Vertex numbers of simplicial complexes with free abelian fundamental group

Abstract

We show that the minimum number of vertices of a simplicial complex with fundamental group $\mathbb{Z}^{n}$ is at most $O(n)$ and at least $\Omega(n^{3/4})$. For the upper bound, we use a result on orthogonal 1-factorizations of $K_{2n}$. For the lower bound, we use a fractional Sylvester-Gallai result. We also prove that any group presentation $\langle S | R\rangle \cong \mathbb{Z}^{n}$ whose relations are of the form $g^{a}h^{b}i^{c}$ for $g, h, i \in S$ has at least $\Omega(n^{3/2})$ generators.