Published online by Cambridge University Press: 25 August 2022
We prove a surprising symmetry between the law of the size
$G_n$
of the greedy independent set on a uniform Cayley tree
$ \mathcal{T}_n$
of size n and that of its complement. We show that
$G_n$
has the same law as the number of vertices at even height in
$ \mathcal{T}_n$
rooted at a uniform vertex. This enables us to compute the exact law of
$G_n$
. We also give a Markovian construction of the greedy independent set, which highlights the symmetry of
$G_n$
and whose proof uses a new Markovian exploration of rooted Cayley trees that is of independent interest.