Shadows and intersections in vector spaces

AbstractWe prove a vector space analog of a version of the Kruskal–Katona theorem due to Lovász. We apply this result to extend Frankl's theorem on r-wise intersecting families to vector spaces. In particular, we obtain a short new proof of the Erdős–Ko–Rado theorem for vector spaces

Shadows and intersections: stability and new proofs

We give a short new proof of a version of the Kruskal-Katona theorem due to Lov\'asz. Our method can be extended to a stability result, describing the approximate structure of configurations that are close to being extremal, which answers a question of Mubayi. This in turn leads to another combinatorial proof of a stability theorem for intersecting families, which was originally obtained by Friedgut using spectral techniques and then sharpened by Keevash and Mubayi by means of a purely combinatorial result of Frankl. We also give an algebraic perspective on these problems, giving yet another proof of intersection stability that relies on expansion of a certain Cayley graph of the symmetric group, and an algebraic generalisation of Lov\'asz's theorem that answers a question of Frankl and Tokushige.Comment: 18 page

On f- and h- vectors of relative simplicial complexes

A relative simplicial complex is a collection of sets of the form $\Delta \setminus \Gamma$, where $\Gamma \subset \Delta$ are simplicial complexes. Relative complexes played key roles in recent advances in algebraic, geometric, and topological combinatorics but, in contrast to simplicial complexes, little is known about their general combinatorial structure. In this paper, we address a basic question in this direction and give a characterization of $f$-vectors of relative (multi)complexes on a ground set of fixed size. On the algebraic side, this yields a characterization of Hilbert functions of quotients of homogeneous ideals over polynomial rings with a fixed number of indeterminates. Moreover, we characterize $h$-vectors of fully Cohen--Macaulay relative complexes as well as $h$-vectors of Cohen--Macaulay relative complexes with minimal faces of given dimensions. The latter resolves a question of Bj\"orner.Comment: accepted for publication in Algebraic Combinatoric

Quasipolynomial size frege proofs of Frankl's Theorem on the trace of sets

We extend results of Bonet, Buss and Pitassi on Bondy's Theorem and of Nozaki, Arai and Arai on Bollobas' Theorem by proving that Frankl's Theorem on the trace of sets has quasipolynomial size Frege proofs. For constant values of the parameter t, we prove that Frankl's Theorem has polynomial size AC(0)-Frege proofs from instances of the pigeonhole principle.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft

A Generalized Macaulay Theorem and Generalized Face Rings

We prove that the $f$-vector of members in a certain class of meet semi-lattices satisfies Macaulay inequalities. We construct a large family of meet semi-lattices belonging to this class, which includes all posets of multicomplexes, as well as meet semi-lattices with the "diamond property", discussed by Wegner, as spacial cases. Specializing the proof to that later family, one obtains the Kruskal-Katona inequalities and their proof as in Wegner's. For geometric meet semi lattices we construct an analogue of the exterior face ring, generalizing the classic construction for simplicial complexes. For a more general class, which include also multicomplexes, we construct an analogue of the Stanley-Reisner ring. These two constructions provide algebraic counterparts (and thus also algebraic proofs) of Kruskal-Katona's and Macaulay's inequalities for these classes, respectively.Comment: Final version: 13 pages, 2 figures. Improved presentation, more detailed proofs, same results. To appear in JCT