On the complexity of the disjoint paths problem

In this paper we consider the disjoint paths problem. Given a graphG and a subsetS of the edge-set ofG the problem is to decide whether there exists a family of disjoint circuits inG each containing exactly one edge ofS such that every edge inS belongs to a circuit inC. By a well-known theorem of P. Seymour the edge-disjoint paths problem is polynomially solvable for Eulerian planar graphsG. We show that (assumingPNP) one can drop neither planarity nor the Eulerian condition onG without losing polynomial time solvability. We prove theNP-completeness of the planar edge-disjoint paths problem by showing theNP-completeness of the vertex disjoint paths problem for planar graphs with maximum vertex-degree three. This disproves (assumingPNP) a conjecture of A. Schrijver concerning the existence of a polynomial time algorithm for the planar vertex-disjoint paths problem. Furthermore we present a counterexample to a conjecture of A. Frank. This conjecture would have implied a polynomial algorithm for the planar edge-disjoint paths problem. Moreover we derive a complete characterization of all minorclosed classes of graphs for which the disjoint paths problem is polynomially solvable. Finally we show theNP-completeness of the half-integral relaxation of the edge-disjoint paths problem. This implies an answer to the long-standing question whether the edge-disjoint paths problem is polynomially solvable for Eulerian graphs.Supported by Sonderforschungsbereich 303 (DFG)     

An Approximate Max-Steiner-Tree-Packing Min-Steiner-Cut Theorem*

Given an undirected multigraph G and a subset of vertices S ⊆ V (G), the STEINER TREE PACKING problem is to find a largest collection of edge-disjoint trees that each connects S. This problem and its generalizations have attracted considerable attention from researchers in different areas because of their wide applicability. This problem was shown to be APX-hard (no polynomial time approximation scheme unless P=NP). In fact, prior to this paper, not even an approximation algorithm with asymptotic ratio o(n) was known despite several attempts. In this work, we present the first polynomial time constant factor approximation algorithm for the STEINER TREE PACKING problem. The main theorem is an approximate min-max relation between the maximum number of edge-disjoint trees that each connects S (S-trees) and the minimum size of an edge-cut that disconnects some pair of vertices in S (S-cut). Specifically, we prove that if every S-cut in G has at least 26k edges, then G has at least k edge-disjoint S-trees; this answers Kriesells conjecture affirmatively up to a constant multiple. * A preliminary version appeared in the Proceedings of the 45th Annual IEEE Symposium on Foundations of Computer Science (FOCS) 2004. † The author was supported by an Ontario Graduate Scholarship and a University of Toronto Fellowship.     

On the lattice property of the plane and some problems of Dirac,Motzkin and Erdős in combinatorial geometry

LetS be a set ofn non-collinear points in the Euclidean plane. It will be shown here that for some point ofS the number ofconnecting lines through it exceedsc · n. This gives a partial solution to an old problem of Dirac and Motzkin. We also prove the following conjecture of Erdős: If any straight line contains at mostn−x points ofS, then the number of connecting lines determined byS is greater thanc · x · n. Dedicated to Paul Erdős on his seventieth birthday     

On the stretch factor of Delaunay triangulations of points in convex position

Let S be a finite set of points in the Euclidean plane. Let G be a geometric graph in the plane whose point set is S. The stretch factor of G is the maximum ratio, among all points p and q in S, of the length of the shortest path from p to q in G over the Euclidean distance |pq|. Keil and Gutwin in 1989 [11] proved that the stretch factor of the Delaunay triangulation of a set of points S in the plane is at most 2π/(3cos(π/6))≈2.42. Improving on this upper bound remains an intriguing open problem in computational geometry.In this paper we consider the special case when the points in S are in convex position. We prove that in this case the stretch factor of the Delaunay triangulation of S is at most ρ=2.33.     

Domination versus disjunctive domination in graphs

A dominating set in a graph G is a set S of vertices of G such that every vertex not in S is adjacent to a vertex of S. The domination number of G is the minimum cardinality of a dominating set of G. For a positive integer b, a set S of vertices in a graph G is a b-disjunctive dominating set in G if every vertex v not in S is adjacent to a vertex of S or has at least b vertices in S at distance 2 from it in G. The b-disjunctive domination number of G is the minimum cardinality of a b-disjunctive dominating set. In this paper, we continue the study of disjunctive domination in graphs. We present properties of b-disjunctive dominating sets in a graph. A characterization of minimal b-disjunctive dominating sets is given. We obtain bounds on the ratio of the domination number and the b-disjunctive domination number for various families of graphs, including regular graphs and trees.     

