Laura Anderson (Binghamton)

Introduction to Gaussoids

Abstract for the Combinatorics Seminar
2017 October 31

A Gaussoid describes conditional dependence among random variables with a multivariate distribution, in the same sense that a matroid describes linear dependence among vectors in a vector space. Gaussoids, like matroids, have a combinatorial axiomatization, duality, and interesting realizability questions that can be framed in terms of algebraic geometry. Gaussoids were introduced by Lnenicka and Matus in 2007 and were also the subject of a recent paper by Boega, D'Ali, Kahle, and Sturmfels. I'll discuss both the original and newer paper, and I expect to join attendees in grousing about the name.


To the Combinatorics Seminar Web page.