Questions tagged [algebraic-combinatorics]
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268
questions
64
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How to be rigorous about combinatorial algorithms?
1. The question
This may be the worst question I've ever posed on MathOverflow: broad,
open-ended and likely to produce heat. Yet, I think any progress that will be
made here will be extremely useful ...
48
votes
4
answers
5k
views
How to constructively/combinatorially prove Schur-Weyl duality?
How is Schur-Weyl duality (specifically, the fact that the actions of the group ring $\mathbb{K}\left[ S_{n}\right] $ and the monoid ring
$\mathbb{K}\left[ \left( \operatorname*{End}V,\cdot\...
36
votes
1
answer
1k
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Errata for Fulton's "Young tableaux"
Fulton's Young tableaux is one of the best texts on the subject, one which I
often recommend and cite for reference. Unlike Fulton/Lang and
Fulton/Harris,
it is neither an early-dawn draft nor a ...
34
votes
1
answer
3k
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Updates to Stanley's 1999 survey of positivity problems in algebraic combinatorics?
[I am a co-moderator of the recently started Open Problems in Algebraic Combinatorics blog and as a result starting doing some searching for existing surveys of open problems in algebraic ...
31
votes
3
answers
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"Nyldon words": understanding a class of words factorizing the free monoid increasingly
BACKGROUND.
Let me first introduce some classical definitions, which appear, e.g., in §5 of Lothaire's Combinatorics on Words, in §5.1 of Reutenauer's Free Lie algebras, and in §6.1 of Victor Reiner'...
29
votes
2
answers
5k
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Regular, Gorenstein and Cohen-Macaulay
All the statements below are considered over local rings, so by regular, I mean a regular local ring and so on;
It is well-known that every regular ring is Gorenstein and every Gorenstein ring is ...
29
votes
2
answers
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Have you seen my matroid?
Let $M(n,k)$ be the matroid on the ground set $\{\pm 1,\ldots,\pm n\}$ for which a set is independent if and only if it contains at most $k$ pairs $\pm i$. Note that the signed permutation group (the ...
28
votes
3
answers
1k
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Inequality for hook numbers in Young diagrams
Consider a Young diagram $\lambda = (\lambda_1,\ldots,\lambda_\ell)$. For a square $(i,j) \in \lambda$, define hook numbers $h_{ij} = \lambda_i + \lambda_j' -i - j +1$ and complementary hook numbers $...
27
votes
0
answers
878
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A question on simultaneous conjugation of permutations
Given $a,b\in S_n$ such that their commutator has at least $n-4$ fixed points, is there an element $z\in S_n$ such that $a^z=a^{-1}$, and $b^z=b^{-1}$? Here $a^z:=z^{-1}az$.
Magma says that the ...
26
votes
6
answers
2k
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Why is the right permutohedron order (aka weak order) on $S_n$ a lattice?
This is one of those things I never expected to be hard until I tried to prove it. Why is the right permutohedron order (a.k.a. weak Bruhat order, a.k.a. weak order -- not to be confused with the ...
24
votes
3
answers
1k
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Is the Ford-Fulkerson algorithm a tropical rational function?
The Ford-Fulkerson algorithm
Let me recall the standard scenario of flow optimization (for integer flows at least):
Let $\mathbb{N} = \left\{0,1,2,\ldots\right\}$. Consider a digraph $D$ with vertex ...
24
votes
0
answers
871
views
Nekrasov-Okounkov hook length formula
I am now reading the paper An explicit expansion formula for the powers of the Euler Product in terms of partition hook lengths by Guo-Niu Han. The author rediscovered what he calls the Nekrasov-...
22
votes
2
answers
1k
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Why is the catalecticant invariant under coordinate changes?
Let $\mathbf{k}$ be a commutative $\mathbb{Q}$-algebra. (We could play the
same game over any commutative ring $\mathbf{k}$, but this would be a bit more
technical, so let me avoid it.)
Fix a ...