Connected Domination Stable Graphs Upon Edge Addition

Abstract

A set S of vertices in a graph G is a connected dominating set of G if S dominates G and the subgraph induced by S is connected. We study the graphs for which adding any edge does not change the connected domination number.     

Projective plane and Möbius band obstructions

LetS be a compact surface with possibly non-empty boundary S and letG be a graph. LetK be a subgraph ofG embedded inS such that SK. Anembedding extension ofK toG is an embedding ofG inS which coincides onK with the given embedding ofK. Minimal obstructions for the existence of embedding extensions are classified in cases whenS is the projective plane or the Möbius band (for several canonical choices ofK). Linear time algorithms are presented that either find an embedding extension, or return a nice obstruction for the existence of extensions.Supported in part by the Ministry of Science and Technology of Slovenia, Research Project P1-0210-101-94.     

Power domination in graphs

The problem of monitoring an electric power system by placing as few measurement devices in the system as possible is closely related to the well-known domination problem in graphs. In 1998, Haynes et al. considered the graph theoretical representation of this problem as a variation of the domination problem. They defined a set S to be a power dominating set of a graph if every vertex and every edge in the system is monitored by the set S (following a set of rules for power system monitoring). The power domination number γ_P(G) of a graph G is the minimum cardinality of a power dominating set of G. In this paper, we present upper bounds on the power domination number for a connected graph with at least three vertices and a connected claw-free cubic graph in terms of their order. The extremal graphs attaining the upper bounds are also characterized.     

Partitioning the Vertices of a Graph into Two Total Dominating Sets

A total dominating set in a graph G is a set S of vertices of G such that every vertex in G is adjacent to a vertex of S. We study graphs whose vertex set can be partitioned into two total dominating sets. In particular, we develop several sufficient conditions for a graph to have a vertex partition into two total dominating sets. We also show that with the exception of the cycle on five vertices, every selfcomplementary graph with minimum degree at least two has such a partition.     

The security number of lexicographic products

A subset S of vertices of a graph G is a secure set if |N [X] ∩ S| ≥ |N [X] ? S| holds for any subset X of S, where N [X] denotes the closed neighborhood of X. The minimum cardinality s(G) of a secure set in G is called the security number of G. We investigate the security number of lexicographic product graphs by defining a new concept of tightly-securable graphs. In particular we derive several exact results for different families of graphs which yield some general results.     

Matching behaviour is asymptotically normal

Ak-matching in a graphG is a set ofk edges, no two of which have a vertex in common. The number of these inG is writtenp(G, k). Using an idea due to L. H. Harper, we establish a condition under which these numbers are approximately normally distributed. We show that our condition is satisfied ifn=|V(G)| is large compared to the maximum degree Δ of a vertex inG(i.e. Δ=o(n)) orG is a large complete graph. One corollary of these results is that the number of points fixed by a randomly chosen involution in the symmetric groupS is asymptotically normally distributed.     

The inverse inertia problem for graphs: Cut vertices, trees, and a counterexample

Let G be an undirected graph on n vertices and let S(G) be the set of all real symmetric n×n matrices whose nonzero off-diagonal entries occur in exactly the positions corresponding to the edges of G. The inverse inertia problem for G asks which inertias can be attained by a matrix in S(G). We give a complete answer to this question for trees in terms of a new family of graph parameters, the maximal disconnection numbers of a graph. We also give a formula for the inertia set of a graph with a cut vertex in terms of inertia sets of proper subgraphs. Finally, we give an example of a graph that is not inertia-balanced, which settles an open problem from the October 2006 AIM Workshop on Spectra of Families of Matrices described by Graphs, Digraphs and Sign Patterns. We also determine some restrictions on the inertia set of any graph.     

Cycles through specified vertices of a graph

We prove that ifS is a set ofk−1 vertices in ak-connected graphG, then the cycles throughS generate the cycle space ofG. Moreover, whenk≧3, each cycle ofG can be expressed as the sum of an odd number of cycles throughS. On the other hand, ifS is a set ofk vertices, these conclusions do not necessarily hold, and we characterize the exceptional cases. As corollaries, we establish the existence of odd and even cycles through specified vertices and deduce the existence of long odd and even cycles in graphs of high connectivity.     

A note on homomorphic images, subalgebras and various products

Let I, H, S, P, P_fin, P_f , P_u, P_s be the usual operators on classes of algebras of the same type (P, P_fin, P_f, P_u, P_s are respectively for direct, finite, filtered, ultra and subdirect products). The partially ordered monoid generated by the operators H, S, P with respect to composition of operators, I as an identity element, and natural ordering between operators is described by Pigozzi (Algebra Universalis 2 (1972), 346–353). The aim of this note is to describe the partially ordered monoids generated by H, S, P_u and by H, S, P_s and as well to summarize known results on the partially ordered monoids of operators generated by H, S and some of the above introduced products.Dedicated to the memory of Aleksandar PopoviReceived April 1, 2001; accepted in final form July 11, 2004.     

