On a connection between the existence ofk-trees and the toughness of a graph

A graphG has toughnesst(G) ift(G) is the largest numbert such that for any subsetS of the vertices ofG, the number of vertices inS is at leastt times the number of components ofG on deletion of the vertices inS, provided that there is then more than one component. Ak-tree of a connected graph is a spanning tree with maximum degree at mostk. We show here that if , withk 3, thenG has ak-tree. The notion of ak-tree generalizes the casek = 2 of a hamiltonian path, so that this result, as we discuss, may be of some interest in connection with Chvátal's conjecture that, for somet, every graph with toughness at leastt is hamiltonian.     

Graphs isomorphic to subgraphs of their iterated line graphs

A graphG is said to be embeddable into a graphH, if there is an isomorphism ofG into a subgraph ofH. It is shown in this paper that every unicycle or tree which is neither a path norK _1,3 embeds in itsn-th iterated line graph forn1 or 2, 3, and that every other connected graph that embeds in itsn-th iterated line graph may be constructed from such an embedded unicycle or tree in a natural way. A special kind of embedding of graph into itsn-th iterated line graph, called incidence embedding, is studied. Moreover, it is shown that for every positive integerk, there exists a graphG such that (G) = , where (G) is the leastn1 for whichG embeds inL ⁿ(G).     

The toughness of cubic graphs

The toughness of a graphG is the minimum of|S|/k(G – S) over all setsS of vertices such thatk(G – S) 2. In this paper upper bounds on the toughness of a cubic graph are derived in terms of the independence number and coloring parameters. These are applied to cycle permutation graphs.     

A new recursive theorem onn-extendibility

A graphG having a 1-factor is calledn-extendible if every matching of sizen extends to a 1-factor. LetG be a 2-connected graph of order 2p. Letr0 andn>0 be integers such thatp–rn+1. It is shown that ifG/S isn-extendible for every connected subgraphS of order 2r for whichG/S is connected, thenG isn-extendible.     

On the graph of large distances

For a setS of points in the plane, letd ₁>d ₂>... denote the different distances determined byS. Consider the graphG(S, k) whose vertices are the elements ofS, and two are joined by an edge iff their distance is at leastd _k . It is proved that the chromatic number ofG(S, k) is at most 7 if |S|constk ². IfS consists of the vertices of a convex polygon and |S|constk ², then the chromatic number ofG(S, k) is at most 3. Both bounds are best possible. IfS consists of the vertices of a convex polygon thenG(S, k) has a vertex of degree at most 3k – 1. This implies that in this case the chromatic number ofG(S, k) is at most 3k. The best bound here is probably 2k+1, which is tight for the regular (2k+1)-gon.     

Independent sets,cliques and hamiltonian graphs

LetG be ak-connected (k 2) graph onn vertices. LetS be an independent set ofG. S is called essential if there exist two distinct vertices inS which have a common neighbor inG. LetV _r, be a clique which is a complete subgraph ofG. In this paper it is proven that if every essential independent setS ofk + 1 vertices satisfiesS V _r , thenG is hamiltonian, orG{u} is hamiltonian for someu V _r, orG is one of three classes of exceptional graphs. Our theorem generalizes several well-known theorems.     

Contractible edges in non-separating cycles

An edge of ak-connected graph is said to bek-contractible if the contraction of the edge results in ak-connected graph. We prove that every triangle-freek-connected graphG has an induced cycleC such that all edges ofC arek-contractible and such thatG–V(C) is (k–3)-connected (k4). This result unifies two theorems by Thomassen [5] and Egawa et. al. [3].Dedicated to Professor Toshiro Tsuzuku on his sixtieth birthday     

Paths with restricted degrees of their vertices in planar graphs

In this paper it is proved that every 3-connected planar graph contains a path on 3 vertices each of which is of degree at most 15 and a path on 4 vertices each of which has degree at most 23. Analogous results are stated for 3-connected planar graphs of minimum degree 4 and 5. Moreover, for every pair of integers n 3, k 4 there is a 2-connected planar graph such that every path on n vertices in it has a vertex of degree k.     

