Problem #WSP-5340

Problems Graph Theory

Problem

Prove the general version of Sperner’s lemma: Consider an \(n\)-dimensional simplex \(\mathcal{A} = A_1A_2...A_{n+1}\). Strictly speaking a simplex is a convex linear combination of \(n+1\) points in general position (when \(k\) points are never in one subspace of dimension \(k-1\)). One can view it as an \(n\)-dimensional tetrahedron or a body spanned over vertices \((0,0,...,0), (1,0,0,...,0), (0,1,0,0...,0), ... (0,0,...0,1)\). \[\mathcal{A} = \{\sum_{i=1}^{n+1}a_i(0,0,...,1,...,0), \,\,\, a_i \geq 0, \,\,\,\, \sum_{i=1}^{n+1}a_i = 1\}.\]

A simplicial subdivision of an \(n\)-dimensional simplex \(\mathcal{A}\) is a partition of \(\mathcal{A}\) into small simplices (cells) of the same dimension, such that any two cells are either disjoint, or they share a full face of a certain dimension.
Define a Sperner’s coloring of a simplicial subdivision as an assignment of \(n+1\) colors to the vertices of the subdivision, so that the vertices of \(\mathcal{A}\) receive all different colors, and points on each face of \(\mathcal{A}\) use only the colors of the vertices defining the respective face of \(\mathcal{A}\).
Prove that every Sperner’s coloring of any subdivision of an \(n\)-dimensional simplex contains an odd number of rainbow simplexes, namely whose vertices are colored using all \(n+1\) colors.