On four color monochromatic sets with nondecreasing diameter

Let m and r be positive integers. Define f(m,r) to be the least positive integer N such that for every coloring of the integers 1,…,N with r colors there exist monochromatic subsets B₁ and B₂ (not necessarily of the same color), each having m elements, such that (a) max(B₁)-min(B₁)max(B₂)-min(B₂), and (b) max(B₁)B₂). We improve previous upper bounds to determine that f(m,4)=12m-9.     

A note on 2-factors with two components

In this note, we consider a minimum degree condition for a hamiltonian graph to have a 2-factor with two components. Let G be a graph of order n3. Dirac's theorem says that if the minimum degree of G is at least , then G has a hamiltonian cycle. Furthermore, Brandt et al. [J. Graph Theory 24 (1997) 165–173] proved that if n8, then G has a 2-factor with two components. Both theorems are sharp and there are infinitely many graphs G of odd order and minimum degree which have no 2-factor. However, if hamiltonicity is assumed, we can relax the minimum degree condition for the existence of a 2-factor with two components. We prove in this note that a hamiltonian graph of order n6 and minimum degree at least has a 2-factor with two components.     

The total chromatic number of regular graphs of even order and high degree

The total chromatic number χ_T(G) of a graph G is the minimum number of colours needed to colour the edges and the vertices of G so that incident or adjacent elements have distinct colours. We show that if G is a regular graph of even order and , thenχ_T(G)Δ(G)+2.     

Limit shape of convex lattice polygons with minimal perimeter

Let n be a positive integer and · any norm in . Denote by B the unit ball of · and the class of convex lattice polygons with n vertices and least ·-perimeter. We prove that after suitable normalization, all members of tend to a fixed convex body, as n→∞.     

A combinatorial approach to doubly transitive permutation groups

Let G be a doubly but not triply transitive group on a set X. We give an algorithm to construct the orbits of G acting on X×X×X by combining those of its stabilizer H of a point of X If the group H is given first, we compute the orbits of its transitive extension G, if it exists. We apply our algorithm to G=PSL(m,q) and Sp(2m,2), m3, successfully. We go forward to compute the transitive extension of G itself. In our construction we use a superscheme defined by the orbits of H on X×X×X and do not use group elements.     

Edge-coloring of multigraphs

We introduce a monotone invariant π(G) on graphs and show that it is an upper bound of the chromatic index of graphs. Moreover, there exist polynomial time algorithms for computing π(G) and for coloring edges of a multigraph G by π(G) colors. This generalizes the classical edge-coloring theorems of Shannon and Vizing.     

On association schemes all elements of which have valency 1 or 2

In the present note, we investigate schemes S in which each element s satisfies n_s2 and n_s^*s≠2. We show that such a scheme is schurian. More precisely, we show that it is isomorphic to G//t, where G is a finite group and t an involution of G weakly closed in C_G(t).

Groups G with an involution t weakly closed in C_G(t) have been described in Glauberman's Z^*-Theorem [G. Glauberman, Central elements in core-free groups, J. Algebra 4 (1966) 403–420] with the help of the largest normal subgroup of G having odd order.     

On partitioning two matroids into common independent subsets

Let M₁ and M₂ be two matroids on the same ground set S. We conjecture that if there do not exist disjoint subsets A₁,A₂,…,A_k+1 of S, such that _isp_M1(A_i)≠Ø, and similarly for M₂, then S is partitioned into k sets, each independent in both M₁ and M₂. This is a possible generalization of König's edge-coloring theorem. We prove the conjecture for the case k=2 and for a regular case, in which both matroids have the same rank d, and S consists of k·d elements. Finally, we prove another special case related to a conjecture of Rota.     

Ore-type degree condition for heavy paths in weighted graphs

A weighted graph is one in which every edge e is assigned a nonnegative number w(e), called the weight of e. For a vertex v of a weighted graph, d^w(v) is the sum of the weights of the edges incident to v. And the weight of a path is the sum of the weights of the edges belonging to it. In this paper, we give a sufficient condition for a weighted graph to have a heavy path which joins two specified vertices. Let G be a 2-connected weighted graph and let x and y be distinct vertices of G. Suppose that d^w(u)+d^w(v)2d for every pair of non-adjacent vertices u and vV(G) x,y . Then x and y are joined by a path of weight at least d, or they are joined by a Hamilton path. Also, we consider the case when G has some vertices whose weighted degree are not assumed.     

