====== Thomas Zaslavsky (Binghamton) ======

====== Tutte Functions of Matroids ======

===== Abstract for the Combinatorics and Algebra Seminars 2008 October 7 =====

A function defined on an arbitrary minor-closed class of matroids is a "Tutte function" if it satisfies the parametrized deletion-contraction law\\
        F(M) = d<sub>e</sub> F(M\e) + c<sub>e</sub> F(M/e)\\
whenever e is a point of M that is neither a loop nor a coloop. F need not have any other Tutte-style properties like multiplicativity. Here d<sub>e</sub> and c<sub>e</sub> are constants associated with e, independent of M but depending on the point e.

Functions of this kind appear in statistical physics and knot theory.

Joanna Ellis-Monaghan and I are studying the modules and algebras behind Tutte functions.


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