All Questions
Tagged with co.combinatorics ag.algebraic-geometry
292 questions
103
votes
3
answers
6k
views
Why do combinatorial abstractions of geometric objects behave so well?
This question is inspired by a talk of June Huh from the recent "Current Developments in Mathematics" conference.
Here are two examples of the kind of combinatorial abstractions of geometric ...
- 24.2k
62
votes
7
answers
7k
views
Euler-Maclaurin formula and Riemann-Roch
Let $Df$ denote the derivative of a function $f(x)$ and $\bigtriangledown f=f(x)-f(x-1)$ be the discrete derivative. Using the Taylor series expansion for $f(x-1)$, we easily get $\bigtriangledown = ...
- 13.1k
51
votes
3
answers
4k
views
What is the sandpile torsor?
Let G be a finite undirected connected graph. A divisor on G is an element of the free abelian group Div(G) on the vertices of G (or an integer-valued function on the vertices.) Summing over all ...
- 19.2k
41
votes
6
answers
4k
views
Why do Littlewood-Richardson coefficients describe the cohomology of the Grassmannian?
I'm looking for a "conceptual" explanation to the question in the title. The standard proofs that I've seen go as follows: use the Schubert cell decomposition to get a basis for cohomology and show ...
- 10.7k
34
votes
2
answers
3k
views
Shimura-Taniyama-Weil VS Grothendieck's dessins
When listening to the beautiful lectures by Gilles Schaeffer at
the SLC68, the following (perhaps crazy) question occurred to me:
did anyone attempt (succeed?) to combinatorially prove modularity of ...
27
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Combinatorics of K(Z,2)?
Anybody knows a semi-simplicial model for $K(Z,2)$ having finite number of simplexes in any dimension? With some regular description? I have heard about big activity on triangulating $CP^n$ but this ...
- 1,482
23
votes
4
answers
4k
views
What information is contained in the Kazhdan-Lusztig polynomials?
The Kazhdan-Lusztig polynomials contain all kinds of representation theoretic (and other kinds of) informations.
For example the character of a simple module over a Lie algebra with Weyl group $W$ ...
22
votes
2
answers
5k
views
What is Tropicalization, and how is it applied
My question is:
What is Tropicalization, how is it done, and what are some basic applications of it?
motivation
I am interested especially in how questions about enumerative algebraic geometry ...
- 24.7k
20
votes
5
answers
1k
views
From convex polytopes to toric varieties: the constructions of Davis and Januszkiewicz
One of the most useful tools in the study of convex polytopes is to move from polytopes (through their fans) to toric varieties and see how properties of the associated toric variety reflects back on ...
- 24.7k
20
votes
1
answer
902
views
Double Counting: Motivic Edition
One of the most important proof techniques in combinatorics is double counting: proving that both sides of an identity count elements of some set in two different ways. This question is an attempt at ...
- 85.6k
19
votes
8
answers
3k
views
Are there any algebraic geometry theorems that were proved using combinatorics?
I'm collaborating with some algebraic geometers in a paper, and when writing the introduction I mentioned the interaction of combinatorics and algebraic geometry, and gave some examples like the ...
19
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Explicit invariant of tensors nonvanishing on the diagonal
The group $SL_n \times SL_n \times SL_n$ acts naturally on the vector space $\mathbb C^n \otimes \mathbb C^n \otimes \mathbb C^n$ and has a rather large ring of polynomial invariants. The element $$\...
- 148k
19
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Guises of the Stasheff polytopes, associahedra for the Coxeter $A_n$ root system?
Richard Stanley keeps a famous running compilation of different guises of the celebrated Catalan numbers. The number of vertices of the associahedron is one instantiation among the multitude, and the ...
- 10.5k
19
votes
2
answers
1k
views
About a Delzant polytope. (In particular dodecahedron)
Hi. I have a question.
Definition. Delzant polytope $P$ is a rational convex simple polytope with the smooth condition. Here, "smooth" means that for each vertex $v$, the $n$ edges containing $v$ ...
- 1,037
18
votes
5
answers
1k
views
Number of $3\times 3$ anticommuting matrices over finite fields $\mathbb{F}_p$ is (or is not?) polynomial in $p$?
There are rare algebraic varieties such that the number of points over finite fields $\mathbb{F}_p$ is given by a polynomial in $p$. One notable series of examples is the commuting variety: $[A,B]=0$ ...
- 24.9k
18
votes
2
answers
700
views
Can all unit-distance graphs have their vertices at algebraic integers?
A graph $G$ is described as a unit-distance graph if there exists a function $f:G \rightarrow \mathbb{C}$ such that for every edge $(u,v) \in E(G)$, we have $|f(u) - f(v)| = 1$.
Obviously, we can ...
- 12.4k
18
votes
2
answers
983
views
A direct proof of the Harer-Zagier recursion enumerating the ways to paste a 2n-gon to get a genus g surface?
