Counting Embeddings of a Chain into a Binary Tree

Abstract

Let \(T\) be a partially ordered set whose Hasse diagram is a binary tree and let \(T\) possess a unique maximal element \(1_T\). For a natural number \(n\), we compare the number \(A_T^n\) of those chains of length \(n\) in \(T\) that contain \(1_T\) and the number \(B_T^n\) of those chains that do not contain \(1_T\). We show that if the depth of \(T\) is greater or equal to \(2n + [ n \log n ]\) then \(B_T^n > A_T^n\).