the union-closed sets conjecture - ulm · the union-closed sets conjecture always: afinite family...
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![Page 1: The union-closed sets conjecture - Ulm · The union-closed sets conjecture Always: Afinite family of finite sets Aunion-closed: A; B2A)A [ 2A. Example:;, 1, 12, 34, 134, 1234 Conjecture](https://reader031.vdocuments.site/reader031/viewer/2022022800/5c6b2ee109d3f262278b6ad3/html5/thumbnails/1.jpg)
The union-closed sets conjecture
Henning Bruhn
joint with Oliver Schaudt
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The union-closed sets conjecture
Always: A finite family of finite sets
A union-closed: A,B ∈ A ⇒ A ∪ B ∈ A.
Example: ∅, 1, 12, 34, 134, 1234
Conjecture
Every union-closed family of at least two sets has an element thatappears in at least half of the member-sets.
power sets are union-closed
conjecture tight for power sets!
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The union-closed sets conjecture
Always: A finite family of finite sets
A union-closed: A,B ∈ A ⇒ A ∪ B ∈ A.
Example: ∅, 1, 12, 34, 134, 1234
Conjecture
Every union-closed family of at least two sets has an element thatappears in at least half of the member-sets.
power sets are union-closed
conjecture tight for power sets!
![Page 4: The union-closed sets conjecture - Ulm · The union-closed sets conjecture Always: Afinite family of finite sets Aunion-closed: A; B2A)A [ 2A. Example:;, 1, 12, 34, 134, 1234 Conjecture](https://reader031.vdocuments.site/reader031/viewer/2022022800/5c6b2ee109d3f262278b6ad3/html5/thumbnails/4.jpg)
A union-closed family
12345612345 12346 12356 12456 13456 23456
1234 1235 1236 1456 2456 3456123 145 246 356 456
45 46 564 5 6∅
union-closed
25 sets
Universe: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
2 lies in 12 member-sets
4 lies in 16 member-sets→ conjecture 4
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A union-closed family
12345612345 12346 12356 12456 13456 23456
1234 1235 1236 1456 2456 3456123 145 246 356 456
45 46 564 5 6∅
union-closed
25 sets
Universe: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
2 lies in 12 member-sets
4 lies in 16 member-sets→ conjecture 4
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A union-closed family
12345612345 12346 12356 12456 13456 23456
1234 1235 1236 1456 2456 3456123 145 246 356 456
45 46 564 5 6∅
union-closed
25 sets
Universe: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
2 lies in 12 member-sets
4 lies in 16 member-sets→ conjecture 4
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A memorable quote
Peter Winkler ’87:The ‘union-closed sets conjecture’ is well known indeed, exceptfor (1) its origin and (2) its answer!
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Some terminology
Conjecture
Every union-closed family of at least two sets has an element that appearsin at least half of the member-sets.
A always (finite) union-closed family
U :=⋃
A∈A A is the universe
frequency: Au := {A ∈ A : u ∈ A}u abundant if |Au| ≥ 1
2 |A|.n : number of member-sets
m : number of elements
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What do we know?
A satisfies the conjecture when
at most 12 elements
at most 50 member-sets
A has special structure, for instance represented by cubic graph
...
Also
some (weak) properties of smallest counterexample known
→ conjecture wide open
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Knill’s argument
Knill: There’s always an element appearing in ≥ n−1log2(n)
member-sets
12345612345 12346 1235612456 13456 23456
1234 1235 12361456 2456 3456
123 145 246 356 45645 46 56
4 5 6∅
X : smallest set intersecting all memberstraces T = {A ∩ X : A ∈ A}
X = 12456?
smallest traces 12|4|5|6
constant factor improved by Wojcik
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Knill’s argument
Knill: There’s always an element appearing in ≥ n−1log2(n)
member-sets
12345612345 12346 1235612456 13456 23456
1234 1235 12361456 2456 3456
123 145 246 356 45645 46 56
4 5 6∅
X : smallest set intersecting all memberstraces T = {A ∩ X : A ∈ A}
X = 1456
T contains all singletons of X
union-closed→ T = 2X
→ |X | = log2(|T |) ≤ log2(n)
→ an element in X meets at least(n − 1)/ log2(n) member-sets
constant factor improved by Wojcik
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Knill’s argument
Knill: There’s always an element appearing in ≥ n−1log2(n)
member-sets
12345612345 12346 1235612456 13456 23456
1234 1235 12361456 2456 3456
123 145 246 356 45645 46 56
4 5 6∅
X : smallest set intersecting all memberstraces T = {A ∩ X : A ∈ A}
X = 1456
T contains all singletons of X
union-closed→ T = 2X
→ |X | = log2(|T |) ≤ log2(n)
→ an element in X meets at least(n − 1)/ log2(n) member-sets
constant factor improved by Wojcik
![Page 13: The union-closed sets conjecture - Ulm · The union-closed sets conjecture Always: Afinite family of finite sets Aunion-closed: A; B2A)A [ 2A. Example:;, 1, 12, 34, 134, 1234 Conjecture](https://reader031.vdocuments.site/reader031/viewer/2022022800/5c6b2ee109d3f262278b6ad3/html5/thumbnails/13.jpg)
Many faces
Equivalent reformulations
in terms of lattices
in terms of graphs
in terms of “very full sets”
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The lattice formulation
Lattice: Finite poset (L, <) so that
any two x , y ∈ L have uniquegreatest lower bound x ∧ y
any two x , y ∈ L have uniquesmallest upper bound x ∨ y
non-zero x ∈ L is join-irreducible if x = y ∨ z implies x = y or x = z.
