Slice: Difference between revisions

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:<math>\Delta_n := \{ (a,b,c) \in {\Bbb Z}_+^3: a+b+c = n \},</math>
:<math>\Delta_n := \{ (a,b,c) \in {\Bbb Z}_+^3: a+b+c = n \},</math>


where <math>\Gamma_{a,b,c}</math> is the set of all strings with a 1s, b 2s, and c 3s.  Thus for instance
where <math>\Gamma_{a,b,c}</math> is the set of all strings with a 1s, b 2s, and c 3s; thus, for instance,


:<math>\Gamma_{1,2,0} = \{ 011, 101, 101 \}.</math>
:<math>\Gamma_{1,2,0} = \{ 011, 101, 101 \}.</math>
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The cube <math>[3]^n</math> has <math>\frac{(n+1)(n+2)}{2}</math> slices, and each slice <math>\Gamma_{a,b,c}</math> has cardinality <math>\frac{n!}{a!b!c!}</math>.
The cube <math>[3]^n</math> has <math>\frac{(n+1)(n+2)}{2}</math> slices, and each slice <math>\Gamma_{a,b,c}</math> has cardinality <math>\frac{n!}{a!b!c!}</math>.


Each slice <math>\Gamma_{a,b,c}</math> is incident to <math>2^a+2^b+2^c-3</math> [[line|combinatorial lines]].
The slice <math>\Gamma_{a,b,c}</math> is incident to <math>2^a+2^b+2^c-3</math> [[line|combinatorial lines]].


The [[equal-slices measure]] gives each slice a total measure of 1.
The [[equal-slices measure]] on <math>[3]^n</math> gives each slice a total measure of <math>1</math>.


The k=2 analogue of a slice is sometimes known as a ''layer'', and plays a role in the proof of [[Sperner's theorem]].
The <math>k=2</math> analogue of a slice, sometimes called a ''layer'', plays a role in the proof of [[Sperner's theorem]].


A [[combinatorial line]] must touch three slices <math>\Gamma_{a+r,b,c}, \Gamma_{a,b+r,c}, \Gamma_{a,b,c+r}</math> in an equilateral triangle.  Conversely, one might hope that any sufficiently "rich" subsets of three slices <math>\Gamma_{a+r,b,c}, \Gamma_{a,b+r,c}, \Gamma_{a,b,c+r}</math> in an equilateral triangle will have many combinatorial lines between them.  However there appear to be quite a lot of obstructions to this hope, consider e.g. the subset of <math>\Gamma_{a+r,b,c}</math> of strings whose first digit is 1, and the subsets of <math>\Gamma_{a,b+r,c}, \Gamma_{a,b,c+r}</math> of strings whose first digit is 2.
A [[combinatorial line]] must touch three slices <math>\Gamma_{a+r,b,c}, \Gamma_{a,b+r,c}, \Gamma_{a,b,c+r}</math> corresponding to an equilateral triangle in <math>\Delta_n</math>.  Conversely, one might hope that any sufficiently "rich" subsets of three slices <math>\Gamma_{a+r,b,c}, \Gamma_{a,b+r,c}, \Gamma_{a,b,c+r}</math> in an equilateral triangle will have many combinatorial lines between them.  However there appear to be quite a lot of obstructions to this hope, consider e.g. the subset of <math>\Gamma_{a+r,b,c}</math> of strings whose first digit is 1, and the subsets of <math>\Gamma_{a,b+r,c}, \Gamma_{a,b,c+r}</math> of strings whose first digit is 2.

Revision as of 12:40, 21 February 2009

A slice of the cube [math]\displaystyle{ [3]^n }[/math] is a set of the form [math]\displaystyle{ \Gamma_{a,b,c} }[/math] for some (a,b,c) in the triangular grid

[math]\displaystyle{ \Delta_n := \{ (a,b,c) \in {\Bbb Z}_+^3: a+b+c = n \}, }[/math]

where [math]\displaystyle{ \Gamma_{a,b,c} }[/math] is the set of all strings with a 1s, b 2s, and c 3s; thus, for instance,

[math]\displaystyle{ \Gamma_{1,2,0} = \{ 011, 101, 101 \}. }[/math]

The cube [math]\displaystyle{ [3]^n }[/math] has [math]\displaystyle{ \frac{(n+1)(n+2)}{2} }[/math] slices, and each slice [math]\displaystyle{ \Gamma_{a,b,c} }[/math] has cardinality [math]\displaystyle{ \frac{n!}{a!b!c!} }[/math].

The slice [math]\displaystyle{ \Gamma_{a,b,c} }[/math] is incident to [math]\displaystyle{ 2^a+2^b+2^c-3 }[/math] combinatorial lines.

The equal-slices measure on [math]\displaystyle{ [3]^n }[/math] gives each slice a total measure of [math]\displaystyle{ 1 }[/math].

The [math]\displaystyle{ k=2 }[/math] analogue of a slice, sometimes called a layer, plays a role in the proof of Sperner's theorem.

A combinatorial line must touch three slices [math]\displaystyle{ \Gamma_{a+r,b,c}, \Gamma_{a,b+r,c}, \Gamma_{a,b,c+r} }[/math] corresponding to an equilateral triangle in [math]\displaystyle{ \Delta_n }[/math]. Conversely, one might hope that any sufficiently "rich" subsets of three slices [math]\displaystyle{ \Gamma_{a+r,b,c}, \Gamma_{a,b+r,c}, \Gamma_{a,b,c+r} }[/math] in an equilateral triangle will have many combinatorial lines between them. However there appear to be quite a lot of obstructions to this hope, consider e.g. the subset of [math]\displaystyle{ \Gamma_{a+r,b,c} }[/math] of strings whose first digit is 1, and the subsets of [math]\displaystyle{ \Gamma_{a,b+r,c}, \Gamma_{a,b,c+r} }[/math] of strings whose first digit is 2.