We consider rational functions of the form $V(x)/U(x)$, where both $V(x)$ and $U(x)$ are polynomials over the finite field $\mathbb{F}_q$. Polynomials that permute the elements of a field, called {\it permutation polynomials ($PPs$)}, have been the subject of research for decades. Let ${\mathcal P}^1(\mathbb{F}_q)$ denote $\mathbb{Z}_q \cup \{\infty\}$. If the rational function, $V(x)/U(x)$, permutes the elements of ${\mathcal P}^1(\mathbb{F}_q)$, it is called a {\em permutation rational function (PRf)}. Let $N_d(q)$ denote the number of PPs of degree $d$ over $\mathbb{F}_q$, and let $N_{v,u}(q)$ denote the number of PRfs with a numerator of degree $v$ and a denominator of degree $u$. It follows that $N_{d,0}(q) = N_d(q)$, so PRFs are a generalization of PPs. The number of monic degree 3 PRfs is known [11]. We develop efficient computational techniques for $N_{v,u}(q)$, and use them to show $N_{4,3}(q) = (q+1)q^2(q-1)^2/3$, for all prime powers $q \le 307$, $N_{5,4}(q) > (q+1)q^3(q-1)^2/2$, for all prime powers $q \le 97$, and $N_{4,4}(p) = (p+1)p^2(p-1)^3/3$, for all primes $p \le 47$. We conjecture that these formulas are, in fact, true for all prime powers $q$. Let $M(n,D)$ denote the maximum number of permutations on $n$ symbols with pairwise Hamming distance $D$. Computing improved lower bounds for $M(n,D)$ is the subject of much current research with applications in error correcting codes. Using PRfs, we obtain significantly improved lower bounds on $M(q,q-d)$ and $M(q+1,q-d)$, for $d \in \{5,7,9\}$.
Permutation arrays under the Chebyshev metric have been considered for error correction in noisy channels. Let $P(n,d)$ denote the maximum size of any array of permutations on $n$ symbols with pairwise Chebyshev distance $d$. We give new techniques and improved upper and lower bounds on $P(n,d)$, including a precise formula for $P(n,2)$.
We investigate retransmission permutation arrays (RPAs) that are motivated by applications in overlapping channel transmissions. An RPA is an $n\times n$ array in which each row is a permutation of ${1, ..., n}$, and for $1\leq i\leq n$, all $n$ symbols occur in each $i\times\lceil\frac{n}{i}\rceil$ rectangle in specified corners of the array. The array has types 1, 2, 3 and 4 if the stated property holds in the top left, top right, bottom left and bottom right corners, respectively. It is called latin if it is a latin square. We show that for all positive integers $n$, there exists a type-$1,…
An (n,d)-permutation code is a subset C of Sym(n) such that the Hamming distance d_H between any two distinct elements of C is at least equal to d. In this paper, we use the characterisation of the isometry group of the metric space (Sym(n),d_H) in order to develop generating algorithms with rejection of isomorphic objects. To classify the (n,d)-permutation codes up to isometry, we construct invariants and study their efficiency. We give the numbers of non-isometric (4,3)- and (5,4)- permutation codes. Maximal and balanced (n,d)-permutation codes are enumerated in a constructive way.
We prove several conjectures made by Z.-W. Sun on the existence of permutations conditioned by certain rational functions. Furthermore, we fully characterize all integer values of the "inverse difference" rational function. Our proofs consist of both investigation of the mathematical properties of the rational functions and brute-force attack by computer for finding special permutations.
We consider the set of affine permutations that avoid a fixed permutation pattern. Crites has given a simple characterization for when this set is infinite. We find the generating series for this set using the Coxeter length statistic and prove that it can always be represented as a rational function. We also give a characterization of the patterns for which the coefficients of the generating series are periodic. The proofs exploit a new polyhedral encoding for the affine symmetric group.
We give some results about a bijection associating each permutation with a subexcedant function. This function is related to a particular decomposition of the permutation as a product of transpositions and therefore it has been called transposition array in the literature. In particular, we identify anti-exceedance positions of the permutation through its transposition array and we give an expression of the bijection in terms of the cycle structure of the permutation. We give a characterization of a family of permutations having a non-decreasing transposition array and study length 3 pattern a…
Let $μ_{q+1}$ denote the set of $(q+1)$-th roots of unity in $\mathbb{F}_{q^2 }$. We construct permutation polynomials over $\mathbb{F}_{q^2}$ by using rational functions of any degree that induce bijections either on $μ_{q+1}$ or between $μ_{q+1}$ and $\mathbb{F}_q \cup \{\infty\}$. In particular, we generalize results from Zieve.
