Full transversal matroids, strict gammoids, and the matroid components problem

We provide two algorithms for finding dependence graphs both in a full transversal matroid and in its dual, a strict gammoid. The first algorithm is based on directed paths in the directed graph associated with a strict gammoid; its complexity is O(|L|(|V-L|+|E|)), where L is the link-set of the gammoid. The second algorithm is based on a special property of Gaussian elimination in a matrix of indeterminates representing a full transversal matroid; it complexity is o(m²n), where m is the rank of the matroid and n the cardinality of the underlying set. We provide an algorithm for listing all bases in, and calculating the Whitney and Tutte polynomials for, a full transversal matroid or a strict gammoid. The complexity of this algorithm is 0(N(n-m) (|E| + m²)), where N is the number of bases.     

Incidence matrices, geometrical bases, combinatorial prebases and matroids

For a relation A (C × D), where C,D are two finite sets, and an ordering σ of C we construct a matroid M(σ) on the set D. For the relation A with the incidence matrix  we also define a geometrical basis with respect to F, where F is a subset of the set of all circuits of the column matroid on Â. Geometrical bases are certain bases of this column matroid. We establish connections between the bases of matroids M(σ) and the geometrical bases of A with respect to F. These connections give a combinatorial way of constructing bases of the column matroid on  using a subset F of its circuits.

We also consider a matroid M and the incidence relation between what we call the extended circuits of M and the bases of M. Applying the technique above we obtain the matroids M(σ) on the set of bases of the matroid M. In case of the incidence relation between vertices and edges of a graph this technique yields a unique matroid, the usual matroid of the graph.

Some particular relations are considered: a class of relations with a certain property (the T-property) and the relation of inclusion of chambers in simplices in an affine point configuration.     

Further results on irregular, critical perfect systems of difference sets II: systems without splits

An (m, n; u, v; c)-system is a collection of components, m of valency u−1 and n of valency v−1, whose difference sets form a perfect system with threshold c. If there is an (m, n; 3, 6; c)-system, then m2c−1; and if there is a (2c−1, n; 3, 6; c)-system, then 2c−1n. For all sufficiently large c, there are (2c−1, n; 3, 6; c)-systems with a split at 3c+6n−1 at least when n=1, 5, 6 and 7, but such systems do not exist for n=2, 3 or 4.

We describe here a general method of construction for (2c−1, n; 3, 6; c)-systems and use it to show that there are such systems for 2n4 and certain values of c depending on n. We also discuss the limitations of this method.     

ContributionsChromatic Ramsey numbers

Suppose G is a graph. The chromatic Ramsey number r_c(G) of G is the least integer m such that there exists a graph F of chromatic number m for which the following is true: for any 2-colouring of the edges of F there is a monochromatic subgraph isomorphic to G. Let M_n = min[r_c(G): χ(G) = n]. It was conjectured by Burr et al. (1976) that M_n = (n − 1)² + 1. This conjecture has been confirmed previously for n 4. In this paper, we shall prove that the conjecture is true for n = 5. We shall also improve the upper bounds for M₆ and M₇.     

On size, circumference and circuit removal in 3-connected matroids

This paper proves several extremal results for 3-connected matroids. In particular, it is shown that, for such a matroid M, (i) if the rank r(M) of M is at least six, then the circumference c(M) of M is at least six and, provided |E(M)|4r(M)−5, there is a circuit whose deletion from M leaves a 3-connected matroid; (ii) if r(M)4 and M has a basis B such that Me is not 3-connected for all e in E(M)−B, then |E(M)|3r(M)−4; and (iii) if M is minimally 3-connected but not hamiltonian, then |E(M)|3r(M)−c(M).     

Asymptotic bounds for some bipartite graph: complete graph Ramsey numbers

The Ramsey number r(H,K_n) is the smallest integer N so that each graph on N vertices that fails to contain H as a subgraph has independence number at least n. It is shown that r(K_2,m,K_n)(m−1+o(1))(n/log n)² and r(C_2m,K_n)c(n/log n)^m/(m−1) for m fixed and n→∞. Also r(K_2,n,K_n)=Θ(n³/log² n) and .     

Graphs with prescribed local connectivities

A graph G is locally n-connected (locally n-edge connected) if the neighborhood of each vertex of G is n-connected (n-edge connected). The local connectivity (local edge-connectivity) of G is the maximum n for which G is locally n-connected (locally n-edge connected). It is shown that if k and m are integers with O k < m, then a graph exists which has connectivity m and local connectivity k. Furthermore, such a graph with smallest order is determined. Corresponding results are obtained involving the local connectivity and the local edge-conectivity.     

Popular distances in 3-space

Let m(n) denote the smallest integer m with the property that any set of n points in Euclidean 3-space has an element such that at most m other elements are equidistant from it. We have that cn^1/3 log log n m(n) n^3/5 β(n), where c> 0 is a constant and β(n) is an extremely slowly growing function, related to the inverse of the Ackermann function.     

Weight distribution of the bases of a binary matroid

Let M be a weighted binary matroid and w₁ < … < w_m be the increasing sequence of all possible distinct weights of bases of M. We give a sufficient condition for the property that w₁, …, w_m is an arithmetical progression of common difference d. We also give conditions which guarantee that w_i+1 − w_i ≤ d, 1 ≤ i ≤ m −1. Dual forms for these results are given also.     