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The lattice formulation
Lattice: Finite poset (L, <) so that
any two x , y ∈ L have uniquegreatest lower bound x ∧ y
any two x , y ∈ L have uniquesmallest upper bound x ∨ y
non-zero x ∈ L is join-irreducible if x = y ∨ z implies x = y or x = z.
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The lattice formulation II
Conjecture
Let L be a lattice with |L| ≥ 2. Thenthere is join-irreducible x ∈ L so that
|{y : x ≤ y}| ≤ 12 |L|.
true for lower semimodular lattices
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Main techniques
Injections
Local configurations
Averaging
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Injections
Up-set: If A ∈ A and B ⊇ A then B ∈ AUp-sets satisfy the conjecture
A A + x
AxAx
Proof:
Injection Ax → Ax
⇒ 2|Ax | ≥ |Ax |+ |Ax | = |A|.x abundant!
Problem with this technique:Need to know where to find an abundant element
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Local configurations
Early observation:
Singleton {x} ∈ A −→ x abundant!2-set {x , y} ∈ A −→ x or y abundant!3-set {x , y , z} ∈ A −→ x , y or z abundant?
NO!
12345612345 12346 12356 12456 13456 23456
1234 1235 1236 1456 2456 3456123 145 246 356 456
45 46 564 5 6∅
![Page 20: The union-closed sets conjecture - Ulm · The union-closed sets conjecture Always: Afinite family of finite sets Aunion-closed: A; B2A)A [ 2A. Example:;, 1, 12, 34, 134, 1234 Conjecture](https://reader031.vdocuments.site/reader031/viewer/2022022800/5c6b2ee109d3f262278b6ad3/html5/thumbnails/20.jpg)
Local configurations
Early observation:
Singleton {x} ∈ A −→ x abundant!2-set {x , y} ∈ A −→ x or y abundant!3-set {x , y , z} ∈ A −→ x , y or z abundant?
NO!
12345612345 12346 12356 12456 13456 23456
1234 1235 1236 1456 2456 3456123 145 246 356 456
45 46 564 5 6∅
![Page 21: The union-closed sets conjecture - Ulm · The union-closed sets conjecture Always: Afinite family of finite sets Aunion-closed: A; B2A)A [ 2A. Example:;, 1, 12, 34, 134, 1234 Conjecture](https://reader031.vdocuments.site/reader031/viewer/2022022800/5c6b2ee109d3f262278b6ad3/html5/thumbnails/21.jpg)
Local configurations II
However:
123, 124, 134 ∈ A then one of 1, 2, 3, 4 is abundant
Family L is Frankl-complete if any union-closed A that contains L hasabundant element among the elements of Lall Frankl-complete families known on five elements (Morris)
General characterisation due to Poonen
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Averaging
Strategy: determine average frequency1|U|
∑u∈U
|Au|
12345612345 12346 1235612456 13456 23456
1234 1235 12361456 2456 3456
123 145 246 356 45645 46 56
4 5 6∅
1, 2, 3→ each 12 times
4, 5, 6→ each 16 times
average frequency16 (3 · 12 + 3 · 16) = 15
→ there is element of frequency ≥ 15
25 member-sets→ 4
complete rubbish approach!
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Averaging
Strategy: determine average frequency1|U|
∑u∈U
|Au|
12345612345 12346 1235612456 13456 23456
1234 1235 12361456 2456 3456
123 145 246 356 45645 46 56
4 5 6∅
1, 2, 3→ each 12 times
4, 5, 6→ each 16 times
average frequency16 (3 · 12 + 3 · 16) = 15
→ there is element of frequency ≥ 15
25 member-sets→ 4
complete rubbish approach!
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Average set size
Double counting: ∑A∈A|A| =
∑u∈U
|Au|
Usually, total set size easier to control!Thus, if
average set size
1|U|
∑A∈A|A| ≥ 1
2|A|
then A satisfies the conjecture.