A permutation array $A$ is a set of permutations on a finite set $Ω$, say of size $n$. Given distinct permutations $π, σ\in Ω$, we let $hd(π, σ) = |\{ x\in Ω: π(x) \ne σ(x) \}|$, called the Hamming distance between $π$ and $σ$. Now let $hd(A) =$ min$\{ hd(π, σ): π, σ\in A \}$. For positive integers $n$ and $d$ with $d\le n$, we let $M(n,d)$ be the maximum number of permutations in any array $A$ satisfying $hd(A) \geq d$. There is an extensive literature on the function $M(n,d)$, motivated in part by suggested applications to error correcting codes for message transmission over power lines. A b…
Constant composition codes have been proposed as suitable coding schemes to solve the narrow band and impulse noise problems associated with powerline communication. In particular, a certain class of constant composition codes called frequency permutation arrays have been suggested as ideal, in some sense, for these purposes. In this paper we characterise a family of neighbour transitive codes in Hamming graphs in which frequency permutation arrays play a central rode. We also classify all the permutation codes generated by groups in this family.
Motivated by recent interest in permutation arrays, we introduce and investigate the more general concept of frequency permutation arrays (FPAs). An FPA of length n=m lambda and distance d is a set T of multipermutations on a multiset of m symbols, each repeated with frequency lambda, such that the Hamming distance between any distinct x,y in T is at least d. Such arrays have potential applications in powerline communication. In this paper, we establish basic properties of FPAs, and provide direct constructions for FPAs using a range of combinatorial objects, including polynomials over finite …
We prove that all subclasses of the separable permutations not containing Av(231) or a symmetry of this class have rational generating functions. Our principal tools are partial well-order, atomicity, and the theory of strongly rational permutation classes introduced here for the first time.
Symmetry plays a fundamental role in design of experiments. In particular, symmetries of factorial designs that preserve their statistical properties are exploited to find designs with the best statistical properties. By using a result proved by Rosenberg [6], the concept of the LP relaxation orthogonal array polytope is developed and studied. A complete characterization of the permutation symmetry group of this polytope is made. Also, this characterization is verified computationally for many cases. Finally, a proof is provided.
Using a blend of combinatorics and geometry, we give an algorithm for algebraically finding all flags in any zero-dimensional intersection of Schubert varieties with respect to three transverse flags, and more generally, any number of flags. In particular, the number of flags in a triple intersection is also a structure constant for the cohomology ring of the flag manifold. Our algorithm is based on solving a limited number of determinantal equations for each intersection (far fewer than the naive approach). These equations may be used to compute Galois and monodromy groups of intersections of…
There is always a natural embedding of $S_s\wr S_k$ into the linear programming (LP) relaxation permutation symmetry group of an orthogonal array integer linear programming (ILP) formulation with equality constraints. The point of this paper is to prove that in the $2$ level, strength $1$ case the LP relaxation permutation symmetry group of this formulation is isomorphic to $S_2\wr S_k$ for all $k$, and in the $2$ level, strength $2$ case it is isomorphic to $S_2^k\rtimes S_{k+1}$ for $k\geq 4$. The strength $2$ result reveals previously unknown permutation symmetries that can not be captured …
We introduce a new approach to the enumeration of rational slope parking functions with respect to the area and a generalized dinv statistics, and relate the combinatorics of parking functions to that of affine permutations. We relate our construction to two previously known combinatorial constructions: Haglund's bijection exchanging the pairs of statistics (area,dinv) and (bounce,area) on Dyck paths, and Pak-Stanley labeling of the regions of k-Shi hyperplane arrangements by k-parking functions. Essentially, our approach can be viewed as a generalization and a unification of these two constru…
Geometric grid classes and the substitution decomposition have both been shown to be fundamental in the understanding of the structure of permutation classes. In particular, these are the two main tools in the recent classification of permutation classes of growth rate less than $κ\approx2.20557$ (a specific algebraic integer at which infinite antichains begin to appear). Using language- and order-theoretic methods, we prove that the substitution closures of geometric grid classes are partially well-ordered, finitely based, and that all their subclasses have algebraic generating functions. We …
Let M(n, d) be the maximum size of a permutation array on n symbols with pairwise Hamming distance at least d. We use various combinatorial, algebraic, and computational methods to improve lower bounds for M(n, d). We compute the Hamming distances of affine semilinear groups and projective semilinear groups, and unions of cosets of AGL(1,q) and PGL(2,q) with Frobenius maps to obtain new, improved lower bounds for M(n,d). We give new randomized algorithms. We give better lower bounds for M(n,d) also using new theorems concerning the contraction operation. For example, we prove a quadratic lower…
We construct classes of permutation polynomials over F_{Q^2} by exhibiting classes of low-degree rational functions over F_{Q^2} which induce bijections on the set of (Q+1)-th roots of unity in F_{Q^2}. As a consequence, we prove two conjectures about permutation trinomials from a recent paper by Tu, Zeng, Hu and Li.