21
votes
14
answers
3k
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Applications of Representation Theory in Combinatorics
What are the examples of interesting combinatorial identities (e.g. bijection between two sets of combinatorial objects) that can be proved using representation theory, or has some representation ...
21
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2
answers
1k
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A new combinatorial property for the character table of a finite group?
Let $G$ be a finite group and $\Lambda = (\lambda_{i,j})$ its character table with $\lambda_{i,1}$ the degree of the ith character.
Consider the following combinatorial property of $\Lambda$: for ...
21
votes
2
answers
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Has Reifegerste's Theorem on RSK and Knuth relations received a slick proof by now?
For the notations I am using, I refer to the Appendix at the end of this post.
Here is what, for the sake of this post, I consider to be Reifegerste's theorem:
Theorem 1. Let $n\in\mathbb N$ and $i\...
21
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1
answer
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Why are the power symmetric functions sums of hook Schur functions only?
One interesting fact in symmetric function theory is that the power symmetric function $p_n$ can be written as an alternating sum of hook Schur functions $s_{\lambda}$:
$$
p_n = \sum_{k+\ell = n} (-1)^...
21
votes
1
answer
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A strange sum over bipartite graphs
While mucking around with some generating functions related to enumeration of regular bipartite graphs, I stumbled across the following cutie. I wonder if anyone has seen it before, and/or if anyone ...
21
votes
1
answer
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Conjectural identities for Young symmetrizers and Young-Jucys-Murphy elements
The following questions I have found in my own notes from about 3 years ago. Unfortunately, I lost much of the context; I believe I made these conjectures reading Okounkov-Vershik, arXiv:0503040v3, ...
20
votes
2
answers
900
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The finite groups with a zero entry in each column of its character table (except the first one)
$\DeclareMathOperator\PSL{PSL}\DeclareMathOperator\Aut{Aut}$Consider the class of finite groups $G$ having a zero entry in each column of its character table (except the first one), i.e. for all $g \...
20
votes
0
answers
381
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A spin extension of a Coxeter group?
Consider a Coxeter group $W$ with simple generators $S$ and Coxeter matrix $\left( m_{s,t}\right) _{\left( s,t\right) \in S\times S}$.
Let $\mathfrak{M}$ be the set of all pairs $\left(s, t\right) ...
19
votes
1
answer
933
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Lang's Jacobian identity: slicker, elementary proof?
In Jeffrey Lang, A Jacobian identity in positive characteristic, J. Commut. Algebra, Volume 7, Number 3 (2015), pp. 393--409, the following result is proven:
Theorem 1. Let $p$ be a prime. Let $\...
19
votes
2
answers
561
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Eigenvalues and eigenvectors of the matrix with entries $\dbinom{n+1}{2j-i}$ for $i, j = 1, 2, \ldots, n$
Let $n$ be a nonnegative integer, and let $B$ be the $n \times n$-matrix (over the rational numbers) whose $\left(i, j\right)$-th entry is $\dbinom{n+1}{2j-i}$ for all $i, j \in \left\{ 1, 2, \ldots, ...
18
votes
0
answers
378
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Deforming a basis of a polynomial ring
The ring $Symm$ of symmetric functions in infinitely many variables is well-known to be a polynomial ring in the elementary symmetric functions, and has a $\mathbb Z$-basis of Schur functions $\{S_\...
16
votes
0
answers
452
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A Product Related to Unrestricted Partitions
Start with the product for unrestricted partitions:
$(1+x+x^2+...)(1+x^2+x^4+...)(1+x^3+x^6+...)...$
Now replace some of the plus signs with minus signs and expand the product into a series. Is it ...
15
votes
2
answers
647
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Do power sums determine the variables?
In my analysis research, I came across the following problem. Given $n$ positive real numbers $x_1,\dots,x_n$, consider the $n$-many power sums
$$ p_3 = x_1^3 + x_2^3 + \dots + x_n^3 , $$
$$ p_5 = ...
