arXiv subjects

Jorge Luis Ramírez Alfonsín

Publications and source records attributed to Jorge Luis Ramírez Alfonsín.

14 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2022

The Square Frobenius Number

Let $S=\left\langle s_1,\ldots,s_n\right\rangle$ be a numerical semigroup generated by the relatively prime positive integers $s_1,\ldots,s_n$. Let $k\geqslant 2$ be an integer. In this paper, we consider the following $k$-power variant of the Frobenius number of $S$ defined as $${}^{k\!}r\!\left(S\right):= \text{ the largest } k \text{-power integer not belonging to } S.$$In this paper, we investigate the case $k=2$. We give an upper bound for ${}^{2\!}r\!\left(S_A\right)$ for an infinite family of semigroups $S_A$ generated by {\em arithmetic progressions}. The latter turns out to be the exact value of ${}^{2\!}r\!\left(\left\langle s_1,s_2\right\rangle\right)$ under certain conditions. We present an exact formula for ${}^{2\!}r\!\left(\left\langle s_1,s_1+d \right\rangle\right)$ when $d=3,4$ and $5$, study ${}^{2\!}r\!\left(\left\langle s_1,s_1+1 \right\rangle\right)$ and ${}^{2\!}r\!\left(\left\langle s_1,s_1+2 \right\rangle\right)$ and put forward two relevant conjectures. We finally discuss some related questions.

math.NT↗

arXiv2021

On the number of vertices of projective polytopes

Let $X$ be a configuration of $n$ points in $\mathbb{R}^d$. What is the maximum number of vertices that $conv(T(X))$ can have among all the possible permissible projective transformations $T$? In this paper, we investigate this and connected questions. After presenting several upper bounds, we study a closely related problem (via Gale transforms) concerning the number of minimal Radon partitions of a set of points. We then present some bounds for this number that enable us to partially answer a question due to Pach and Szegedy. We also discuss another related problem concerning the size of topes in arrangements of hyperplanes.

math.CO↗

arXiv2021

Ball packings for links

The ball number of a link $L$, denoted by $ball(L)$, is the minimum number of solid balls (not necessarily of the same size) needed to realize a necklace representing $L$. In this paper, we show that $ball(L)\leq 5 cr(L)$ where $cr(L)$ denotes the crossing number of $L$. To this end, we use Lorentz geometry applied to ball packings. The well-known Koebe-Andreev-Thurston circle packing Theorem is also an important brick for the proof. Our approach yields to an algorithm to construct explicitly the desired necklace representation of $L$ in the 3-dimensional space.

math.CO↗

arXiv2018

Cubic graphs, their Ehrhart quasi-polynomials, and a scissors congruence phenomenon

The scissors congruence conjecture for the unimodular group is an analogue of Hilbert's third problem, for the equidecomposability of polytopes. Liu and Osserman studied the Ehrhart quasi-polynomials of polytopes naturally associated to graphs whose vertices have degree one or three. In this paper, we prove the scissors congruence conjecture, posed by Haase and McAllister, for this class of polytopes. The key ingredient in the proofs is the nearest neighbor interchange on graphs and a naturally arising piecewise unimodular transformation.

math.CO↗

arXiv2017

Codimension two and three Kneser Transversals

Let $k,d,λ\geqslant 1$ be integers with $d\geqslant λ$ and let $X$ be a finite set of points in $\mathbb{R}^{d}$. A $(d-λ)$-plane $L$ transversal to the convex hulls of all $k$-sets of $X$ is called Kneser transversal. If in addition $L$ contains $(d-λ)+1$ points of $X$, then $L$ is called complete Kneser transversal.In this paper, we present various results on the existence of (complete) Kneser transversals for $λ=2,3$. In order to do this, we introduce the notions of stability and instability for (complete) Kneser transversals. We first give a stability result for collections of $d+2(k-λ)$ points in $\mathbb{R}^d$ with $k-λ\geqslant 2$ and $λ=2,3$. We then present a description of Kneser transversals $L$ of collections of $d+2(k-λ)$ points in $\mathbb{R}^d$ with $k-λ\geqslant 2$ for $λ=2,3$. We show that either $L$ is a complete Kneser transversal or it contains $d-2(λ-1)$ points and the remaining $2(k-1)$ points of $X$ are matched in $k-1$ pairs in such a way that $L$ intersects the corresponding closed segments determined by them. The latter leads to new upper and lower bounds (in the case when $λ=2$ and $3$) for $m(k,d,λ)$ defined as the maximum positive integer $n$ such that every set of $n$ points (not necessarily in general position) in $\mathbb{R}^{d}$ admit a Kneser transversal.Finally, by using oriented matroid machinery, we present some computational results (closely related to the stability and unstability notions). We determine the existence of (complete) Kneser transversals for each of the $246$ different order types of configurations of $7$ points in $\mathbb{R}^3$.

math.CO↗

arXiv2017

On lattice path matroid polytopes: integer points and Ehrhart polynomial

In this paper we investigate the number of integer points lying in dilations of lattice path matroid polytopes. We give a characterization of such points as polygonal paths in the diagram of the lattice path matroid. Furthermore, we prove that lattice path matroid polytopes are affinely equivalent to a family of distributive polytopes. As applications we obtain two new infinite families of matroids verifying a conjecture of De Loera et.~al. and present an explicit formula of the Ehrhart polynomial for one of them.

