English

$N$-detachable pairs in 3-connected matroids III: the theorem

Combinatorics 2022-01-04 v2

Abstract

Let MM be a 3-connected matroid, and let NN be a 3-connected minor of MM. A pair {x1,x2}E(M)\{x_1,x_2\} \subseteq E(M) is NN-detachable if one of the matroids M/x1/x2M/x_1/x_2 or M\x1\x2M \backslash x_1 \backslash x_2 is both 3-connected and has an NN-minor. This is the third and final paper in a series where we prove that if E(M)E(N)10|E(M)|-|E(N)| \ge 10, then either MM has an NN-detachable pair after possibly performing a single Δ\Delta-YY or YY-Δ\Delta exchange, or MM is essentially NN with a spike attached. Moreover, we describe the additional structures that arise if we require only that E(M)E(N)5|E(M)|-|E(N)| \ge 5.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.1804.06588,
  title  = {$N$-detachable pairs in 3-connected matroids III: the theorem},
  author = {Nick Brettell and Geoff Whittle and Alan Williams},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1804.06588},
  year   = {2022}
}

Comments

69 pages, 6 figures