On the Möbius function of permutations with one descent (Q405198)

Summary: The set of all permutations, ordered by pattern containment, is a poset. We give a formula for the Möbius function of intervals \([1,\pi]\) in this poset, for any permutation \(\pi\) with at most one descent. We compute the Möbius function as a function of the number and positions of pairs of consecutive letters in \(\pi\) that are consecutive in value. As a result of this we show that the Möbius function is unbounded on the poset of all permutations. We show that the Möbius function is zero on any interval \([1,\pi]\) where \(\pi\) has a triple of consecutive letters whose values are consecutive and monotone. We also conjecture values of the Möbius function on some other intervals of permutations with at most one descent.