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Main Authors: Bean, Richard, Cavenagh, Nicholas
Format: Preprint
Published: 2026
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Online Access:https://arxiv.org/abs/2605.28027
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author Bean, Richard
Cavenagh, Nicholas
author_facet Bean, Richard
Cavenagh, Nicholas
contents A defining set of a Latin square is a partially filled-in Latin square which completes to no other Latin square of the same order. We introduce the concept of a $k$-strong defining set, in which if less than $k$ entries are deleted, the property of being a defining set is retained. Equivalently, a $k$-strong defining set intersects every Latin trade in the Latin square at least $k$ times. In the addition table for integers modulo $n$, when $n$ is even we determine the minimum size of a $k$-strong defining set for any $k$. For odd $n$ we give a construction for a minimally $2$-strong defining set. We furthermore give computational results for Latin squares of small orders.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2605_28027
institution arXiv
publishDate 2026
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Defining sets which intersect each Latin trade at least twice
Bean, Richard
Cavenagh, Nicholas
Combinatorics
05B15
A defining set of a Latin square is a partially filled-in Latin square which completes to no other Latin square of the same order. We introduce the concept of a $k$-strong defining set, in which if less than $k$ entries are deleted, the property of being a defining set is retained. Equivalently, a $k$-strong defining set intersects every Latin trade in the Latin square at least $k$ times. In the addition table for integers modulo $n$, when $n$ is even we determine the minimum size of a $k$-strong defining set for any $k$. For odd $n$ we give a construction for a minimally $2$-strong defining set. We furthermore give computational results for Latin squares of small orders.
title Defining sets which intersect each Latin trade at least twice
topic Combinatorics
05B15
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2605.28027