An $(n,k)$ sequence covering array is a set of permutations of $[n]$ such that each sequence of $k$ distinct elements of $[n]$ is a subsequence of at least one of the permutations. An $(n,k)$ sequence covering array is perfect if there is a positive integer $λ$ such that each sequence of $k$ distinct elements of $[n]$ is a subsequence of precisely $λ$ of the permutations. While relatively close upper and lower bounds for the minimum size of a sequence covering array are known, this is not the case for perfect sequence covering arrays. Here we present new nontrivial bounds for the latter. In pa…
We prove that for any fixed $n$, and for most permutation patterns $q$, the number $\textup{Av}_{n,\ell}(q)$ of $q$-avoiding permutations of length $n$ that consist of $\ell$ skew blocks is a monotone decreasing function of $\ell$. We then show that this implies that for most patterns $q$, the generating function $\sum_{n\geq 0} \textup{Av}_n(q)z^n$ of the sequence $\textup{Av}_n(q)$ of the numbers of $q$-avoiding permutations is not rational. Placing our results in a broader context, we show that for rational power series $F(z)$ and $G(z)$ with nonnegative real coefficients, the relation $F(z…
We prove that the generating function for the number of flattened permutations having a given number of occurrences of the pattern 13-2 is rational, by using the recurrence relations and the kernel method.
In this paper, we find an explicit formula for the generating function that counts the circular permutations of length n avoiding the pattern 23 4 1 whose enumeration was raised as an open problem by Rupert Li. This then completes in all cases the enumeration of circular permutations that avoid a single vincular pattern of length four containing one vinculum. To establish our results, we introduce three auxiliary arrays which when taken together refine the cardinality of the class of permutations in question. Rewriting the recurrences of these arrays in terms of generating functions leads to f…
Let $d$ be a positive integer and $x$ a real number. Let $A_{d, x}$ be a $d\times 2d$ matrix with its entries $$ a_{i,j}=\left\{ \begin{array}{ll} x\ \ & \mbox{for} \ 1\leqslant j\leqslant d+1-i, 1\ \ & \mbox{for} \ d+2-i\leqslant j\leqslant d+i, 0\ \ & \mbox{for} \ d+1+i\leqslant j\leqslant 2d. \end{array} \right. $$ Further, let $R_d$ be a set of sequences of integers as follows: $$R_d=\{(ρ_1, ρ_2,\ldots, ρ_d)|1\leqslant ρ_i\leqslant d+i, 1\leqslant i \leqslant d,\ \mbox{and}\ ρ_r\neq ρ_s\ \mbox{for}\ r\neq s\}.$$ and define $$Ω_d(x)=\sum_{ρ\in R_d}a_{1,ρ_1}a_{2, ρ_2}\ldots a_{d,ρ_d}.$$ In o…
To a word $w$, we associate the rational function $Ψ_w = \prod (x_{w_i} - x_{w_{i+1}})^{-1}$. The main object, introduced by C. Greene to generalize identities linked to Murnaghan-Nakayama rule, is a sum of its images by certain permutations of the variables. The sets of permutations that we consider are the linear extensions of oriented graphs. We explain how to compute this rational function, using the combinatorics of the graph $G$. We also establish a link between an algebraic property of the rational function (the factorization of the numerator) and a combinatorial property of the graph (…
A PSCA$(v, t, λ)$ is a multiset of permutations of the $v$-element alphabet $\{0, \dots, v-1\}$ such that every sequence of $t$ distinct elements of the alphabet appears in the specified order in exactly $λ$ permutations. For $v \geq t$, let $g(v, t)$ be the smallest positive integer $λ$ such that a PSCA$(v, t, λ)$ exists. We present an explicit construction that proves $g(v,t) = O(v^{t(t-2)})$ for fixed $t \geq 4$. The method of construction involves taking a permutation representation of the group of projectivities of a suitable projective space of dimension $t - 2$ and deleting all but a ce…
We characterize those strings whose suffix arrays are based on arithmetic progressions, in particular, arithmetically progressed permutations where all pairs of successive entries of the permutation have the same difference modulo the respective string length. We show that an arithmetically progressed permutation $P$ coincides with the suffix array of a unary, binary, or ternary string. We further analyze the conditions of a given $P$ under which we can find a uniquely defined string over either a binary or ternary alphabet having $P$ as its suffix array. For the binary case, we show its conne…
