short simplicial h-vector for pure complexes.
Lower bounds for h-vectors of k-CM, independence and broken circuit complexes
14,084
Stan Wagon asked the following in 2000. Is every zonohedron face 3-colorable when viewed as a planar map? An equivalent question, under a different guise, is the following: is the arrangement graph of great circles on the sphere always vertex 3-colorable? (The arrangement graph has a vertex for each intersection point, and an edge for each arc directly connecting two intersection points.) Assume that no three circles meet at a point, so that this arrangement graph is 4-regular. In this note we have shown that all arrangement graphs defined as above are 3-colorable.
Three Colorability of an Arrangement Graph of Great Circles
14,085
This paper deals with evaluating constant terms of a special class of rational functions, the Elliott-rational functions. The constant term of such a function can be read off immediately from its partial fraction decomposition. We combine the theory of iterated Laurent series and a new algorithm for partial fraction decompositions to obtain a fast algorithm for MacMahon's Omega calculus, which (partially) avoids the "run-time explosion" problem when eliminating several variables. We discuss the efficiency of our algorithm by investigating problems studied by Andrews and his coauthors; our running time is much less than that of their Omega package.
A Fast Algorithm for MacMahon's Partition Analysis
14,086
We define and study "semimatroids", a class of objects which abstracts the dependence properties of an affine hyperplane arrangement. We show that geometric semilattices are precisely the posets of flats of semimatroids. We define and investigate the Tutte polynomial of a semimatroid. We prove that it is the universal Tutte-Grothendieck invariant for semimatroids, and we give a combinatorial interpretation for its non-negative coefficients.
Semimatroids and their Tutte polynomials
14,087
This paper is an initial inquiry into the structure of the Hopf algebra of matroids with restriction-contraction coproduct. Using a family of matroids introduced by Crapo in 1965, we show that the subalgebra generated by a single point and a single loop in the dual of this Hopf algebra is free.
A free subalgebra of the algebra of matroids
14,088
A sequence $S$ is potentially $K_{m}-C_{4}$-graphical if it has a realization containing a $K_{m}-C_{4}$ as a subgraph. Let $\sigma(K_{m}-C_{4}, n)$ denote the smallest degree sum such that every $n$-term graphical sequence $S$ with $\sigma(S)\geq \sigma(K_{m}-C_{4}, n)$ is potentially $K_{m}-C_{4}$-graphical. In this paper, we prove that $\sigma (K_{m}-C_{4}, n)\geq (2m-6)n-(m-3)(m-2)+2,$ for $n \geq m \geq 4.$ We conjecture that equality holds for $n \geq m \geq 4.$ We prove that this conjecture is true for $m=5$.
An extremal problem on potentially $K_{m}-C_{4}$-graphic sequences
14,089
Topological properties of the matching complex were first studied by Bouc in connection with Quillen complexes, and topological properties of the chessboard complex were first studied by Garst in connection with Tits coset complexes. Bj\"orner, Lov\'asz, Vr\'ecica and {\v{Z}}ivaljevi\'c established bounds on the connectivity of these complexes and conjectured that these bounds are sharp. In this paper we show that the conjecture is true by establishing the nonvanishing of integral homology in the degrees given by these bounds. Moreover, we show that for sufficiently large $n$, the bottom nonvanishing homology of the matching complex $M_n$ is an elementary 3-group, improving a result of Bouc, and that the bottom nonvanishing homology of the chessboard complex $M_{n,n}$ is a 3-group of exponent at most 9. When $n \equiv 2 \bmod 3$, the bottom nonvanishing homology of $M_{n,n}$ is shown to be $\Z_3$. Our proofs rely on computer calculations, long exact sequences, representation theory, and tableau combinatorics.
Torsion in the Matching Complex and Chessboard Complex
14,090
We introduce a noncommutative binary operation on matroids, called free product. We show that this operation respects matroid duality, and has the property that, given only the cardinalities, an ordered pair of matroids may be recovered, up to isomorphism, from its free product. We use these results to give a short proof of Welsh's 1969 conjecture, which provides a progressive lower bound for the number of isomorphism classes of matroids on an n-element set.
