13
$\begingroup$

Let $M$ be the monoid of bijections $\phi:\mathbb{Z}^2\to\mathbb{Z}^2$ such that $\phi(x, y)=(P(x, y), Q(x, y))$ for some polynomials $P, Q\in \mathbb{Z}[x, y]$.

Does $\mathrm{GL}_2(\mathbb{Z})\subset M$ together with the maps of the form $(x, y)\to (x+R(y), y)$ where $R\in \mathbb{Z}[y]$ generate $M$?

That would imply that $M$ is secretly a group.

$\endgroup$
2
  • 8
    $\begingroup$ There are easy counterexamples like $(x+R(y),y)$ for any polynomial $R$, so you may want to quotient by these under composition. $\endgroup$ Apr 18, 2021 at 7:25
  • 3
    $\begingroup$ Might be worth pointing out that this question came from (a prior version of) another MO question of yours: mathoverflow.net/questions/390418/… $\endgroup$ Apr 20, 2021 at 20:33

1 Answer 1

7
$\begingroup$

Elements of $M$ have inverses which are integer-valued polynomial maps, so the version with integer-valued polynomial maps forms a group.

In fact, we only need to assume surjectivity to guarantee the existence of a polynomial inverse, so the monoid of surjective integer-valued polynomials from the plane to the plane is also a group.

I don't know if this implies your desired classification result.


$(P,Q)$ defines a map $\mathbb A^2_{\mathbb Q} \to \mathbb A^2_{\mathbb Q}$, which since the source and target have the same dimension must be generically finite. Because the source is irreducible, Hiblert's irreducibility theorem implies that the fibers over most integral points are irreducible, which if the degree is $>1$ contradicts the claim that $(P,Q)$ is surjective. So this map must have degree $1$, i.e. it is a birational transformation, so there are rational functions $A,B$ with $A( P(x,y), Q(x,y))=x, B(P(x,y), Q(x,y))=y$ for $x$, $y$ on a dense open set.

Because $P,Q$ take every integer value, on a dense open set they take every integral value on a dense open set, so $P$ and $Q$ must take integral values on a dense open set. If $P$ and $Q$ are rational functions but not polynomials this is impossible, so $P$ and $Q$ must be integer-valued polynomial functions.

$\endgroup$

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge you have read our privacy policy.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.