We prove several combinatorial properties of suffix arrays, including a characterization of suffix arrays through a bijection with a certain well-defined class of permutations. Our approach is based on the characterization of Burrows-Wheeler arrays given in [1], that we apply by reducing suffix sorting to cyclic shift sorting through the use of an additional sentinel symbol. We show that the characterization of suffix arrays for a special case of binary alphabet given in [2] easily follows from our characterization. Based on our results, we also provide simple proofs for the enumeration result…
The classical parking functions, counted by the Cayley number (n+1)^(n-1), carry a natural permutation representation of the symmetric group S_n in which the number of orbits is the n'th Catalan number. In this paper, we will generalize this setup to rational parking functions indexed by a pair (a,b) of coprime positive integers. We show that these parking functions, which are counted by b^(a-1), carry a permutation representation of S_a in which the number of orbits is a rational Catalan number. We compute the Frobenius characteristic of the S_a-module of (a,b)-parking functions. Next we prop…
We introduce twisted permutation codes, which are frequency permutation arrays analogous to repetition permutation codes, namely, codes obtained from the repetition construction applied to a permutation code. In particular, we show that a lower bound for the minimum distance of a twisted permutation code is the minimum distance of a repetition permutation code. We give examples where this bound is tight, but more importantly, we give examples of twisted permutation codes with minimum distance strictly greater than this lower bound.
In this paper we prove that among the permutations of length n with i fixed points and j excedances, the number of 321-avoiding ones equals the number of 132-avoiding ones, for all given i,j<=n. We use a new technique involving diagonals of non-rational generating functions. This theorem generalizes a recent result of Robertson, Saracino and Zeilberger, for which we also give another, more direct proof.
The maximally clustered permutations are characterized by avoiding the classical permutation patterns 3421, 4312, and 4321. This class contains the freely-braided permutations and the fully-commutative permutations. In this work, we show that the generating functions for certain fully-commutative pattern classes can be transformed to give generating functions for the corresponding freely-braided and maximally clustered pattern classes. Moreover, this transformation of generating functions is rational. As a result, we obtain enumerative formulas for the pattern classes mentioned above as well a…
For the calculation of Springer numbers (of root systems) of type $B_n$ and $D_n$, Arnold introduced a signed analogue of alternating permutations, called $β_n$-snakes, and derived recurrence relations for enumerating the $β_n$-snakes starting with $k$. The results are presented in the form of double triangular arrays ($v_{n,k}$) of integers, $1\le |k|\le n$. An Arnold family is a sequence of sets of such objects as $β_n$-snakes that are counted by $(v_{n,k})$. As a refinement of Arnold's result, we give analogous arrays of polynomials, defined by recurrence, for the calculation of the polynom…
We study three dimensional array of numbers $B(n,k,j)$, $0\le j,k\le n$, where $B(n,k,j)$ is the number of type $B$ permutations of order $n$ with $k$ descents and $j$ minus signs. We prove in particular, that $b(n,k,j):=B(n,k,j)/\binom{n}{j}$ is an integer and provide two combinatorial interpretations for these numbers.
In this paper, we study pattern avoidances of generalized permutations and show that the number of all generalized permutations avoiding $π$ is independent of the choice of $π\in S_3$, which extends the classic results on permutations avoiding $π\in S_3$. Extending both Dyck path and Riordan path, we introduce the Catalan-Riordan path which turns out to be a combinatorial interpretation of the difference array of Catalan numbers. As applications, we interpret both Motzkin and Riordan numbers in two ways, via semistandard Young tableaux of two rows and generalized permutations avoiding $π\in S_…
We translate the concept of succession rule and the ECO method into matrix notation, introducing the concept of a production matrix. This allows us to combine our method with other enumeration techniques using matrices, such as the method of Riordan matrices. Finally we treat the case of rational production matrices, i.e. those leading to rational generating functions.
