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Pamela E. Harris

Publications and source records attributed to Pamela E. Harris.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2024

Interval and $\ell$-interval Rational Parking Functions

Interval parking functions are a generalization of parking functions in which cars have an interval preference for their parking. We generalize this definition to parking functions with $n$ cars and $m\geq n$ parking spots, which we call interval rational parking functions and provide a formula for their enumeration. By specifying an integer parameter $\ell\geq 0$, we then consider the subset of interval rational parking functions in which each car parks at most $\ell$ spots away from their initial preference. We call these $\ell$-interval rational parking functions and provide recursive formulas to enumerate this set for all positive integers $m\geq n$ and $\ell$. We also establish formulas for the number of nondecreasing $\ell$-interval rational parking functions via the outcome map on rational parking functions. We also consider the intersection between $\ell$-interval parking functions and Fubini rankings and show the enumeration of these sets is given by generalized Fibonacci numbers. We conclude by specializing $\ell=1$, and establish that the set of $1$-interval rational parking functions with $n$ cars and $m$ spots are in bijection with the set of barred preferential arrangements of $[n]$ with $m-n$ bars. This readily implies enumerative formulas. Further, in the case where $\ell=1$, we recover the results of Hadaway and Harris that unit interval parking functions are in bijection with the set of Fubini rankings, which are enumerated by the Fubini numbers.

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arXiv2024

Cost-sharing in Parking Games

In this paper, we study the total displacement statistic of parking functions from the perspective of cooperative game theory. We introduce parking games, which are coalitional cost-sharing games in characteristic function form derived from the total displacement statistic. We show that parking games are supermodular cost-sharing games, indicating that cooperation is difficult (i.e., their core is empty). Next, we study their Shapley value, which formalizes a notion of "fair" cost-sharing and amounts to charging each car for its expected marginal displacement under a random arrival order. Our main contribution is a polynomial-time algorithm to compute the Shapley value of parking games, in contrast with known hardness results on computing the Shapley value of arbitrary games. The algorithm leverages the permutation-invariance of total displacement, combinatorial enumeration, and dynamic programming. We conclude with open questions around an alternative solution concept for supermodular cost-sharing games and connections to other areas in combinatorics.

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arXiv2024

Vacillating parking functions

For any integers $1\leq k\leq n$, we introduce a new family of parking functions called $k$-vacillating parking functions of length $n$. The parking rule for $k$-vacillating parking functions allows a car with preference $p$ to park in the first available spot in encounters among the parking spots numbered $p$, $p-k$, and $p+k$ (in that order and if those spots exists). In this way, $k$-vacillating parking functions are a modification of Naples parking functions, which allow for backwards movement of a car, and of $\ell$-interval parking functions, which allow a car to park in its preference or up to $\ell$ spots in front of its preference. Among our results, we establish a combinatorial interpretation for the numerator of the $n$th convergent of the continued fraction of $\sqrt{2}$, as the number of non-decreasing $1$-vacillating parking functions of length~$n$. Our main result gives a product formula for the enumeration of $k$-vacillating parking functions of length $n$ based on the number of $1$-vacillating parking functions of smaller length. We conclude with some directions for further research.

math.CO↗

arXiv2024

$(t,r)$ Broadcast Domination Numbers and Densities of the Truncated Square Tiling Graph

For a pair of positive integer parameters $(t,r)$, a subset $T$ of vertices of a graph $G$ is said to $(t,r)$ broadcast dominate a graph $G$ if, for any vertex $u$ in $G$, we have $\sum_{v\in T, u\in N_t(v)}(t-d(u,v))\geq r$, where where $N_{t}(v)=\{u\in V:d(u,v)<t\}$ and $d(u,v)$ denotes the distance between $u$ and $v$. This can be interpreted as each vertex $v$ of $T$ sending $\max(t-\text{d}(u,v),0)$ signal to vertices within a distance of $t-1$ away from $v$. The signal is additive and we require that every vertex of the graph receives a minimum reception $r$ from all vertices in $T$. For a finite graph the smallest cardinality among all $(t,r)$ broadcast dominating sets of a graph is called the $(t,r)$ broadcast domination number. We remark that the $(2,1)$ broadcast domination number is the domination number and the $(t,1)$ (for $t\geq 1$) is the distance domination number of a graph. We study a family of graphs that arise as a finite subgraph of the truncated square titling, which utilizes regular squares and octagons to tile the Euclidean plane. For positive integers $m$ and $n$, we let $H_{m,n}$ be the graph consisting of $m$ rows of $n$ octagons (cycle graph on $8$ vertices). For all $t\geq 2$, we provide lower and upper bounds for the $(t,1)$ broadcast domination number for $H_{m,n}$ for all $m,n\geq 1$. We give exact $(2,1)$ broadcast domination numbers for $H_{m,n}$ when $(m,n)\in\{(1,1),(1,2),(1,3),(1,4),(2,2)\}$. We also consider the infinite truncated square tiling, denoted $H_{\infty,\infty}$, and we provide constructions of infinite $(t,r)$ broadcasts for $(t,r)\in\{(2,1),(2,2),(3,1),(3,2),(3,3),(4,1)\}$. Using these constructions we give upper bounds on the density of these broadcasts i.e., the proportion of vertices needed to $(t,r)$ broadcast dominate this infinite graph. We end with some directions for future study.

