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Consider $n$ points $A=\{A_1,\dotsc,A_n\}$, and another set of points, $B=\{B_1,\dotsc,B_n\}$ in the plane. We can assume they are all disjoint.

For each permutation $\pi$, consider the collection of line segments joining $A_i$ with $B_{\pi(i)}$, and count the total number of intersections. Call this number $int_{AB}(\pi)$, and define the polynomial $$ P_{AB}(q) = \sum_{\pi \in S_n} q^{int_{AB}(\pi)}. $$ Clearly, $P_{AB}(1)=n!$ and all coefficients are non-negative. It is an easy exercise to show that one can choose $A$ and $B$, such that $P_{AB}(q)=[n]_q!$.

Now, considering all possible choices of $A$ and $B$, there are only a finite set such polynomials. This is clear since there are only a finite number of polynomials with non-negative integer coefficients, with bounded coefficient sum.

How many polynomials can be constructed using two sets of $n$ points?

Can we characterize this set of polynomials combinatorially? That is, find a discrete set of objects equinumerous with the polynomials obtainable from $n+n$ points, plus a statistic on these objects, that generate these polynomials.

EDIT: It is probably easier to characterize cases where we keep track of all intersections. That is, $$ P_{AB}(z) = \sum_{\pi \in S_n} \prod_{i,j} z_{ij}^{int_{AB}(\pi,i,j)} . $$ where $int_{AB}(\pi,i,j)=1$ if $A_i$ intersect $B_{\pi(j)}$ and 0 otherwise. Then putting all $z_{ij}=q$, we recover the polynomial above.

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    $\begingroup$ This could already be interesting if all the $n+n$ points are on a straight line, i.e. a 1-dimensional version of the 2-D problem. It might also be appealing to limit the general location of the points, say anywhere on a circle, etc. $\endgroup$ Commented Oct 6, 2016 at 22:58
  • $\begingroup$ @T.Amdeberhan: Yes, I agree - I am looking a bit on the case when the points in A are of the form (t,t^2) for t=1,2,...n. There are a few generalizations also that I have in mind, but not come up with a good definition: Find a symmetric polynomial defined in a similar spirit. Find a generalization/construction that detects topology/genus of the underlying surface. $\endgroup$ Commented Oct 6, 2016 at 23:18
  • $\begingroup$ What does $[n]_q$ mean here? $\endgroup$
    – user44143
    Commented May 28, 2020 at 8:12
  • $\begingroup$ @MattF. I use the notation of q-analogs, math.upenn.edu/~peal/polynomials/q-analogues.htm $\endgroup$ Commented May 28, 2020 at 12:39
  • $\begingroup$ This has a similar flavor to the allowable sequences of Goodman and Pollack at link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-642-58043-7_6. $\endgroup$ Commented May 28, 2020 at 18:19

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