Fan-type theorem for path-connectivity

A graphG is said to bek-path-connected if every pair of distinct vertices inG are joined by a path of length at leastk. We prove that if max{deg _G ^x , deg _G ^y }k for every pair of verticesx,y withd _G (x,y)=2 in a 2-connected graphG, whered _G (x,y) is the distance betweenx andy inG, thenG isk-path-connected.     

On long cycles in a 2-connected bipartite graph

Letk be an integer withk 2. LetG = (A, B; E) be a 2-connected bipartite graph. Supposed(x) + d(y) k + 1 for every pair of non-adjacent verticesx andy. ThenG contains a cycle of length at leastmin(2a, 2k) wherea = min(|A|,|B|), unlessG is one of some known exceptions. We conjecture that if|A| = |B| andd(x) + d(y) k + 1 for every pair of non-adjacent verticesx andy withx A andy B, thenG contains a cycle of length at leastmin(2a, 2k).     

Thep-intersection number of a complete bipartite graph and orthogonal double coverings of a clique

Thep-intersection graph of a collection of finite sets {S _i } _i=1 ⁿ is the graph with vertices 1, ...,n such thati, j are adjacent if and only if |S _i S _j |p. Thep-intersection number of a graphG, herein denoted _p (G), is the minimum size of a setU such thatG is thep-intersection graph of subsets ofU. IfG is the complete bipartite graphK _n,n andp2, then _p (K _{n, n} )(n ²+(2p–1)n)/p. Whenp=2, equality holds if and only ifK _n has anorthogonal double covering, which is a collection ofn subgraphs ofK _n , each withn–1 edges and maximum degree 2, such that each pair of subgraphs shares exactly one edge. By construction,K _n has a simple explicit orthogonal double covering whenn is congruent modulo 12 to one of {1, 2, 5, 7, 10, 11}.Research supported in part by ONR Grant N00014-5K0570.     

On the maximal number of certain subgraphs inK r -free graphs

Given two graphsH andG, letH(G) denote the number of subgraphs ofG isomorphic toH. We prove that ifH is a bipartite graph with a one-factor, then for every triangle-free graphG withn verticesH(G) H(T ₂(n)), whereT ₂(n) denotes the complete bipartite graph ofn vertices whose colour classes are as equal as possible. We also prove that ifK is a completet-partite graph ofm vertices,r > t, n max(m, r – 1), then there exists a complete (r – 1)-partite graphG* withn vertices such thatK(G) K(G*) holds for everyK _r -free graphG withn vertices. In particular, in the class of allK _r -free graphs withn vertices the complete balanced (r – 1)-partite graphT _r–1(n) has the largest number of subgraphs isomorphic toK _t (t < r),C ₄,K _2,3. These generalize some theorems of Turán, Erdös and Sauer.Dedicated to Paul Turán on his 80th Birthday     

A note on the independent domination number of subset graph

The independent domination number i(G) (independent number (G)) is the minimum (maximum) cardinality among all maximal independent sets of G. Haviland (1995) conjectured that any connected regular graph G of order n and degree 1/2n satisfies i(G) 2n/3 1/2. For 1 k l m, the subset graph S _m (k, l) is the bipartite graph whose vertices are the k- and l-subsets of an m element ground set where two vertices are adjacent if and only if one subset is contained in the other. In this paper, we give a sharp upper bound for i(S _m (k, l)) and prove that if k + l = m then Havilands conjecture holds for the subset graph S _m (k, l). Furthermore, we give the exact value of (S _m (k, l)).This work was supported by National Natural Sciences Foundation of China (19871036).     

Isoperimetric numbers of graph bundles

The main aim of this paper is to give some upper and lower bounds for the isoperimetric numbers of graph coverings or graph bundles, with exact values in some special cases. In addition, we show that the isoperimetric number of any covering graph is not greater than that of the base graph. Mohar's theorem for the isoperimetric number of the cartesian product of a graph and a complete graph can be extended to a more general case: The isoperimetric numberi(G × K _2n) of the cartesian product of any graphG and a complete graphK _2n on even vertices is the minimum of the isoperimetric numberi(G) andn, and it is also a sharp lower bound of the isoperimetric numbers of all graph bundles over the graphG with fiberK _2n. Furthermore, ifn 2i(G) then the isoperimetric number of any graph bundle overG with fibreK _n is equal to the isoperimetric numberi(G) ofG. Partially supported by The Ministry of Education, Korea.     