The Free product of Matroids
14,091
We study the combinatorial, algebraic and geometric properties of the free product operation on matroids. After giving cryptomorphic definitions of free product in terms of independent sets, bases, circuits, closure, flats and rank function, we show that free product, which is a noncommutative operation, is associative and respects matroid duality. The free product of matroids $M$ and $N$ is maximal with respect to the weak order among matroids having $M$ as a submatroid, with complementary contraction equal to $N$. Any minor of the free product of $M$ and $N$ is a free product of a repeated truncation of the corresponding minor of $M$ with a repeated Higgs lift of the corresponding minor of $N$. We characterize, in terms of their cyclic flats, matroids that are irreducible with respect to free product, and prove that the factorization of a matroid into a free product of irreducibles is unique up to isomorphism. We use these results to determine, for K a field of characteristic zero, the structure of the minor coalgebra $\cal C$ of a family of matroids $\cal M$ that is closed under formation of minors and free products: namely, $\cal C$ is cofree, cogenerated by the set of irreducible matroids belonging to $\cal M$.
A unique factorization theorem for matroids
14,092
We prove combinatorially that the parity of the number of domino tilings of a region is equal to the parity of the number of domino tilings of a particular subregion. Using this result we can resolve the holey square conjecture. We furthermore give combinatorial proofs of several other tiling parity results, including that the number of domino tilings of a particular family of rectangles is always odd.
Tiling Parity Results and the Holey Square Solution
14,093
A binary code with covering radius $R$ is a subset $C$ of the hypercube $Q_n=\{0,1\}^n$ such that every $x\in Q_n$ is within Hamming distance $R$ of some codeword $c\in C$, where $R$ is as small as possible. For a fixed coordinate $i\in[n]$, define $C(b,i)$, for $b=0,1$, to be the set of codewords with a $b$ in the $i$th position. Then $C$ is normal if there exists an $i\in[n]$ such that for any $v\in Q_n$, the sum of the Hamming distances from $v$ to $C(0,i)$ and $C(1,i)$ is at most $2R+1$. We newly define what it means for an asymmetric covering code to be normal, and consider the worst case asymptotic densities $\nu^*(R)$ and $\nu^*_+(R)$ of constant radius $R$ symmetric and asymmetric normal covering codes, respectively. Using a probabilistic deletion method, and analysis adapted from previous work by Krivelevich, Sudakov, and Vu, we show that both are bounded above by $e(R\log R + \log R + \log\log R+4)$, giving evidence that minimum size constant radius covering codes could still be normal.
Density of normal binary covering codes
14,094
We consider a deterministic discrete-time model of fire spread introduced by Hartnell [1995] and the problem of minimizing the number of burnt vertices when deploying a limited number of firefighters per timestep. We consider the process occurring on the d-dimensional square lattice for d>=3, and we prove several results, including two conjectures of Wang and Moeller [2002].
Fire containment in grids of dimension three and higher
14,095
We construct a subalgebra of dimension $2.3^{n-1}$ of the group algebra of a Weyl group of type $B_n$ containing its Solomon descent's algebra but also the Solomon's descent algebra of the symmetric group. This lead us to a construction of the irreducible characters of the hyperoctahedral groups by using a generalized plactic equivalence.
Generalized descent algebra and construction of irreducible characters of hyperoctahedral groups
14,096
We define and study the Tutte polynomial of a hyperplane arrangement. We introduce a method for computing it by solving an enumerative problem in a finite field. For specific arrangements, the computation of Tutte polynomials is then reduced to certain related enumerative questions. As a consequence, we obtain new formulas for the generating functions enumerating alternating trees, labelled trees, semiorders and Dyck paths.
Computing the Tutte polynomial of a hyperplane arrangement
14,097
We exhibit an identity of abstract simplicial complexes between the well-studied complex of trees and the reduced minimal nested set complex of the partition lattice. We conclude that the order complex of the partition lattice can be obtained from the complex of trees by a sequence of stellar subdivisions. We provide an explicit cohomology basis for the complex of trees that emerges naturally from this context. Motivated by these results, we review the generalization of complexes of trees to complexes of $k$-trees by Hanlon, and we propose yet another, in the context of nested set complexes more natural, generalization.
Complexes of trees and nested set complexes
14,098
Packing density is a permutation occurrence statistic which describes the maximal number of permutations of a given type that can occur in another permutation. In this article we focus on containment of sets of permutations. Although this question has been tangentially considered previously, this is the first systematic study of it. We find the packing density for various special sets of permutations and study permutation and pattern co-occurrence.
Packing sets of patterns
14,099