In a 1986 paper, Harer and Zagier proved the recursion:
$$(n+1)e(g,n)=(4n-2)e(g,n-1)+(2n-1)(n-1)(2n-3)e(g-1,n-2)$$
where e(g,n) is the number of ways of grouping sides $S_1...S_{2n}$ of a 2n-gon ...
- 1,303
18
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Deligne-Simpson problem in the symmetric group
Question.
Let $C_1,\dots,C_k$ be conjugacy classes in the symmetric group $S_n$. (More explicitly,
each $C_i$ is given by a partition of $n$; $C_i$ consists of permutations whose cycles
have the ...
- 4,540
18
votes
1
answer
1k
views
A natural refinement of the $A_n$ arrangement is to consider all $2^n-1$ hyperplanes given by the sums of the coordinate functions. Have you seen this arrangement? Is it completely intractable?
The short version
Here is an extremely natural hyperplane arrangement in $\mathbb{R}^n$, which I will call $R_n$ for resonance arrangement.
Let $x_i$ be the standard coordinates on $\mathbb{R}^n$. For ...
- 2,372
18
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Smith Normal Form of powers of a matrix
What invariants of a matrix determine the Smith Normal Form (SNF) of all the powers of a matrix?
The question makes sense over any PID $R$. If we let $M = M_n(R)$ and $G=Gl_n(R)$, then SNF is a ...
- 3,526
18
votes
0
answers
579
views
What is the geometric intuition behind Wilf-Zeilberger theory?
This problem is somehow inspired by a bunch of impressive posts of combinatorial identities by T. Amdeberhan. Earlier this month I learnt from computer scientists that they have a generic algorithmic ...
- 8,071
17
votes
4
answers
2k
views
Reference request: Grassmannian and Plucker coordinates in type B, C, D
Grassmannian $Gr(k,n)$ is the set of $k$-dimensional subspace of an $n$-dimensional vector space. What are the Grassmannian in types B, C, D? What are the analog of Plucker coordinates and Plucker ...
- 6,201
17
votes
2
answers
3k
views
What are some open problems in toric varieties?
In light of the nice responses to this question, I wonder what are some open problems in
the area of toric geometry? In particular,
What are some open problems relating to the algebraic ...
17
votes
0
answers
402
views
Number of $F_p$-matrices ac=ca, bd = db , ad - da = cb - bc is polynomial in p ? ("Manin matrix variety" - normal ? Cohen–Macaulay ? )
Consider four $n\times n$ matrices $a,b,c,d$ over finite field $F_q$ (or $F_p$ for simplicity), such that they satisfy three equations: $ac=ca,bd=db, ad-da=cb-bc $. Thus an affine algebraic manifold ...
- 24.9k
16
votes
7
answers
2k
views
Learning About Schubert Varieties
I am a combinatorist by training and I am interested in learning about the connections between combinatorics and Schubert varieties. The theory of Schubert varieties seems to be a difficult area to ...
- 163
16
votes
5
answers
2k
views
Elliptic Curves over F_1?
Is there an notion of elliptic curve over the field with one element? As I learned from a previous question, there are several different versions of what the field with one element and what schemes ...
- 27.5k
16
votes
4
answers
3k
views
How many minors I need to check to conclude all minors will vanish ?
Given a $m \times n$ matrix $n>m$, I was trying to check if all its $m \times m$ minor vanish.
I remember hearing that one really does not need to check all possible minors in order to conclude ...
- 1,795
16
votes
3
answers
2k
views
The Sylvester Gallai Theorem and Sections of Varieties with "Simple Topology".
The Sylvester-Gallai theorem asserts that for every collection of points in the plane, not all on a line, there is a line containing exactly two of the points.
One high dimensional extension ...
16
votes
2
answers
538
views
Surprising appearances of Painlevé transcendents
What are some of your favorite examples of enumerative problems whose answer ended up being (related to) a solution to one of the Painlevé equations?
I have seen examples from enumeration of classes ...
15
votes
5
answers
2k
views
Striking existence theorems with mild conditions, and simple to state: more recent examples?
I would like to write an article about powerful existence theorems that assert, under mild and simple conditions, that some basic pattern or regularity exist. See some examples below. By mild ...
15
votes
3
answers
892
views
Log-concavity of matroids: characterization of equality?
Let $M$ be a (loopless) matroid of rank $r$.
The characteristic polynomial $\chi_M(x)$ is defined by $\chi_M(x)=\sum_{F \in \mathcal{L}(M)}\mu(\hat{0},F) \cdot x^{\mathrm{rk}(F)}$, where $ \mathcal{L}(...
- 24.2k
15
votes
5
answers
1k
views
Comparing two power-series
I have been wrestling with the following problem for some time now. If possible, I would prefer a hint rather than a full solution, because I would like to "solve" it myself.
Let $f(z)$ be a ...
- 988
15
votes
1
answer
690
views
Smooth bases of matroids
Motivated by algebraic geometry, I've come up with a purely
combinatorial definition within the theory of matroids.
The question is: is this concept known?
If you like matroids but not algebraic ...
