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Embeddings of ultrametric spaces in finite dimensional structures. (English) Zbl 0639.51018

An ultrametric space (X,d) is a metric space whose distance function d satisfies the strong triangle inequality d(x,z)\(\leq \max (d(x,y),d(y,z))\). Motivated by applications in theoretical physics and combinatorial optimization the authors study the problem of embedding a finite ultrametric space (X,d) in certain metric spaces such as the space of subsets of an n-elements set, the hypercube of dimension n, \({\mathbb{R}}^ n\) with the Euclidean distance. Their basic theorem says that in each of these cases \(| X| \leq n+1,\) this bound being attained. Further, the general embedding problem is examined, and an extension to the case of spaces in which almost every triangle satisfies the strong triangle inequality.
Reviewer: F.D.Veldkamp

MSC:

51K05 General theory of distance geometry
05A99 Enumerative combinatorics
82D30 Statistical mechanics of random media, disordered materials (including liquid crystals and spin glasses)
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