Abstract
Let P(n) denote the power set of [n], ordered by inclusion, and let P(n,p) be obtained from P(n) by selecting elements from P(n) independently at random with probability p. A classical result of Sperner asserts that every antichain in P(n) has size at most that of the middle layer, (n choose ⌊n/2⌋). In this note we prove an analogous result for P(n,p): If pn→∞ then, with high probability, the size of the largest antichain in P(n,p) is at most (1+o(1))p(n choose ⌊n/2⌋). This solves a conjecture of Osthus who proved the result in the case when pn/logn→∞. Our condition on p is best-possible. In fact, we prove a more general result giving an upper bound on the size of the largest antichain for a wider range of values of p.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 104-110 |
| Number of pages | 7 |
| Journal | Journal of Combinatorial Theory, Series A |
| Volume | 128 |
| Early online date | 14 Aug 2014 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Nov 2014 |