math.CO↗

arXiv2024

The Pinnacle Sets of a Graph

We introduce and study the pinnacle sets of a simple graph $G$ with $n$ vertices. Given a bijective vertex labeling $λ\,:\,V(G)\rightarrow [n]$, the label $λ(v)$ of vertex $v$ is a pinnacle of $(G, λ)$ if $λ(v)>λ(w)$ for all vertices $w$ in the neighborhood of $v$. The pinnacle set of $(G, λ)$ contains all the pinnacles of the labeled graph. A subset $S\subseteq[n]$ is a pinnacle set of $G$ if there exists a labeling $λ$ such that $S$ is the pinnacle set of $(G,λ)$. Of interest to us is the question: Which subsets of $[n]$ are the pinnacle sets of $G$? Our main results are as follows. We show that when $G$ is connected, $G$ has a size-$k$ pinnacle set if and only if $G$ has an independent set of the same size. Consequently, determining if $G$ has a size-$k$ pinnacle set and determining if $G$ has a particular subset $S$ as a pinnacle set are NP-complete problems. Nonetheless, we completely identify all the pinnacle sets of complete graphs, complete bipartite graphs, cycles and paths. We also present two techniques for deriving new pinnacle sets from old ones that imply a typical graph has many pinnacle sets. Finally, we define a poset on all the size-$k$ pinnacle sets of $G$ and show that it is a join semilattice. If, additionally, the poset has a minimum element, then it is a distributive lattice. We conclude with some open problems for further study.

math.CO↗

arXiv2024

Arithmetical Structures on Coconut Trees

If G is a finite connected graph, then an arithmetical structure on $G$ is a pair of vectors $(\mathbf{d}, \mathbf{r})$ with positive integer entries such that $(\diag(\mathbf{d}) - A)\cdot \mathbf{r} = \mathbf{0}$, where $A$ is the adjacency matrix of $G$ and the entries of $\mathbf{r}$ have no common factor other than $1$. In this paper, we generalize the result of Archer, Bishop, Diaz-Lopez, García Puente, Glass, and Louwsma on enumerating arithmetical structures on bidents (also called coconut tree graphs $\CT{p}{2}$) to all coconut tree graphs $\CT{p}{s}$ which consists of a path on $p>0$ vertices to which we append $s>0$ leaves to the right most vertex on the path. We also give a characterization of smooth arithmetical structures on coconut trees when given number assignments to the leaf nodes.

math.CO↗

arXiv2024

Metered Parking Functions

We introduce a generalization of parking functions called $t$-metered $(m,n)$-parking functions, in which one of $m$ cars parks among $n$ spots per hour then leaves after $t$ hours. We characterize and enumerate these sequences for $t=1$, $t=m-2$, and $t=n-1$, and provide data for other cases. We characterize the $1$-metered parking functions by decomposing them into sections based on which cars are unlucky, and enumerate them using a Lucas sequence recursion. Additionally, we establish a new combinatorial interpretation of the numerator of the continued fraction $n-1/(n-1/\cdots)$ ($n$ times) as the number of $1$-metered $(n,n)$-parking functions. We introduce the $(m,n)$-parking function shuffle in order to count $(m-2)$-metered $(m,n)$-parking functions, which also yields an expression for the number of $(m,n)$-parking functions with any given first entry. As a special case, we find that the number of $(m-2)$-metered $(m, m-1)$-parking functions is equal to the sum of the first entries of classical parking function of length $m-1$. We enumerate the $(n-1)$-metered $(m,n)$-parking functions in terms of the number of classical parking functions of length $n$ with certain parking outcomes, which we show are periodic sequences with period $n$. We conclude with an array of open problems.

math.CO↗

arXiv2024

Parking functions, Fubini rankings, and Boolean intervals in the weak order of $\mathfrak{S}_n$

Let $\mathfrak{S}_n$ denote the symmetric group and let $W(\mathfrak{S}_n)$ denote the weak order of $\mathfrak{S}_n$. Through a surprising connection to a subset of parking functions, which we call unit Fubini rankings, we provide a complete characterization and enumeration for the total number of Boolean intervals in $W(\mathfrak{S}_n)$ and the total number of Boolean intervals of rank $k$ in $W(\mathfrak{S}_n)$. Furthermore, for any $π\in\mathfrak{S}_n$, we establish that the number of Boolean intervals in $W(\mathfrak{S}_n)$ with minimal element $π$ is a product of Fibonacci numbers. We conclude with some directions for further study.

