On optimal representatives of finite coloured linear orders

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Abstract: Two structures A and B are n-equivalent if player II has a winning strategy in the n-move Ehrenfeucht-Fraisse game on A and B. We extend earlier results about n-equivalence for finite coloured linear orders, describing an algorithm for reducing to canonical form under 2-equivalence, and concentrating on the cases of 2 and 3 moves.


A colored linear order \((A, <, F)\) is a linear order \((A, <)\) equipped with a mapping \(F: A\to C\) where \(C\) is a set (of colors). Two colored linear orders are \(n\)-equivalent, written \(A\equiv_n B\), if Player 2 wins the \(n\)-move Ehrenfeucht-Fraïssé game. Starting with a finite colored linear order \(A\), the paper describes how to determine if the \(\equiv_2\)-class of \(A\) is finite or infinite. The paper gives an algorithm to locate an optimal (= smallest) member of the \(\equiv_2\)-class of \(A\). The algorithm starts with a colored linear order \(A\) and successively removes pieces, retaining \(2\)-equivalence, until an optimal colored linear order is found in the \(\equiv_2\)-class of \(A\). One consequence of the algorithm is that, if \(A\) is a finite colored linear order, then there is a \textit{suborder} of \(A\) that is an optimal member of the \(\equiv_2\)-class of \(A\). In the final section of the paper, the authors explain why it may be that a finite linear order \(A\) may not contain a suborder that is an optimal member of the \(\equiv_3\)-class of \(A\).











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