A matrix problem associated with computing Cohen-Macaulay type

Suppose A∈M_n×m(F), B∈M_n×t(F) for some field F. Define Г(AB) to be the set of n×n diagonal matrices D such that the column space of DA is contained in the column space of B. In this paper we determine dim Г(AB). For matrices AB of the same rank we provide an algorithm for computing dim Г(AB).     

Holes in random graphs

It is shown that for every >0 with the probability tending to 1 as n→∞ a random graph G(n,p) contains induced cycles of all lengths k, 3 ≤ k ≤ (1 − )n log c/c, provided c(n) = (n − 1)p(n)→∞.     

Zagreb indices of graphs

The first Zagreb index M₁(G) is equal to the sum of squares of the degrees of the vertices, and the second Zagreb index M₂(G) is equal to the sum of the products of the degrees of pairs of adjacent vertices of the underlying molecular graph G. In this paper, we obtain lower and upper bounds on the first Zagreb index M₁(G) of G in terms of the number of vertices (n), number of edges (m), maximum vertex degree (Δ), and minimum vertex degree (δ). Using this result, we find lower and upper bounds on M₂(G). Also, we present lower and upper bounds on M₂(G) +M₂(G) in terms of n, m, Δ, and δ, where G denotes the complement of G. Moreover, we determine the bounds on first Zagreb coindex M₁(G) and second Zagreb coindex M₂(G). Finally, we give a relation between the first Zagreb index and the second Zagreb index of graph G.     

The reconstruction of a matroid from its connectivity function

In this paper, we shall present an algorithm to decide when a connected matroid M is reconstructible from its connectivity function. When M is not reconstructible, this algorithm gives all the matroids with the same connectivity function as M.     

Matrices with zero trace as commutators of nilpotents

Let C ∈ F^n×n have minimum polynomial m(x). Suppose C is of zero trace and m(x) splits over F. Then, except when n = 2 and m(x) = (x - c)² or when n = 3 and m(x) = x - c)² with c ≠ 0, there exist nilpotents A, B ∈ F^n×n such that C = AB - BA.     

Cycle-saturated graphs of minimum size

A graph G is called C_k-saturated if G contains no cycles of length k but does contain such a cycle after the addition of any new edge. Bounds are obtained for the minimum number of edges in C_k-saturated graphs for all k ≠ 8 or 10 and n sufficiently large. In general, it is shown that the minimum is between n + c₁n/k and n + c₂n/k for some positive constants c₁ and C₂. Our results provide an asymptotic solution to a 15-year-old problem of Bollobás.     

ContributionsAn algorithm for the Tutte polynomials of graphs of bounded treewidth

Let k be a fixed, positive integer. We give an algorithm which computes the Tutte polynomial of any graph G of treewidth at most k in time O(n^{2+7 log₂ c}), where c is twice the number of partitions of a set with 3k + 3 elements and n the number of vertices of G.     

Finding all essential terms of a characteristic maxpolynomial

Let us denote ab=max(a,b) and ab=a+b for and extend this pair of operations to matrices and vectors in the same way as in linear algebra. We present an O(n²(m+n log n)) algorithm for finding all essential terms of the max-algebraic characteristic polynomial of an n×n matrix over with m finite elements. In the cases when all terms are essential, this algorithm also solves the following problem: Given an n×n matrix A and k{1,…,n}, find a k×k principal submatrix of A whose assignment problem value is maximum.     

The cycle structure of regular multipartite tournaments

A multipartite tournament is an orientation of a complete multipartite graph. A tournament is a multipartite tournament, each partite set of which contains exactly one vertex. Alspach (Canad. Math. Bull. 10 (1967) 283) proved that every regular tournament is arc-pancyclic. Although all partite sets of a regular multipartite tournament have the same cardinality, Alspach's theorem is not valid for regular multipartite tournaments. In this paper, we prove that if the cardinality common to all partite sets of a regular n-partite (n3) tournament T is odd, then every arc of T is in a cycle that contains vertices from exactly m partite sets for all m{3,4,…,n}. This result extends Alspach's theorem for regular tournaments to regular multipartite tournaments. We also examine the structure of cycles through arcs in regular multipartite tournaments.     

Induced subgraphs of given sizes

We say (n, e) → (m, f), an (m, f) subgraph is forced, if every n-vertex graph of size e has an m-vertex spanned subgraph with f edges. For example, as Turán proved, (n,e)→(k,(^k₂)) for e> t_{k − 1}(n) and (n,e) (^k₂)), otherwise. We give a number of constructions showing that forced pairs are rare. Using tools of extremal graph theory we also show infinitely many positive cases. Several problems remain open.     

Regular expression searching on compressed text

We present a solution to the problem of regular expression searching on compressed text. The format we choose is the Ziv–Lempel family, specifically the LZ78 and LZW variants. Given a text of length u compressed into length n, and a pattern of length m, we report all the R occurrences of the pattern in the text in O(2^m+mn+Rmlogm) worst case time. On average this drops to O(m²+(n+Rm)logm) or O(m²+n+Ru/n) for most regular expressions. This is the first nontrivial result for this problem. The experimental results show that our compressed search algorithm needs half the time necessary for decompression plus searching, which is currently the only alternative.