math.CO↗

arXiv2024

On some discrete statistics of parking functions

Recall that $α=(a_1,a_2,\ldots,a_n)\in[n]^n$ is a parking function if its nondecreasing rearrangement $β=(b_1,b_2,\ldots,b_n)$ satisfies $b_i\leq i$ for all $1\leq i\leq n$. In this article, we study parking functions based on their ascents (indices at which $a_i a_{i+1}$), and ties (indices at which $a_i=a_{i+1}$). By utilizing multiset Eulerian polynomials, we give a generating function for the number of parking functions of length $n$ with $i$ descents. We present a recursive formula for the number of parking functions of length $n$ with descents at a specified subset of $[n-1]$. We establish that the number of parking functions of length $n$ with descents at $I\subset[n-1]$ and descents at $J=\{n-i:i\in I\}$ are equinumerous. As a special case, we show that the number of parking functions of length $n$ with descents at the first $k$ indices is given by $f(n, n-k-1)=\frac{1}{n}\binom{n}{k}\binom{2n-k}{n-k-1}$. We prove this by bijecting to the set of standard Young tableaux of shape $((n-k)^2,1^k)$, which are enumerated by $f(n,n-k-1)$. We also study peaks of parking functions, which are indices at which $a_{i-1} a_{i+1}$. We show that the set of parking functions with no peaks and no ties is enumerated by the Catalan numbers. We conclude our study by characterizing when a parking function is uniquely determined by their statistic encoding; a word indicating what indices in the parking function are ascents, descents, and ties. We provide open problems throughout.

math.CO↗

arXiv2024

On the Correspondence Between Integer Sequences and Vacillating Tableaux

A fundamental identity in the representation theory of the partition algebra is $n^k = \sum_λ f^λm_k^λ$ for $n \geq 2k$, where $λ$ ranges over integer partitions of $n$, $f^λ$ is the number of standard Young tableaux of shape $λ$, and $m_k^λ$ is the number of vacillating tableaux of shape $λ$ and length $2k$. Using a combination of RSK insertion and jeu de taquin, Halverson and Lewandowski constructed a bijection $DI_n^k$ that maps each integer sequence in $[n]^k$ to a pair of tableaux of the same shape, where one is a standard Young tableau and the other is a vacillating tableau. In this paper, we study the fine properties of Halverson and Lewandowski's bijection and explore the correspondence between integer sequences and the vacillating tableaux via the map $DI_n^k$ for general integers $n$ and $k$. In particular, we characterize the integer sequences $\boldsymbol{i}$ whose corresponding shape, $λ$, in the image $DI_n^k(\boldsymbol{i})$, satisfies $λ_1 = n$ or $λ_1 = n-k$.

math.CO↗

arXiv2024

Flattened Catalan Words

In this work, we define flattened Catalan words as Catalan words whose runs of weak ascents have leading terms that appear in weakly increasing order. We provide generating functions, formulas, and asymptotic expressions for the number of flattened Catalan words based on the number of runs of ascents (descents), runs of weak ascents (descents), $\ell$-valleys, valleys, symmetric valleys, $\ell$-peaks, peaks, and symmetric peaks.

math.CO↗

arXiv2024

Enumerating runs, valleys, and peaks in Catalan words

We provide generating functions, formulas, and asymptotic expressions for the number of Catalan words based on the number of runs of ascents (descents), runs of weak ascents (descents), $\ell$-valleys, valleys, symmetric valleys, $\ell$-peaks, peaks, and symmetric peaks. We also establish some bijections with restricted Dyck paths and ordered trees that transports some statistics.

math.CO↗

arXiv2024

Boolean intervals in the weak Bruhat order of a finite Coxeter group

Given a Coxeter group $W$ with Coxeter system $(W,S)$, where $S$ is finite. We provide a complete characterization of Boolean intervals in the weak order of $W$ uniformly for all Coxeter groups in terms of independent sets of the Coxeter graph. Moreover, we establish that the number of Boolean intervals of rank $k$ in the weak order of $W$ is ${i_k(Γ_W)\cdot|W|}\,/\,2^{k}$, where $Γ_W$ is the Coxeter graph of $W$ and $i_k(Γ_W)$ is the number of independent sets of size $k$ of $Γ_W$ when $W$ is finite. Specializing to $A_n$, we recover the characterizations and enumerations of Boolean intervals in the weak order of $A_n$ given in arXiv:2306.14734. We provide the analogous results for types $C_n$ and $D_n$, including the related generating functions and additional connections to well-known integer sequences.