The exponential functional of simple, symmetric random walks with negative drift is an infinite polynomial $Y = 1 + ξ_1 + ξ_1 ξ_2 + ξ_1 ξ_2 ξ_3 + ...$ of independent and identically distributed non-negative random variables. It has moments that are rational functions of the variables $μ_k = \ev(ξ^k) < 1$ with universal coefficients. It turns out that such a coefficient is equal to the number of permutations with descent set defined by the multiindex of the coefficient. A recursion enumerates all numbers of permutations with given descent sets in the form of a Pascal-type triangle.
We prove the conjecture by M. Yip stating that counting genus one partitions by the number of their elements and parts yields, up to a shift of indices, the same array of numbers as counting genus one rooted hypermonopoles. Our proof involves representing each genus one permutation by a four-colored noncrossing partition. This representation may be selected in a unique way for permutations containing no trivial cycles. The conclusion follows from a general generating function formula that holds for any class of permutations that is closed under the removal and reinsertion of trivial cycles. Ou…
Say that a permutation of $1,2,\ldots,n$ is \textit{$k$-bounded} if every pair of consecutive entries in the permutation differs by no more than $k$. Such a permutation is \textit{anchored} if the first entry is $1$ and the last entry is $n$. We show that the generating function for the enumeration of $k$-bounded anchored permutations is always rational, mirroring the known result on (non-anchored) $k$-bounded permutations due to Avgustinovich and Kitaev. We then explicitly determine the recursive formulas of minimal depth for the number of anchored $k$-bounded permutations of $n$ for $k=2$ an…
In an exercise in the first volume of his famous series of books, Knuth considered sorting permutations by passing them through a stack. Many variations of this exercise have since been considered, including allowing multiple passes through the stack and using different data structures. We are concerned with a variation using pop-stacks that was introduced by Avis and Newborn in 1981. Let $P_k(x)$ be the generating function for the permutations sortable by $k$ passes through a pop-stack. The generating function $P_2(x)$ was recently given by Pudwell and Smith (the case $k=1$ being trivial). We…
We present a strategy for computing asymptotics of coefficients of $d$-variate algebraic generating functions. Using known constructions, we embed the coefficient array into an array represented by a rational generating functions in $d+1$ variables, and then apply ACSV theory to analyse the latter. This method allows us to give systematic results in the multivariate case, seems more promising than trying to derive analogs of the rational ACSV theory for algebraic GFs, and gives the prospect of further improvements as embedding methods are studied in more detail.
The Catalan numbers constitute one of the most important sequences in combinatorics. Catalan objects have been generalized in various directions, including the classical Fuss-Catalan objects and the rational Catalan generalization of Armstrong-Rhoades-Williams. We propose a wider generalization of these families indexed by a composition $s$ which is motivated by the combinatorics of planar rooted trees; when $s=(2,...,2)$ and $s=(k+1,...,k+1)$ we recover the classical Catalan and Fuss-Catalan combinatorics, respectively. Furthermore, to each pair $(a,b)$ of relatively prime numbers we can asso…
This paper considers a problem that relates to the theories of covering arrays, permutation patterns, Vapnik-Chervonenkis (VC) classes, and probability thresholds. Specifically, we want to find the number of subsets of [n]:={1,2,....,n} we need to randomly select, in a certain probability space, so as to respectively "shatter" all t-subsets of [n]. Moving from subsets to words, we ask for the number of n-letter words on a q-letter alphabet that are needed to shatter all t-subwords of the q^n words of length n. Finally, we explore the number of random permutations of [n] needed to shatter (spec…
What is the higher-dimensional analog of a permutation? If we think of a permutation as given by a permutation matrix, then the following definition suggests itself: A d-dimensional permutation of order n is an [n]^(d+1) array of zeros and ones in which every "line" contains a unique 1 entry. A line here is a set of entries of the form {(x_1,...,x_{i-1},y,x_{i+1},...,x_{d+1})}, for y between 1 and n, some index i between 1 and d+1 and some choice of x_j in [n] for all j except i. It is easy to observe that a one-dimensional permutation is simply a permutation matrix and that a two-dimensional …