Advantage: Don’t need to know where to look for abundant element
Drawback: Averaging does not always work!
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Average set size
Double counting: ∑A∈A|A| =
∑u∈U
|Au|
Usually, total set size easier to control!Thus, if average set size
1|A|
∑A∈A|A| ≥ 1
2|U|
then A satisfies the conjecture.
Advantage: Don’t need to know where to look for abundant element
Drawback: Averaging does not always work!
![Page 26: The union-closed sets conjecture - Ulm · The union-closed sets conjecture Always: Afinite family of finite sets Aunion-closed: A; B2A)A [ 2A. Example:;, 1, 12, 34, 134, 1234 Conjecture](https://reader031.vdocuments.site/reader031/viewer/2022022800/5c6b2ee109d3f262278b6ad3/html5/thumbnails/26.jpg)
Large families
Nishimura & Takahashi ’96:
If |A| > 2m −√
2m, where m = |U| then A 4
Subfamily of power set on 1, 2, 3, 4
Proof:
Assume set X /∈ A with |X | ≥ m2
If Y ⊆ X in A⇒ Y \ X /∈ AThus: 1
22|X | sets missing in A|A| ≤ 2m − 2
m2 , contradiction!
⇒A contains all large sets
Average set size ≥ m2
→A satisfies the conjecture!
![Page 27: The union-closed sets conjecture - Ulm · The union-closed sets conjecture Always: Afinite family of finite sets Aunion-closed: A; B2A)A [ 2A. Example:;, 1, 12, 34, 134, 1234 Conjecture](https://reader031.vdocuments.site/reader031/viewer/2022022800/5c6b2ee109d3f262278b6ad3/html5/thumbnails/27.jpg)
Large families
Nishimura & Takahashi ’96:
If |A| > 2m −√
2m, where m = |U| then A 4
X
Y
X\Y
Subfamily of power set on 1, 2, 3, 4
Proof:
Assume set X /∈ A with |X | ≥ m2
If Y ⊆ X in A⇒ Y \ X /∈ AThus: 1
22|X | sets missing in A|A| ≤ 2m − 2
m2 , contradiction!
⇒A contains all large sets
Average set size ≥ m2
→A satisfies the conjecture!
![Page 28: The union-closed sets conjecture - Ulm · The union-closed sets conjecture Always: Afinite family of finite sets Aunion-closed: A; B2A)A [ 2A. Example:;, 1, 12, 34, 134, 1234 Conjecture](https://reader031.vdocuments.site/reader031/viewer/2022022800/5c6b2ee109d3f262278b6ad3/html5/thumbnails/28.jpg)
Large families
Nishimura & Takahashi ’96:
If |A| > 2m −√
2m, where m = |U| then A 4
Subfamily of power set on 1, 2, 3, 4
Proof:
Assume set X /∈ A with |X | ≥ m2
If Y ⊆ X in A⇒ Y \ X /∈ AThus: 1
22|X | sets missing in A|A| ≤ 2m − 2
m2 , contradiction!
⇒A contains all large sets
Average set size ≥ m2
→A satisfies the conjecture!
![Page 29: The union-closed sets conjecture - Ulm · The union-closed sets conjecture Always: Afinite family of finite sets Aunion-closed: A; B2A)A [ 2A. Example:;, 1, 12, 34, 134, 1234 Conjecture](https://reader031.vdocuments.site/reader031/viewer/2022022800/5c6b2ee109d3f262278b6ad3/html5/thumbnails/29.jpg)
Large families
Nishimura & Takahashi ’96:
If |A| > 2m −√
2m, where m = |U| then A 4
Subfamily of power set on 1, 2, 3, 4
Proof:
Assume set X /∈ A with |X | ≥ m2
If Y ⊆ X in A⇒ Y \ X /∈ AThus: 1
22|X | sets missing in A|A| ≤ 2m − 2
m2 , contradiction!
⇒A contains all large sets
Average set size ≥ m2
→A satisfies the conjecture!
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Large families II
Balla, Bollobas & Eccles ’13:
If |A| ≥ 232m, where m = |U| then A 4
Result...
is best possible
builds on Kruskal-Katona theorem
and on approach of Reimer
Reimer ’03:
Average set size always
1|A|
∑A∈A|A| ≥ 1
2 log2 |A|
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Hungarian family
Let A,B ⊂ N finiteSet A < B if
1 largest element: max A < max B
2 reverse colex: max(A∆B) ∈ A
Initial segment:
∅ < 1 < 12 < 2 < 123 < 23 < 13 < 3 < 1234 < 234
< 134 < 34 < 124 < 24 < 14 < 4 < 12345 < ...
Czedli, Maroti and Schmidt ’09:
H(m): initial segment of length b232mc
Average too low for H(m)!