math.CO↗

arXiv2017

Matroid basis graph: Counting Hamiltonian cycles

We present exponential and super factorial lower bounds on the number of Hamiltonian cycles passing through any edge of the basis graphs of a graphic, generalized Catalan and uniform matroids. All lower bounds were obtained by a common general strategy based on counting appropriated cycles of length four in the corresponding matroid basis graph.

math.CO↗

arXiv2016

A Tutte polynomial inequality for lattice path matroids

Let $M$ be a matroid without loops or coloops and let $T(M;x,y)$ be its Tutte polynomial. In 1999 Merino and Welsh conjectured that $$\max(T(M;2,0), T(M;0,2))\geq T(M;1,1)$$ holds for graphic matroids. Ten years later, Conde and Merino proposed a multiplicative version of the conjecture which implies the original one. In this paper we prove the multiplicative conjecture for the family of lattice path matroids (generalizing earlier results on uniform and Catalan matroids). In order to do this, we introduce and study particular lattice path matroids, called snakes, used as building bricks to indeed establish a strengthening of the multiplicative conjecture as well as a complete characterization of the cases in which equality holds.

math.CO↗

arXiv2016

Complete Kneser Transversals

Let $k,d,λ\geqslant1$ be integers with $d\geqslantλ$. Let $m(k,d,λ)$ be the maximum positive integer $n$ such that every set of $n$ points (not necessarily in general position) in $\mathbb{R}^{d}$ has the property that the convex hulls of all $k$-sets have a common transversal $(d-λ)$-plane. It turns out that $m(k, d,λ)$ is strongly connected with other interesting problems, for instance, the chromatic number of Kneser hypergraphs and a discrete version of Rado's centerpoint theorem. In the same spirit, we introduce a natural discrete version $m^*$ of $m$ by considering the existence of complete Kneser transversals. We study the relation between them and give a number of lower and upper bounds of $m^*$ as well as the exact value in some cases. The main ingredient for the proofs are Radon's partition theorem as well as oriented matroids tools. By studying the alternating oriented matroid we obtain the asymptotic behavior of the function $m^*$ for the family of cyclic polytopes.

math.CO↗

arXiv2016

How many circuits determine an oriented matroid?

Las Vergnas and Hamidoune studied the number of circuits needed to determine an oriented matroid. In this paper we investigate this problem and some new variants, as well as their interpretation in particular classes of matroids. We present general upper and lower bounds in the setting of general connected orientable matroids, leading to the study of subgraphs of the base graph and the intersection graph of circuits. We then consider the problem for uniform matroids which is closely related to the notion of (connected) covering numbers in Design Theory. Finally, we also devote special attention to regular matroids as well as some graphic and cographic matroids leading in particular to the topics of (connected) bond and cycle covers in Graph Theory.

math.CO↗

arXiv2016

Möbius function of semigroup posets through Hilbert series

In this paper, we investigate the M{ö}bius function $μ\_{\mathcal{S}}$ associated to a (locally finite) poset arising from a semigroup $\mathcal{S}$ of $\mathbb{Z}^m$. We introduce and develop a new approach to study $μ\_{\mathcal{S}}$ by using the Hilbert series of $\mathcal{S}$. The latter enables us to provide formulas for $μ\_{\mathcal{S}}$ when $\mathcal{S}$ belongs to certain families of semigroups. Finally, a characterization for a locally finite poset to be isomorphic to a semigroup poset is given.

math.GR↗

arXiv2015

Matroid toric ideals: complete intersection, minors and minimal systems of generators

In this paper, we investigate three problems concerning the toric ideal associated to a matroid. Firstly, we list all matroids $\mathcal M$ such that its corresponding toric ideal $I_{\mathcal M}$ is a complete intersection. Secondly, we handle with the problem of detecting minors of a matroid $\mathcal M$ from a minimal set of binomial generators of $I_{\mathcal M}$. In particular, given a minimal set of binomial generators of $I_{\mathcal M}$ we provide a necessary condition for $\mathcal M$ to have a minor isomorphic to $\mathcal U_{d,2d}$ for $d \geq 2$. This condition is proved to be sufficient for $d = 2$ (leading to a criterion for determining whether $\mathcal M$ is binary) and for $d = 3$. Finally, we characterize all matroids $\mathcal M$ such that $I_{\mathcal M}$ has a unique minimal set of binomial generators.

math.AC↗

arXiv2015

Connected covering numbers

A connected covering is a design system in which the corresponding {\em block graph} is connected. The minimum size of such coverings are called {\em connected coverings numbers}. In this paper, we present various formulas and bounds for several parameter settings for these numbers. We also investigate results in connection with {\em Turán systems}. Finally, a new general upper bound, improving an earlier result, is given. The latter is used to improve upper bounds on a question concerning oriented matroid due to Las Vergnas.

math.CO↗

arXiv2014

Ramsey for complete graphs with dropped cliques

Let $K\_{[k,t]}$ be the complete graph on $k$ vertices from which a set of edges, induced by a clique of order $t$, has been dropped. In this note we give two explicit upper bounds for $R(K\_{[k\_1,t\_1]},\dots, K\_{[k\_r,t\_r]})$ (the smallest integer $n$ such that for any $r$-edge coloring of $K\_n$ there always occurs a monochromatic $K\_{[k\_i,t\_i]}$ for some $i$). Our first upper bound contains a classical one in the case when $k\_1=\cdots =k\_r$ and $t\_i=1$ for all $i$. The second one is obtained by introducing a new edge coloring called {\em $χ\_r$-colorings}. We finally discuss a conjecture claiming, in particular, that our second upper bound improves the classical one in infinitely many cases.

math.CO↗