The Binomial Theorem and motivic classes of universal quasi-split tori

Abstract

Taking symmetric powers of varieties can be seen as a functor from the category of varieties to the category of varieties with an action by the symmetric group. We study a corresponding map between the Grothendieck groups of these categories. In particular, we derive a binomial formula and use it to give explicit expressions for the classes of universal quasi-split tori in the equivariant Grothendieck group of varieties.