Search arXiv⌕ Search
Home/Archive/arXiv

arXiv · 1408.2429

Maximality of Infinite Partition Regular Matrices

Neil Hindman·Imre Leader·Dona Strauss
View original source ↗Read source document ↗Export metadata ↓

Abstract

A finite or infinite matrix $A$ with rational entries (and only finitely many non-zero entries in each row) is called image partition regular if, whenever the natural numbers are finitely coloured, there is a vector $x$, with entries in the natural numbers, such that $Ax$ is monochromatic. Many of the classical results of Ramsey theory are naturally stated in terms of image partition regularity. Our aim in this paper is to investigate maximality questions for image partition regular matrices. When is it possible to add rows on to $A$ and remain image partition regular? When can one add rows but `nothing new is produced'? What about adding rows and also new variables? We prove some results about extensions of the most interesting infinite systems, and make several conjectures. Perhaps our most surprising positive result is a compatibility result for Milliken-Taylor systems, stating that (in many cases) one may adjoin one Milliken-Taylor system to a translate of another and remain image partition regular. This is in contrast to earlier results, which had suggested a strong inconsistency between different Milliken-Taylor systems. Our main tools for this are some algebraic properties of the $βN$, the Stone-Cech compactification of the natural numbers.

Explore related subjects

math.CO

Keep this discovery

Explore connections, maps & timelines

BibTeXRIS

Neil Hindman, Imre Leader, Dona Strauss. 2014-08-11. Maximality of Infinite Partition Regular Matrices. https://arxiv.org/abs/1408.2429

Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.

KEEP EXPLORING

Related papers

arXiv2026

Adjunctions, Box Products, and Forcing Families

Sidorenko's conjecture states that the number of copies of any given bipartite graph in another graph of given density is asymptotically minimized by a random graph. For bipartite graphs containing a cycle, the forcing conjecture further asserts that asymptotic equality characterizes quasi-random graphs. We establish an adjoint identity for a general class of graph-substitution operators and use it to obtain Sidorenko and forcing results for balanced blow-ups, subdivisions, Cartesian products, and strong products.

math.CO↗
arXiv2026

On the Cost Number of Graphs with Determining Number Two

A distinguishing vertex coloring of a graph $G$ is a vertex coloring such that only the identity automorphism of $G$ preserves the coloring. A graph is $2$-distinguishable if it admits a distinguishing vertex coloring with two colors, and its cost $ρ(G)$ is the minimum size of a color class in such a coloring. The determining number of a graph $G$, denoted by $Det(G)$, is the minimum size of a subset $S\subseteq V(G)$ such that only the trivial automorphism fixes every element of $S$ pointwise. Boutin (J. Combin. Math. Combin. Comput. 85: 161-171, 2013) asked if $ρ(G)$ and $Det(G)$ can be arbitrarily far apart. While the case for $Det(G) = 1$ is trivial, the answer remained unknown for $Det(G) \ge 2$. In this manuscript, we show that if $Det(G)=2$ then not only is $ρ(G)$ bounded, but in fact $ρ(G) \leq 4$. This is the first resolution of Boutin's question for any nontrivial fixed determining number. Moreover, for every fixed $Det(G)= n$, we construct examples giving a lower bound on any possible upper bound for $ρ(G)$ in terms of $n$.

math.CO↗