Algebraic aspects of increasing subsequences

We present a number of results relating partial Cauchy-Littlewood sums, integrals over the compact classical groups, and increasing subsequences of permutations. These include: integral formulae for the distribution of the longest increasing subsequence of a random involution with constrained number of fixed points; new formulae for partial Cauchy-Littlewood sums, as well as new proofs of old formulae; relations of these expressions to orthogonal polynomials on the unit circle; and explicit bases for invariant spaces of the classical groups, together with appropriate generalizations of the straightening algorithm.Comment: LaTeX+amsmath+eepic; 52 pages. Expanded introduction, new references, other minor change

Partitioning the hypercube into smaller hypercubes

Denote by Q_d the d-dimensional hypercube. Addressing a recent question we estimate the number of ways the vertex set of Q_d can be partitioned into vertex disjoint smaller cubes. Among other results, we prove that the asymptotic order of this function is not much larger than the number of perfect matchings of Q_d. We also describe several new (and old) questions.Comment: Proofs slightly shortene

Algebraic dependence of commuting elements in algebras

The aim of this paper to draw attention to several aspects of the algebraic dependence in algebras. The article starts with discussions of the algebraic dependence problem in commutative algebras. Then the Burchnall-Chaundy construction for proving algebraic dependence and obtaining the corresponding algebraic curves for commuting differential operators in the Heisenberg algebra is reviewed. Next some old and new results on algebraic dependence of commuting q-difference operators and elements in q-deformed Heisenberg algebras are reviewed. The main ideas and essence of two proofs of this are reviewed and compared. One is the algorithmic dimension growth existence proof. The other is the recent proof extending the Burchnall-Chaundy approach from differential operators and the Heisenberg algebra to the q-deformed Heisenberg algebra, showing that the Burchnall-Chaundy eliminant construction indeed provides annihilating curves for commuting elements in the q-deformed Heisenberg algebras for q not a root of unity.Comment: LaTeX, 14 pages, no figure