Let $\mathcal{N}$ be an arbitrary class of matroids, closed under isomorphism. For $k$ a positive integer, we say that $M \in \mathcal{N}$ is \emph{$k$-minor-irreducible} if $M$ has no minor $N \in \mathcal{N}$ such that $1\leq\left|E\left(M\right)\right|-\left|E\left(N\right)\right|\leq k $. Tutte's Wheels and Whirls Theorem establish that, upto isomorphism, there are only two families of 1-minor-irreduciblematroids in the class of 3-connected matroids. More recently, Lemos classified the3-minor-irreducibles with at least 14 elements in the class of triangle-free3-connected matroids. Here we prove a local characterization for the 2-minor-irreducible matroidswith at least 11 elements in the class of triangle-free 3-connected matroids. This local characterizationis used to establish two new families of 2-minor-irreducible matroids in this class.
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Subject: Computer Science and Mathematics - Algebra and Number Theory
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