Completion of tree metrics and rank 2 matrices (Q2404962)

The paper studies the algebraic matroid of \(m \times n\) rank-2 matrices and \(n \times n\) skew symmetric rank-2 matrices motivated by its occurence in low-rank matrix completion. Combining tropical, geometric and combinatorial methods, the author derives a characterization of the independent sets in terms of an associated graph. By [\textit{J. Yu}, J. Comb. Theory, Ser. A 147, 41--45 (2017; Zbl 1352.05046)], these algebraic matroids are determined by the tropicalization of the varieties of matrices. The tropicalization leads to the space of phylogenetic trees which has a well-studied polyhedral structure. Using a matroid construction from [\textit{A. Dress} et al., Discrete Math. Theor. Comput. Sci. 16, No. 2, 41--56 (2014; Zbl 1294.05045)], the characterization of independent sets in terms of acyclic orientations of an associated graph is obtained. This also provides a description of the minimally \((2,2)\)-rigid graphs introduced in [\textit{G. Kalai} et al., Trans. Am. Math. Soc. 368, No. 8, 5515--5545 (2016; Zbl 1332.05040)].