Linear resolutions and quasi-linearity of monomial ideals

Abstract: We introduce the concept of quasi-linearity and prove it is necessary for a monomial ideal to have a linear resolution and identify all the quasi-linear quadratic monomial ideals. We define a strongly linear monomial for a monomial ideal $I$ and prove that if $\mathbf{u}$ is a strongly linear monomial over $I$ then $I$ has a linear resolution (resp: is quasi-linear) if and only if $I+\mathbf{u}\mathfrak{p}$ has a linear resolution (resp: is quasi-linear). Here $\mathfrak{p}$ is any monomial prime ideal.