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Separating families
Consider A = ∅, 1, 12, 234, 1234
4 does not add anything!
delete 4 from every member
A′ = ∅, 1, 12, 23, 123
→ may assume that A separating:for every x , y ∈ U there is A ∈ A containing exaxtly one of x , y
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Small families
Let A be separating, U = {x1, . . . , xm}.
x1 x2 x3 x4 x5 x6
4 4 4 4 4 4
6 4 4 4 4 4
? 6 4 4 4 4
? ? 6 4 4 4
? ? ? 6 4 4
? ? ? ? 6 4
Assume x1, . . . , xm ordered byincreasing frequency
let X0 be universe
for i < j there exists Xij withxi /∈ Xij 3 xj
set Xi :=⋃
j Xij
all X0, . . . ,Xm−1 distinct
all contain xm
→ If |A| ≤ 2m then A satisfies conjecture (Falgas-Ravry ’11)
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Small families
Let A be separating, U = {x1, . . . , xm}.
x1 x2 x3 x4 x5 x6
4 4 4 4 4 4
6 4 4 4 4 4
? 6 4 4 4 4
? ? 6 4 4 4
? ? ? 6 4 4
? ? ? ? 6 4
Assume x1, . . . , xm ordered byincreasing frequency
let X0 be universe
for i < j there exists Xij withxi /∈ Xij 3 xj
set Xi :=⋃
j Xij
all X0, . . . ,Xm−1 distinct
all contain xm
→ If |A| ≤ 2m then A satisfies conjecture (Falgas-Ravry ’11)
![Page 35: The union-closed sets conjecture - Ulm · The union-closed sets conjecture Always: Afinite family of finite sets Aunion-closed: A; B2A)A [ 2A. Example:;, 1, 12, 34, 134, 1234 Conjecture](https://reader031.vdocuments.site/reader031/viewer/2022022800/5c6b2ee109d3f262278b6ad3/html5/thumbnails/35.jpg)
Small families
Let A be separating, U = {x1, . . . , xm}.
x1 x2 x3 x4 x5 x6
4 4 4 4 4 4
6 4 4 4 4 4
? 6 4 4 4 4
? ? 6 4 4 4
? ? ? 6 4 4
? ? ? ? 6 4
Assume x1, . . . , xm ordered byincreasing frequency
let X0 be universe
for i < j there exists Xij withxi /∈ Xij 3 xj
set Xi :=⋃
j Xij
all X0, . . . ,Xm−1 distinct
all contain xm
→ If |A| ≤ 2m then A satisfies conjecture (Falgas-Ravry ’11)
![Page 36: The union-closed sets conjecture - Ulm · The union-closed sets conjecture Always: Afinite family of finite sets Aunion-closed: A; B2A)A [ 2A. Example:;, 1, 12, 34, 134, 1234 Conjecture](https://reader031.vdocuments.site/reader031/viewer/2022022800/5c6b2ee109d3f262278b6ad3/html5/thumbnails/36.jpg)
Small families
Let A be separating, U = {x1, . . . , xm}.
x1 x2 x3 x4 x5 x6
4 4 4 4 4 4
6 4 4 4 4 4
? 6 4 4 4 4
? ? 6 4 4 4
? ? ? 6 4 4
? ? ? ? 6 4
Assume x1, . . . , xm ordered byincreasing frequency
let X0 be universe
for i < j there exists Xij withxi /∈ Xij 3 xj
set Xi :=⋃
j Xij
all X0, . . . ,Xm−1 distinct
all contain xm
→ If |A| ≤ 2m then A satisfies conjecture (Falgas-Ravry ’11)
![Page 37: The union-closed sets conjecture - Ulm · The union-closed sets conjecture Always: Afinite family of finite sets Aunion-closed: A; B2A)A [ 2A. Example:;, 1, 12, 34, 134, 1234 Conjecture](https://reader031.vdocuments.site/reader031/viewer/2022022800/5c6b2ee109d3f262278b6ad3/html5/thumbnails/37.jpg)
Future directions?
What families on n member-sets have lowest max frequency?
for n = 2m → power sets
in between powers of two?
Details, bibliography and more:The journey of the union-closed sets conjecture,Henning Bruhn and Oliver Schaudt
![Page 38: The union-closed sets conjecture - Ulm · The union-closed sets conjecture Always: Afinite family of finite sets Aunion-closed: A; B2A)A [ 2A. Example:;, 1, 12, 34, 134, 1234 Conjecture](https://reader031.vdocuments.site/reader031/viewer/2022022800/5c6b2ee109d3f262278b6ad3/html5/thumbnails/38.jpg)
Future directions?
What families on n member-sets have lowest max frequency?
for n = 2m → power sets
in between powers of two?
Details, bibliography and more:The journey of the union-closed sets conjecture,Henning Bruhn and Oliver Schaudt