Matroids from ModulesMatroids from Modules AbstractThe aim of this work is to show that (oriented) matroid methods can be applied to many discrete geometries, namely those based on modules over integral (ordered) domains. The trick is to emulate the structure of a vector space within the module, thereby allowing matroid methods to be used as if the module were a vector space. Only those submodules which are "closed under existing divisors," and hence behave like vector subspaces, are used as subspaces of the matroid. It is also shown that Hübler's axiomatic discrete geometry can be characterised in terms of modules over the ring of integers. Nils Anders DanielssonLast updated Sat Feb 16 14:24:13 UTC 2008. |