15
votes
2
answers
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hook-length formula: "Fibonaccized" Part I
Consider the Young diagram of a partition $\lambda = (\lambda_1,\ldots,\lambda_k)$. For a square $(i,j) \in \lambda$, define the hook numbers $h_{(i,j)} = \lambda_i + \lambda_j' -i - j +1$ where $\...
15
votes
1
answer
581
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What is the centralizer of a Young subgroup of $S_n$?
In their celebrated paper "A new approach to the representation theory of the symmetric group. II", Okounkov and Vershik prove that $Z(n-1,1)$, the centralizer of $\mathbb{C}[S_{n-1}]$ in $\...
15
votes
1
answer
407
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What is the smallest cardinality of a self-linked set in a finite cyclic group?
A subset $A$ of a group $G$ is defined to be self-linked if $A\cap gA\ne\emptyset$ for all $g\in G$. This happens if and only if $AA^{-1}=G$.
For a finite group $G$ denote by $sl(G)$ the smallest ...
15
votes
1
answer
449
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Another characterization of matroids
Has anyone seen the following characterization of matroids?
Let $\Delta$ be a simplicial complex on finite ground set $E$. Then $\Delta$ is a matroid complex if and only if, for every $X\subseteq E$ ...
15
votes
1
answer
2k
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Sublattices of Young's Lattice
Young's Lattice is the lattice of inclusions of Young tableaux, or integer partitions.
In R. Stanley's Enumerative Combinatorics Vol. 1, Proposition 1.4.4., there is a generalization of integer ...
15
votes
1
answer
713
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a Vandermonde-type of determinants summed over permutations
Let $S_n$ be the symmetric group. Consider
$$D:=\sum_{\sigma\in S_n} \text{sgn}(\sigma)\cdot \det\begin{pmatrix}1 & a_{\sigma(1)}-0 & (a_{\sigma(1)}-0)^2 & \cdots & (a_{\sigma(1)}-0)^{...
14
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2
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On the finite simple groups with an irreducible complex representation of a given dimension
This answer of Geoff Robinson shows that a finite simple group admits an irreducible complex representation (irrep) of dimension $3$ if and only if it is isomorphic to $A_5$ or $\mathrm{PSL}(2,7)$.
...
14
votes
3
answers
864
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How few $k$-dimensional subspaces of $V$ are enough to have a complement to each $n-k$-dimensional subspace?
Let $n$ and $k$ be nonnegative integers such that $k\leq n$. Let $F$ be a field, and let $V$ be an $n$-dimensional $F$-vector space. A set $\mathcal{S}$ of $k$-dimensional subspaces of $V$ is said to ...
14
votes
2
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840
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Do you know an elegant proof for this expression for a Schur function?
I know that the identity
$$
s_\mu = \sum_{\mu-\lambda \text{ is a horizontal strip}} \;\sum_{\alpha\vdash|\lambda|} \frac{\chi^\lambda_\alpha}{z_\alpha} \prod_i(p_i-1)^{a_i}
$$
holds.
Here $\alpha=1^{...
14
votes
1
answer
385
views
Reference request: Heyting algebra structure on Catalan numbers
I've noticed that for every natural number $n\in\mathbb{N}$, there is a finite Heyting algebra with cardinality $C(n)$, where $C(n)$ is the $n$th Catalan number,
$$1,1,2,5,14,42,132,\ldots$$
I'm ...
14
votes
1
answer
395
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Hilbert series of graded Cohen-Macaulay domains, 28 years later?
I am reading through Richard Stanley's 1990 paper "On the Hilbert Function of a Graded Cohen-Macaulay Domain" to present in a seminar. I am trying to provide a reasonable conclusion for this talk, and ...
13
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4
answers
6k
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When is an algebra of commuting matrices (contained in one) generated by a single matrix?
Let C be an nxn matrix, then the polynomials in C (with appropriate coefficients) form an algebra of commuting matrices. I feel that I should know if the converse is true but I do not. So my first ...