Maximum genus, connectivity and minimal degree of graphs

This paper is devoted to the lower bounds on the maximum genus of graphs. A simple statement of our results in this paper can be expressed in the following form:

Let G be a k-edge-connected graph with minimum degree δ, for each positive integer k(3), there exists a non-decreasing function f(δ) such that the maximum genus γ_M(G) of G satisfies the relation γ_M(G)f(δ)β(G), and furthermore that lim_δ→∞f(δ)=1/2, where β(G)=|E(G)|-|V(G)|+1 is the cycle rank of G.

The result shows that lower bounds of the maximum genus of graphs with any given connectivity become larger and larger as their minimum degree increases, and complements recent results of several authors.     

Uniform asymptotic expansions of the Pollaczek polynomials

Two uniform asymptotic expansions are obtained for the Pollaczek polynomials P_n(cosθ;a,b). One is for , , in terms of elementary functions and in descending powers of . The other is for , in terms of a special function closely related to the modified parabolic cylinder functions, in descending powers of n. This interval contains a turning point and all possible zeros of P_n(cosθ) in θ(0,π/2].     

Nonexistence of a code for

In this paper, we shall prove that there is no [3q⁴-q³-q²-3q-1,5,3q⁴-4q³-2q+1]_q code over the finite field for q11. Thus, we conclude the nonexistence of a [g_q(5,d),5,d]_q code for 3q⁴-4q³-2q+1d3q⁴-4q³-q.     

Mass formula for self-dual codes over Z

We give a mass formula for self-dual codes over Z_p², where p is an odd prime. Using the mass formula, we classify such codes of lengths up to n=8 over the ring Z₉, n=7 over Z₂₅ and n=6 over Z₄₉.     

Eigenvalues of association schemes of quadratic forms

The duality and primitivity of the association scheme Qua(n,q) of quadratic forms in n variables and the association scheme Sym(n,q) of symmetric bilinear forms in n variables over the finite field are discussed by Wang et al. [Association schemes of quadratic forms and symmetric bilinear forms, J. Algebraic Combin. 17 (2003) 149–161]. In this paper, eigenvalues of Qua(n,q) are computed, where q is a power of 2. As an application, two fusion schemes of Qua(n,q) are discussed and their dual schemes are constructed.     

The last subconstituent of the Hemmeter graph

We prove that when q is any odd prime power, the distance-2 graph on the set of vertices at maximal distance D from any fixed vertex of the Hemmeter graph Hem_D(q) is isomorphic to the graph Quad_D-1(q) of quadratic forms on .     

3-Homogeneous latin trades

Let T be a partial latin square and L be a latin square with TL. We say that T is a latin trade if there exists a partial latin square T^′ with T^′∩T= such that (LT)T^′ is a latin square. A k-homogeneous latin trade is one which intersects each row, each column and each entry either 0 or k times. In this paper, we construct 3-homogeneous latin trades from hexagonal packings of the plane with circles. We show that 3-homogeneous latin trades of size 3 m exist for each m3. This paper discusses existence results for latin trades and provides a glueing construction which is subsequently used to construct all latin trades of finite order greater than three.     

Fractal sets determined by dilation-stable processes

Let be a dilation-stable process on . We determine a Hausdorff measure function (a) such that the fractal set X[0,1]={X(t):0t1} has positive finite -measure. We also investigate the packing measure of X[0,1].     

General preservers of invariant subspace lattices

Let be the space of all bounded linear operators on a Banach space X and let LatA be the lattice of invariant subspaces of the operator . We characterize some maps with one of the following preserving properties: Lat(Φ(A)+Φ(B))=Lat(A+B), or Lat(Φ(A)Φ(B))=Lat(AB), or Lat(Φ(A)Φ(B)+Φ(B)Φ(A))=Lat(AB+BA), or Lat(Φ(A)Φ(B)Φ(A))=Lat(ABA), or Lat([Φ(A),Φ(B)])=Lat([A,B]).     

On distinct unit fractions whose sum equals 1

Questions, partial and complete answers about the diophantine equation in distinct positive integers are given when additional requirements are asked on the x_i's such as: being large, odd, even or x_ix_j for i≠j. Various combinations of the above conditions are also considered.     

Countable choice and compactness

We work in set-theory without choice ZF. Denoting by the countable axiom of choice, we show in that the closed unit ball of a uniformly convex Banach space is compact in the convex topology (an alternative to the weak topology in ZF). We prove that this ball is (closely) convex-compact in the convex topology. Given a set I, a real number p1 (respectively p=0), and some closed subset F of [0,1]^I which is a bounded subset of ℓ^p(I), we show that (respectively DC, the axiom of Dependent Choices) implies the compactness of F.