Rubber bands,convex embeddings and graph connectivity

We give various characterizations ofk-vertex connected graphs by geometric, algebraic, and physical properties. As an example, a graphG isk-connected if and only if, specifying anyk vertices ofG, the vertices ofG can be represented by points of ^k–1 so that nok are on a hyper-plane and each vertex is in the convex hull of its neighbors, except for thek specified vertices. The proof of this theorem appeals to physics. The embedding is found by letting the edges of the graph behave like ideal springs and letting its vertices settle in equilibrium.As an algorithmic application of our results we give probabilistic (Monte-Carlo and Las Vegas) algorithms for computing the connectivity of a graph. Our algorithms are faster than the best known (deterministic) connectivity algorithms for allkn, and for very dense graphs the Monte Carlo algorithm is faster by a linear factor.     

On the Structure of a k-Connected Graph

For a k-connected graph G, we introduce the notion of a block and construct a block tree. This construction generalizes, for , the known constructions for blocks of a connected graph. We apply the introduced notions to describe the set of vertices of a k-connected graph G such that the graph remains k-connected after deleting these vertices. We discuss some problems related to simultaneous deleting of vertices of a k-connected graph without loss of k-connectivity. Bibliography: 5 titles.     

Contractible edges inn-connected graphs with minimum degree greater than or equal to [5n/4]

It is proved that ifG is ann-connected graph with minimum degree greater than or equal to [5n/4],n 4, thenG has an edgee such that the graph obtained fromG by contractinge is stilln-connected.Dedicated to Professor Nagayoshi Iwahori on his 60th birthday     

A sufficient condition for a graph to be hamiltonian

Those non-hamiltonian graphsG withn vertices are characterized, which satisfy the Ore-type degree-conditiond(x)+d(y)n–2 for each pairx,yM of different nonadjacent vertices whereM consists of two vertices ofG. As an application a theorem on hamiltonian connectivity of graphs is given. Furthermore, a condition is presented which is sufficient for the existence of a covering of a graph by two disjoint paths with prescribed set of startpoints and prescribed set of endpoints. A class of graphs is described which have no covering of this kind.     

Long paths and cycles in tough graphs

For a graphG, letp(G) andc(G) denote the length of a longest path and cycle, respectively. Let (t,n) be the minimum ofp(G), whereG ranges over allt-tough connected graphs onn vertices. Similarly, let (t,n) be the minimum ofc(G), whereG ranges over allt-tough 2-connected graphs onn vertices. It is shown that for fixedt>0 there exist constantsA, B such that (t,n)A·log(n) and (t,n)·log((t,n))B·log(n). Examples are presented showing that fort1 there exist constantsA, B such that (t,n)A·log(n) and (t,n)B· log(n). It is conjectured that (t,n) B·log(n) for some constantB. This conjecture is shown to be valid within the class of 3-connected graphs and, as conjectured in Bondy [1] forl=3, within the class of 2-connectedK _1.l-free graphs, wherel is fixed.     

Decomposition of 3-connected graphs

Cunningham and Edmonds [4[ have proved that a 2-connected graphG has a unique minimal decomposition into graphs, each of which is either 3-connected, a bond or a polygon. They define the notion of a good split, and first prove thatG has a unique minimal decomposition into graphs, none of which has a good split, and second prove that the graphs that do not have a good split are precisely 3-connected graphs, bonds and polygons. This paper provides an analogue of the first result above for 3-connected graphs, and an analogue of the second for minimally 3-connected graphs. Following the basic strategy of Cunningham and Edmonds, an appropriate notion of good split is defined. The first main result is that ifG is a 3-connected graph, thenG has a unique minimal decomposition into graphs, none of which has a good split. The second main result is that the minimally 3-connected graphs that do not have a good split are precisely cyclically 4-connected graphs, twirls (K _3,n for somen3) and wheels. From this it is shown that ifG is a minimally 3-connected graph, thenG has a unique minimal decomposition into graphs, each of which is either cyclically 4-connected, a twirl or a wheel.Research partially supported by Office of Naval Research Grant N00014-86-K-0689 at Purdue University.