Equations of monomial varieties in codimension two (Q1897810)

The author considers a variety \(V\) in affine \((n + 2)\) space, defined parametrically by \[ (u_1^{c_1} u_2^{c_2} \cdots u_n^{c_n}, u_1^{b_1} u_2^{b_2} \cdots u_n^{b_n}, \dots, u_1^{a_1}, u_2^{a_2}, \dots, u_n^{a_n}) \] where \(a_i, b_i, c_i\) are nonnegative integers and they are expected to satisfy the usual non-degeneracy conditions so that \(V\) is of codimension 2. The author gives a purely numerical condition which is necessary and sufficient for \(V\) to be Cohen-Macaulay. In this case the author also gives the equations defining \(V\). Not surprisingly, the methods depend on writing down Gröbner bases. The author says that certain computational program (written in Pascal), following the methods of this paper is very efficient in calculating minimal bases of ideals.