All Questions
Tagged with co.combinatorics finite-geometry
47 questions
5
votes
1
answer
341
views
Which finite projective planes can have a symmetric incidence matrix?
As the title says. Which finite projective planes admit a symmetric incidence matrix?
I am not an expert in the field at all, but I consulted with one. He claimed that $PG(2, \mathbb F_q)$ can always ...
- 237
41
votes
2
answers
5k
views
Projective Plane of Order 12
I asked this question on the new Theoretical Computer Science "overflow" site, and commenters suggested I ask it here. That question is here, and it contains additional links, which I doubt I can ...
- 881
4
votes
0
answers
143
views
Non-Desarguesian finite projective planes with ≤3 (non-collinear) chosen points, and coordinatisation
It is well-known that an arbitrary projective plane can have very different symmetry group to a field plane. In particular, the symmetries are not transitive on the set of fundamental quadrangles. ...
- 35.5k
16
votes
1
answer
395
views
Geometric interpretation of the exceptional isomorphism $PSp(4,3)=PSU(4,2^2)$
It is well-known that there is an isomorphism between $PSp(4,3)$ (the symplectic group of dimension $4$ over $\mathbb F_3$) and $PSU(4,2^2)$ (the unitary group defined by $4\times4$ unitary matrices ...
- 9,501
11
votes
1
answer
269
views
Does every $C_4$-free bipartite graph lies in some finite projective plane?
A projective plane $Π$ is a 3-tuple $(P,L,I)$ where $P$ and $L$ are sets, and $I$ is a relation between $P$ and $L$, such that:
For every two elements $p_1$, $p_2\in P$, there exists a unique ...
- 9,501
5
votes
2
answers
139
views
Sets blocking every $2$-flat in $AG(n,2)$
The following may be well-known $-$ but not known to me:
What is the smallest possible size of a set in ${\mathbb F}_2^n$ that blocks every $2$-flat?
Here "blocks" means "have a non-empty ...
- 23k
7
votes
0
answers
301
views
Arrangement of subspaces over finite fields
I'm trying to find out what is already known about the following setup.
Let $V$ be an $n$-dimensional vector space over a finite field $F_q$ (I'm mostly interested in the case where $q$ is prime), and ...
- 1,062
13
votes
1
answer
345
views
Status of the basis exchange condition for symplectic matroids
Let $J_n := \{1,2,3,\ldots,n,1^*,2^*,\ldots,n^*\}$ with the involution $x\mapsto x^*$ exchanging $i$ and $i^*$ for $1\leq i\leq n$. The following is supposed to be standard, but to avoid any doubt as ...
- 32.5k
13
votes
2
answers
1k
views
The exceptional isomorphism between PGL(3,2) and PSL(2,7): geometric origin?
It is well-known there is an isomorphism between $GL(3,2)=PGL(3,2)$, the automorphism group of the Fano plane (i.e. the projective plane over the finite field with two elements), and $PSL(2,7)$, which ...
- 35.5k
39
votes
2
answers
1k
views
How close can one get to the missing finite projective planes?
This question can be interpreted as an instance of the Zarankiewicz problem. Suppose we have an $n\times n$ matrix with entries in $\{0,1\}$ with no $\begin{pmatrix}1 & 1\\ 1& 1\end{pmatrix} $ ...
- 85.6k
4
votes
1
answer
385
views
Point-Hyperplane incidence in finite projective spaces
Let $P$ be a finite projective space of order $q$ and dimension $d$. I am interested in finding the least $k$ such that for any set $S$ of $k$ points of $P$, and for any set $S'$ of $k$ hyperplanes of ...
- 935
6
votes
1
answer
297
views
Covering the finite plane with lines
This is, essentially, a geometrically rendered version of the question I asked a week ago, with the emphases slightly shifted; it seems more natural and appealing (to me, at least) in this form.
Let ...
- 23k
7
votes
1
answer
294
views
Largest number of points one can pick in finite projective space without getting three on a line
Consider the projectivization $\mathbb P\mathbb F_p^n$ of $\mathbb F_p^n$. How large a set $B \subseteq \mathbb P \mathbb F_p^n$ can I pick so that no three points of $B$ lie on the same line?
- 615
10
votes
1
answer
561
views
How many rich directions does a set in $\mathbb F_p^2$ determine?
$\newcommand{\F}{\mathbb F}$
A subset $P$ of the affine plane $\F_p^2$ is said to determine a direction if there is a line in this direction containing at least two points of $P$.
A set of size $|P|&...
- 23k
15
votes
1
answer
417
views
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 ...
- 42k
10
votes
1
answer
516
views
Subplanes of Finite Projective Planes
If a finite projective plane $\pi_1$ of order $m$ contains, as a sub plane, a
finite projective plane $\pi_2$ of order $n$, then $m \geq n^2$ with equality holding only in the case of a Baer sub plane....
