Divided symmetrization and quasisymmetric functions

Abstract

Motivated by a question in Schubert calculus, we study the interplay of quasisymmetric polynomials with the divided symmetrization operator, which was introduced by Postnikov in the context of volume polynomials of permutahedra. Divided symmetrization is a linear form which acts on the space of polynomials in n indeterminates of degree \(n-1\). We first show that divided symmetrization applied to a quasisymmetric polynomial in m indeterminates can be easily determined. Several examples with a strong combinatorial flavor are given. Then, we prove that the divided symmetrization of any polynomial can be naturally computed with respect to a direct sum decomposition due to Aval–Bergeron–Bergeron, involving the ideal generated by positive degree quasisymmetric polynomials in n indeterminates.