math.CO↗

arXiv2024

Tipsy cop and tipsy robber: collisions of biased random walks on graphs

Introduced by Harris, Insko, Prieto Langarica, Stoisavljevic, and Sullivan, the \emph{tipsy cop and drunken robber} is a variant of the cop and robber game on graphs in which the robber simply moves randomly along the graph, while the cop moves directed towards the robber some fixed proportion of the time and randomly the remainder. In this article, we adopt a slightly different interpretation of tipsiness of the cop and robber where we assume that in any round of the game there are four possible outcomes: a sober cop move, a sober robber move, a tipsy (uniformly random) move by the cop, and a tipsy (uniformly random) move by the robber. We study this tipsy cop and tipsy robber game on the infinite grid graph and on certain families of infinite trees including $δ$-regular trees %infinite binary trees with an infinite path rooted at every vertex, and $δ$-regular trees rooted to a $Δ$-regular tree, where $Δ\geq δ$. Our main results analyze strategies for the cop and robber on these graphs. We conclude with some directions for further study.

math.PR↗

arXiv2024

On the Lucky and Displacement Statistics of Stirling Permutations

Stirling permutations are parking functions, and we investigate two parking function statistics in the context of these objects: lucky cars and displacement. Among our results, we consider two extreme cases: extremely lucky Stirling permutations (those with maximally many lucky cars) and extremely unlucky Stirling permutations (those with exactly one lucky car). We show that the number of extremely lucky Stirling permutations of order $n$ is the Catalan number $C_n$, and the number of extremely unlucky Stirling permutations is $(n-1)!$. We also give some results for luck that lies between these two extremes. Further, we establish that the displacement of any Stirling permutation of order $n$ is $n^2$, and we prove several results about displacement composition vectors. We conclude with directions for further study.

math.CO↗

arXiv2024

Unit interval parking functions and the $r$-Fubini numbers

We recall that unit interval parking functions of length $n$ are a subset of parking functions in which every car parks in its preference or in the spot after its preference, and Fubini rankings of length $n$ are rankings of $n$ competitors allowing for ties. We present an independent proof of a result of Hadaway, which establishes that unit interval parking functions and Fubini rankings are in bijection. We also prove that the cardinality of these sets are given by Fubini numbers. In addition, we give a complete characterization of unit interval parking functions by determining when a rearrangement of a unit interval parking function is again a unit interval parking function. This yields an identity for the Fubini numbers as a sum of multinomials over compositions. Moreover, we introduce a generalization of Fubini rankings, which we call the $r$-Fubini rankings of length $n+r$. We show that this set is in bijection with unit interval parking functions of length $n+r$ where the first $r$ cars have distinct preferences. We conclude by establishing that these sets are enumerated by the $r$-Fubini numbers.

math.CO↗

arXiv2023

Flattened Stirling Permutations

Recall that a Stirling permutation is a permutation on the multiset $\{1,1,2,2,\ldots,n,n\}$ such that any numbers appearing between repeated values of $i$ must be greater than $i$. We call a Stirling permutation ``flattened'' if the leading terms of maximal chains of ascents (called runs) are in weakly increasing order. Our main result establishes a bijection between flattened Stirling permutations and type $B$ set partitions of $\{0,\pm1,\pm2,\ldots,\pm (n-1)\}$, which are known to be enumerated by the Dowling numbers, and we give an independent proof of this fact. We also determine the maximal number of runs for any flattened Stirling permutation, and we enumerate flattened Stirling permutations with a small number of runs or with two runs of equal length. We conclude with some conjectures and generalizations worthy of future investigation.

math.CO↗

arXiv2023

On the Limiting Vacillating Tableaux for Integer Sequences

A fundamental identity in the representation theory of the partition algeba is $n^k = \sum_λ f^λm_k^λ$ for $n \geq 2k$, where $λ$ ranges over integer partitions of $n$, $f^λ$ is the number of standard Young tableaux of shape $λ$, and $m_k^λ$ is the number of vacillating tableaux of shape $λ$ and length $2k$. Using a combination of RSK insertion and jeu de taquin, Halverson and Lewandowski constructed a bijection $DI_n^k$ that maps each integer sequence in $[n]^k$ to a pair consisting of a standard Young tableau and a vacillating tableau. In this paper, we show that for a given integer sequence $\boldsymbol{i}$, when $n$ is sufficiently large, the vacillating tableaux determined by $DI_n^k(\boldsymbol{i})$ become stable when $n \rightarrow \infty$; the limit is called the limiting vacillating tableau for $\boldsymbol{i}$. We give a characterization of the set of limiting vacillating tableaux and presents explicit formulas that enumerate those vacillating tableaux.

math.CO↗