- 349
9
votes
1
answer
399
views
Are bipartite Moore graphs Hamiltonian?
This is motivated by a computer-generated conjecture that bipartite distance-regular graphs are hamiltonian. I decided to check the case of Moore graphs first.
The cycles and complete bipartite graphs ...
- 9,501
4
votes
1
answer
186
views
Is there a unique Baer subplane in a finite Desarguesian projective plane?
An order-$m$ subplane of a finite projective plane of order $n$ is called a Baer subplane if $n=m^2$.
It is known that the projective plane $PG(2,q)$ is a Baer subplane of the Desarguesian ...
- 9,501
3
votes
0
answers
127
views
$\left< 15\right>^7/15$-womcode construction
In the article Womcodes constructed with projective geometries Frans Merkx constructed several good wom-codes (write-once memory codes, see How to reuse a "write-once" memory by Rivest & Shamir ...
- 12.3k
11
votes
2
answers
792
views
Blocking sets in three dimensional finite affine spaces
What is the smallest possible size of a set of points in $\mathbb{F}_q^3$ which intersects (blocks) every line?
Clearly the union of three affine hyperplanes that intersect in a singleton, say $x = 0,...
- 1,197
4
votes
3
answers
781
views
Does there exist a finite hyperbolic geometry in which every line contains at least 3 points, but not every line contains the same number of points?
It seems to me that the answer should be yes, but my naive attempts to come up with an example have failed.
Just to clarify, by finite hyperbolic geometry I mean a finite set of points and lines such ...
- 1,701
4
votes
0
answers
250
views
Birkhoff – von Neumann for "$k$-stochastic matrices"
Recall that a doubly-stochastic matrix is a square matrix with non-negative elements such the sum of the elements in every row, as well as in every column, is $1$. The set of doubly-stochastic ...
- 23k
2
votes
1
answer
302
views
For which finite projective planes can the incidence structure be written as a circulant matrix?
It is well known that the projective plane of order $2$ can be represented by the circulant matrix $M_2:=circ(x,x,1,x,1,1,1)= \begin{pmatrix}
x&x&1&x&1&1&1\\
1&x&x&...
- 13.4k
4
votes
0
answers
192
views
Forcing scalar products to avoid prescribed values
Let $p$ be a prime, and $n\ge 1$ an integer number. Suppose that the (not necessarily distinct) vectors $v_1,\dotsc,v_N \in{\mathbb F}_p^n$ satisfy the following condition:
\begin{gather}
\text{For ...
- 23k
3
votes
1
answer
164
views
A system of linear equations related to the geometry of a finite plane
Let $\mathcal L$ denote the set of all lines in $\mathbb F_p^2$ parallel to one of the lines
$$ X:=\{(x,0)\colon x\in\mathbb F_p \},
\ Y:=\{(0,y)\colon y\in\mathbb F_p \},
\ Z:=\{(z,z)\...
- 23k
7
votes
1
answer
330
views
Large gaps in Singer's difference sets
This question is related to the question I asked earlier.
For a natural number $n$, a set $D$ of integer numbers is called a $n$-cyclic difference set if each integer number $x\notin n\mathbb Z$ can ...
- 42k
5
votes
1
answer
355
views
Generalization of finite-projective-plane with more than one intersection point
In a finite projective plane, each two points appear together in exactly one line, and each two lines intersect in exactly one point. It is known that, if each line contains $n+1$ points, then the ...
- 3,559
9
votes
0
answers
245
views
Almost blocking sets in $\mathbb F_q^2$
$\newcommand{\F}{{\mathbb F}}$
Let $q$ be an odd prime power. A blocking set in the affine plane $\F_q^2$ is a set blocking (meeting) every line.
A union of two non-parallel lines is a blocking set ...
- 23k
6
votes
1
answer
458
views
Applications of small Kakeya sets over finite fields
It was proved by Dvir that a Kakeya set in $\mathbb{F}_q^n$ has size at least $q^n/n!$, a bound which was later improved to $q^n/2^n$.
For $n = 2$ and $q$ odd the exact bound is $q(q+1)/2 + (q-1)/2$ ...
- 1,197
5
votes
1
answer
140
views
Is there literature on finite geometries with ordered lines?
A difference between finite geometries and (e.g.) Euclidean space is that "lines" in finite geometries are unordered subsets of the universe, while "lines" in Euclidean space are ordered subsets of ...
- 1,389
5
votes
1
answer
460
views
$(n-2)$-blocking sets in $AG(n,2)$
Let's define $k$-blocking set in affine space $AG(n,q)$ a set that meets every coset (translate of subspace) of dimension $k$.
I have seen a lot work related to minimal $(n-1)$-blockings set.
...