On the Spread of Finite Simple Groups

The spread of a nite group is the maximal integer k so that for each k non-identity elements of G there is an element generating G with each of them. We prove an asymptotic result characterizing the finite simple groups of bounded spread. We also obtain estimates for the spread of the various families of finite simple groups, and show that it is at least 2, with possibly finitely many exceptions. The proofs involve probabilistic methods.The first author acknowledges the support of the NSF; the second author acknowledges the support of the Israel Science Foundation and the hospitality of USC; both authors acknowledge the support and hospitality of MSRI.     

Legal coloring of graphs

The following computational problem was initiated by Manber and Tompa (22nd FOCS Conference, 1981): Given a graphG=(V, E) and a real functionf:V→R which is a proposed vertex coloring. Decide whetherf is a proper vertex coloring ofG. The elementary steps are taken to be linear comparisons. Lower bounds on the complexity of this problem are derived using the chromatic polynomial ofG. It is shown how geometric parameters of a space partition associated withG influence the complexity of this problem. Existing methods for analyzing such space partitions are suggested as a powerful tool for establishing lower bounds for a variety of computational problems.     

An algorithm for the difference between set covers

A set cover for a set S is a collection C of special subsets whose union is S. Given covers A and B for two sets, the set-cover difference problem is to construct a new cover for the elements covered by A but not B. Applications include testing equivalence of set covers and maintaining a set cover dynamically. In this paper, we solve the set-cover difference problem by defining a difference operation A-B, which turns out to be a pseudocomplement on a distributive lattice. We give an algorithm for constructing this difference, and show how to implement the algorithm for two examples with applications in computer science: face covers on a hypercube, and rectangle covers on a grid. We derive an upper bound on the time complexity of the algorithm, and give upper and lower bounds on complexity for face covers and rectangle covers.     

Branchings in rooted graphs and the diameter of greedoids

LetG be a 2-connected rooted graph of rankr andA, B two (rooted) spanning trees ofG We show that the maximum number of exchanges of leaves that can be required to transformA intoB isr ²–r+1 (r>0). This answers a question by L. Lovász.There is a natural reformulation of this problem in the theory ofgreedoids, which asks for the maximum diameter of the basis graph of a 2-connected branching greedcid of rankr.Greedoids are finite accessible set systems satisfying the matroid exchange axiom. Their theory provides both language and conceptual framework for the proof. However, it is shown that for general 2-connected greedoids (not necessarily constructed from branchings in rooted graphs) the maximum diameter is 2^r–1.     

Steiner Numbers in Graphs

Abstract

The Steiner distance d(S) of a set S of vertices in a connected graph G is the minimum size of a connected subgraph of G that contains S. The Steiner number s(G) of a connected graph G of order p is the smallest positive integer m for which there exists a set S of m vertices of G such that d(S) = p—1. A smallest set S of vertices of a connected graph G of order p for which d(S) = p—1 is called a Steiner spanning set of G. It is shown that every connected graph has a unique Steiner spanning set. If G is a connected graph of order p and k is an integer with 0 ≤ k ≤ p—1, then the kth Steiner number sk(G) of G is the smallest positive integer m for which there exists a set S of m vertices of G such that d(S) = k. The sequence s_o(G),s₁ (G),…,8_p-1(G) is called the Steiner sequence of G. Steiner sequences for trees are characterized.     

Packing Non-Zero A-Paths In Group-Labelled Graphs

Let G=(V,E) be an oriented graph whose edges are labelled by the elements of a group Γ and let A⊂V. An A-path is a path whose ends are both in A. The weight of a path P in G is the sum of the group values on forward oriented arcs minus the sum of the backward oriented arcs in P. (If Γ is not abelian, we sum the labels in their order along the path.) We are interested in the maximum number of vertex-disjoint A-paths each of non-zero weight. When A = V this problem is equivalent to the maximum matching problem. The general case also includes Mader's S-paths problem. We prove that for any positive integer k, either there are k vertex-disjoint A-paths each of non-zero weight, or there is a set of at most 2k −2 vertices that meets each of the non-zero A-paths. This result is obtained as a consequence of an exact min-max theorem. These results were obtained at a workshop on Structural Graph Theory at the PIMS Institute in Vancouver, Canada. This research was partially conducted during the period the first author served as a Clay Mathematics Institute Long-Term Prize Fellow.