13
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3
answers
613
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Is this sum of cycles invertible in $\mathbb QS_n$?
I am interested the following element of the group algebra $\mathbb{Q}S_n$:
\begin{align}
\phi_n=2e+(1\ 2)+(1\ 2\ 3)+\dotsb+(1\ldots n)
\end{align}
where $e$ is the identity permutation. My question ...
13
votes
1
answer
630
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The Möbius number of the nonabelian finite simple groups
Let $L$ be a finite lattice with minimum $\hat{0}$ and maximum $\hat{1}$. The Möbius function $\mu$ for $L$ is defined recursively by: for $\forall a,b \in L$ with $a<b$, $\mu(b,b) = 1$ and $\mu(...
13
votes
2
answers
618
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On the sum of the subgroup orders of a finite group
Let $G$ be a finite group. Consider the function providing the sum of the subgroups orders
$$\sigma(G) = \sum_{H \le G} |H|.$$
Note that if $C_n$ is cyclic of order $n$ then $\sigma(C_n) = \sigma(n)$, ...
13
votes
1
answer
926
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Two to the power of a triangular number: bijections
The numbers $2^{n(n+1)/2}$ come up in various enumerative contexts. In addition to the trivial example (bit-strings of length $n(n+1)/2$) and the old example of domino tilings of Aztec diamonds (...
13
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0
answers
188
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Relationship between crystal root operators and usual $e_i, f_i$?
Suppose I am working in a symmetrizable Kac–Moody Lie algebra $\mathfrak{g}$. Let $e_1,\dotsc,e_n,f_1,\dotsc,f_n$ denote the usual Chevalley generators of $\mathfrak{g}$. Let $V$ be a highest weight ...
12
votes
1
answer
618
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Determinants: periodic entries $0,1,2,3$
Consider an $n\times n$ matrix $M_n$ where the sequence
$$\{1,2,3,\dots,n^2\} \mod 4=\{1,2,3,0,1,2,3,\dots\}$$ forms a clock-wise spiral, in that given order. For example,
$$M_4=\begin{bmatrix} 1&...
12
votes
1
answer
2k
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A dual version of a theorem of Øystein Ore in group theory
This post is a dual version for the Generalization of a theorem of Øystein Ore in which it's proved:
Theorem: Let $[H, G]$ be a distributive interval of finite groups. Then $\exists g \in G$ such ...
12
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0
answers
750
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Does this matrix norm inequality have interesting application in other areas of mathematics?
In my new paper, one of the main theorems gives an upper bound for the spectral distance of a general real symmetric matrix to diagonal matrices:
Theorem 3. Let $A=[a_{ij}]$ be a real symmetric ...
12
votes
0
answers
191
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Non-Boolean Eulerian interval of finite groups
An Eulerian subgroup lattice is Boolean (see here), so it is natural to wonder whether it is also true for an interval of finite groups. The smallest non-Boolean Eulerian lattice is the following:
It ...
12
votes
0
answers
703
views
Product of a Schubert polynomial and a double Schubert polynomial
Let $S_u(x)$ be a Schubert polynomial and let $S_v(x;y)$ be a double Schubert polynomial. Then their product can be expressed in terms of the double Schubert polynomials as
$$S_u(x)S_v(x;y)=\sum_w{c_{...
11
votes
2
answers
831
views
How exactly does Schützenberger promotion relate to Striker-Williams promotion?
Schützenberger promotion, studied (for example) in Richard Stanley, Promotion and Evacuation, 2009, is a permutation of the set of all linear extensions of a finite poset. Since one can identify the ...
11
votes
1
answer
803
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Dual of a Specht module
For a partition $\mu$ of $n$, let $S^{\mu}$ be the associated Specht module, defined over $\mathbb{Z}$. For any field $k$, we can tensor $S^{\mu}$ with $k$ to get a representation $S^{\mu}_k$ of the ...