- 337
3
votes
3
answers
611
views
On MDS code property
Is there a code that is Maximum Distance Separable and not isomorphic to Reed Solomon Codes? When is a MDS code isomorphic to Reed Solomon Code?
Is there an easy test? If so, could someone provide ...
- 13.9k
4
votes
1
answer
271
views
Square-free sets in $\mathbb F_2^n\oplus\mathbb F_2^n$
A square in $\mathbb F_2^n\oplus\mathbb F_2^n$ is a quadruple of the form
$$ (u,v)+\{(0,0),(0,d),(d,0),(d,d)\},\quad u,v,d\in\mathbb F_2^n,\ d\ne 0. $$
A set $A\subset\mathbb F_2^n\oplus\mathbb F_2^...
- 23k
6
votes
2
answers
992
views
On the joints problem in finite fields
The original version of the so-called "joints problem" consists of the following:
Let $L$ be a set of lines in $\mathbb{R}^{3}$. Determine the maximum number of "joints" determined by these lines, ...
- 625
2
votes
0
answers
86
views
A system of homogeneous linear equations
This is the "real-life" (but slightly more technical) version of a question I have asked recently.
For a prime $p>10$, let $\mathcal L_X$, $\mathcal L_Y$, and $\mathcal L_Z$ denote the pencils of ...
- 23k
3
votes
2
answers
244
views
Incidence matrices of generalized quadrangles
Is there somewhere a database of incidence matrices of generalized quadrangles that one can download?
- 6,962
12
votes
2
answers
820
views
Who constructed the projective plane of order $4$ from $K_6$?
I have been trying to hunt down the original reference for the construction of the projective plane of order $4$ from the complete graph on $6$ vertices.
The reference I have at hand are Cameron and ...
- 1,418
4
votes
2
answers
383
views
Finding the set of all $0$-$1$ vectors in an affine subspace
We are given a $0$-$1$ matrix $A$ with constant row and column sum, and we need to find out if there exists a $0$-$1$ vector in the solution space of $Ax = \mathbf{1}$ over $\mathbb{Q}$ (or $\mathbb{Z}...
- 1,197
10
votes
2
answers
495
views
Is there a hyperplane avoiding two independent sets?
Let $V$ be a vector space over a field with $5$ elements, $A,B \subseteq V$ independent subsets. Must there be a subspace of $V$ of codimension 1 disjoint from $A \cup B$?
- 11.3k
3
votes
0
answers
100
views
Applications of finite Bolyai-Lobachevsky planes
Google scholar gives more than 200 articles comcerning finite Bolyai-Lobachevsky (BL) planes. Usually they devoted to construction of such objects (axioms may be different).
Are their any ...
- 12.3k
3
votes
1
answer
245
views
An upper bound on the number of sets of parallel lines covering points in a finite plane?
Let $\mathbb{F}$ be a finite field of characteristic $2$. Let $L_m$ denote the set of lines in $\mathbb{F}^2$ with slope $m\in\mathbb{F}$, that is, all parallel lines of the form $y=mx+b$. Consider a ...
- 133
4
votes
1
answer
463
views
Covering all, but $k$ points with affine subspaces
For non-negative integer $d\le n$ and $k\le 2^n$, how many affine subspaces of co-dimension $d$ are needed to cover all, but exactly $k$ elements of the vector space ${\mathbb F}_2^n$, and what are ...
- 23k
2
votes
0
answers
337
views
Enumerating certain types of permutation polynomials
Given a prime power $q$, I would like to enumerate (preferably up to isomorphism*) all the permutation polynomials $f(x)$ on $K = GF(q^3)$ satisfying the following conditions:
$f(ax) = af(x)$ for all ...
- 1,197
4
votes
0
answers
242
views
Sets of spreads in graphs
Let $G$ be a graph. A $k$-spread is a set of cliques of order $k$ which partition the vertex set (so $k|n$, where $n$ is the number of vertices).
A partial $k$-resolution of $G$ is a set of pairwise ...
- 6,962
8
votes
0
answers
159
views
The Maximum Number of Lines Contained in the Point Set of a Finite Projective Plane
Consider a finite projective plane of order $q$. Define $f(m)$ to be the maximum number of lines completely contained in any point set of size $m$, where $1 \leq m \leq q^2+q+1$. I would like to ...
user48028
5
votes
0
answers
235
views
A question on hyperplanes in partial linear spaces and hypergraphs
A partial linear space (or a linear hypergraph) is a point line geometry $(P,L,I)$ where for every pair of points there is at most one line incident with both of them. A hyperplane in a partial linear ...
- 1,197
2
votes
0
answers
251
views
A problem in Galois Geometry
Given a prime $p$, out of $N$ vectors of length $p^k$ over $\Bbb F_2$ of Hamming weight $w^{k}$ that are chosen, how many vectors can there be with pairwise Hamming distance at least $2w^{k}$ given ...
- 13.9k