- 27.8k
14
votes
1
answer
801
views
Is there a lift of the q-Vandermonde identity to some geometric (motivic) identity for Grassmannians over $F_q$?
The q-Vandermonde identity reads:
$$ \binom{m + n}{k}_{\!\!q} =\sum_{j} \binom{m}{k - j}_{\!\!q} \binom{n}{j}_{\!\!q} q^{j(m-k+j)} $$
The q-binomial coefficients:
$$ \binom{ a }{ b}_{\!\!q} $$
...
- 24.9k
14
votes
2
answers
571
views
Number of d-Calabi-Yau partitions
This problem arises from algebraic geometry/representation theory, see https://arxiv.org/pdf/1409.0668.pdf (chapter 2).
We call a partition $p=[p_1,...,p_n]$ with $2 \leq p_1 \leq p_2 \leq ... \leq ...
- 26.5k
13
votes
3
answers
1k
views
Reference for combinatorics of cell decomposition of the Hilbert scheme of points in the plane
It is known from either Morse theory or Bialynicki-Birula decomposition that the fixed points of a ${\mathbb{C}}^*$ action on a smooth algebraic variety over $\mathbb{C}$ determine a cell ...
- 2,964
13
votes
1
answer
698
views
Counting representations of $k[x,y]$ when $k$ is finite
$\newcommand{\GFq}{\mathbf F_q}$
Let $r_n(q)$ denote the number of isomorphism classes of $n$-dimensional modules of the $\GFq$-algebra $\GFq[x,y]$. Is it known whether there exists a polynomial $p_n(...
- 5,654
12
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Mnev's universality corollaries, quantitative versions?
Mnev's universality theorem claims that any semialgebraic set is the realization space of some oriented matroid. Moreover, the rank of the or matroid can be prescribed in advance.
1.-Are there ...
- 1,303
12
votes
2
answers
664
views
Detecting tilings by toric geometry
This is probably a silly question, but I figured that if there is a good answer, this would be a good place to ask.
Ever since I got my hands on the book "Toric Varieties" by Cox, Little and Schenck, ...
- 85.6k
12
votes
2
answers
556
views
Sylvester–Gallai theorem with circle version, plane version and curve version?
The Sylvester–Gallai theorem in geometry states that, given a finite number of points in the Euclidean plane, either
All the points are collinear; or
There is a line which contains exactly two of the ...
- 477
12
votes
1
answer
566
views
Counting branched covers of the projective line and Spec Z
I've asked a question like this before, but now I'm more interested in counting the number of covers.
We suppose given the following data.
A positive integer $d$
A finite set of closed points $B= (...
- 9,497
12
votes
1
answer
949
views
Discrete version of Nullstellensatz?
Hi. I was reading the paper "On the foundations of combinatorial theory (VI): The idea of a generating function" by Doubilet, Rota and Stanley, and there is a relation treated which is very ...
- 902
12
votes
1
answer
939
views
Which Steiner systems come from algebraic geometry?
This question is motivated by the ongoing discussion under my answer to this question. I wrote the following there:
A $(p, q, r)$ Steiner system is a collection of $q$-element subsets $A$ (called ...
- 23k
12
votes
0
answers
731
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_{...
- 2,168
12
votes
0
answers
529
views
A commutative monoid associated with a finite abelian group
Let $M$ be a finite abelian group, and denote by $e_m$, for $m \in M$, the canonical basis of $\mathbb{Z}^M$. For $m, n \in M$ define elements $v_{m,n} \in \mathbb{Z}^M/\langle e_0\rangle$ as
$$
v_{m,...
- 181
11
votes
2
answers
977
views
Reference for combinatorics with view towards representation theory/algebraic geometry
I'm making this post to ask for a reference about combinatorics: I'm a PhD student in representation theory/algebraic geometry. My background is mostly in algebra and geometry (and also mostly ...
- 1,061
11
votes
4
answers
1k
views
What is the correspondence between combinatorial problems and the location of the zeroes of polynomials called?
(From MSE)
In the wikipedia article on the Italian-born American mathematician and philosopher Gian-Carlo Rota, it is stated that the one combinatorial idea he would like to be remembered for
".....
- 4,829
11
votes
2
answers
910
views
Access to a preprint by D. N. Verma
Some work I am doing is connected with a sequence 1, 3, 40, 1225, 67956, $\dots$ which agrees with http://oeis.org/A012250 for all eight terms. The only useful information in OEIS on this sequence is ...
- 50.8k
11
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Tensor rank of anti-symmetric tensor
Let $V$ be a vector space of dimension $n$. Let us consider $V^{\otimes n}=V\otimes V \ldots \otimes V$. This vector space contains one dimentional vector space $\wedge^n V$. My question is does it ...
- 2,179
11
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Geometric motivation for the Stanley-Reisner correspondence
The Stanley-Reisner ring of an abstract simplicial complex $\Delta$ on the vertex set $\{1,...,n\}$ is the $k$-algebra
$$
k[X_1,...,X_n]/I_\Delta
$$
where $I_\Delta$ is the ideal generated by the $X_{...
- 2,782