A constructive characterization of total domination vertex critical graphs

Let G be a graph of order n and maximum degree Δ(G) and let γ_t(G) denote the minimum cardinality of a total dominating set of a graph G. A graph G with no isolated vertex is the total domination vertex critical if for any vertex v of G that is not adjacent to a vertex of degree one, the total domination number of G−v is less than the total domination number of G. We call these graphs γ_t-critical. For any γ_t-critical graph G, it can be shown that n≤Δ(G)(γ_t(G)−1)+1. In this paper, we prove that: Let G be a connected γ_t-critical graph of order n (n≥3), then n=Δ(G)(γ_t(G)−1)+1 if and only if G is regular and, for each v∈V(G), there is an A⊆V(G)−{v} such that N(v)∩A=0?, the subgraph induced by A is 1-regular, and every vertex in V(G)−A−{v} has exactly one neighbor in A.     

An upper bound for the restrained domination number of a graph with minimum degree at least two in terms of order and minimum degree

Let G=(V,E) be a graph. A set S⊆V is a restrained dominating set if every vertex in V−S is adjacent to a vertex in S and to a vertex in V−S. The restrained domination number of G, denoted γ_r(G), is the smallest cardinality of a restrained dominating set of G. We will show that if G is a connected graph of order n and minimum degree δ and not isomorphic to one of nine exceptional graphs, then .     

Nordhaus-Gaddum results for restrained domination and total restrained domination in graphs

Let G=(V,E) be a graph. A set S⊆V is a total restrained dominating set if every vertex is adjacent to a vertex in S and every vertex of V-S is adjacent to a vertex in V-S. A set S⊆V is a restrained dominating set if every vertex in V-S is adjacent to a vertex in S and to a vertex in V-S. The total restrained domination number of G (restrained domination number of G, respectively), denoted by γ_tr(G) (γ_r(G), respectively), is the smallest cardinality of a total restrained dominating set (restrained dominating set, respectively) of G. We bound the sum of the total restrained domination numbers of a graph and its complement, and provide characterizations of the extremal graphs achieving these bounds. It is known (see [G.S. Domke, J.H. Hattingh, S.T. Hedetniemi, R.C. Laskar, L.R. Markus, Restrained domination in graphs, Discrete Math. 203 (1999) 61-69.]) that if G is a graph of order n?2 such that both G and are not isomorphic to P₃, then . We also provide characterizations of the extremal graphs G of order n achieving these bounds.     

Bounds on total domination in claw-free cubic graphs

A set S of vertices in a graph G is a total dominating set, denoted by TDS, of G if every vertex of G is adjacent to some vertex in S (other than itself). The minimum cardinality of a TDS of G is the total domination number of G, denoted by γ_t(G). If G does not contain K_1,3 as an induced subgraph, then G is said to be claw-free. It is shown in [D. Archdeacon, J. Ellis-Monaghan, D. Fischer, D. Froncek, P.C.B. Lam, S. Seager, B. Wei, R. Yuster, Some remarks on domination, J. Graph Theory 46 (2004) 207-210.] that if G is a graph of order n with minimum degree at least three, then γ_t(G)?n/2. Two infinite families of connected cubic graphs with total domination number one-half their orders are constructed in [O. Favaron, M.A. Henning, C.M. Mynhardt, J. Puech, Total domination in graphs with minimum degree three, J. Graph Theory 34(1) (2000) 9-19.] which shows that this bound of n/2 is sharp. However, every graph in these two families, except for K₄ and a cubic graph of order eight, contains a claw. It is therefore a natural question to ask whether this upper bound of n/2 can be improved if we restrict G to be a connected cubic claw-free graph of order at least 10. In this paper, we answer this question in the affirmative. We prove that if G is a connected claw-free cubic graph of order n?10, then γ_t(G)?5n/11.     

Total domination in claw-free graphs with minimum degree 2

A set S of vertices in a graph G is a total dominating set (TDS) of G if every vertex of G is adjacent to some vertex in S. The minimum cardinality of a TDS of G is the total domination number of G, denoted by γ_t(G). A graph is claw-free if it does not contain K_1,3 as an induced subgraph. It is known [M.A. Henning, Graphs with large total domination number, J. Graph Theory 35(1) (2000) 21-45] that if G is a connected graph of order n with minimum degree at least two and G∉{C₃,C₅, C₆, C₁₀}, then γ_t(G)?4n/7. In this paper, we show that this upper bound can be improved if G is restricted to be a claw-free graph. We show that every connected claw-free graph G of order n and minimum degree at least two satisfies γ_t(G)?(n+2)/2 and we characterize those graphs for which γ_t(G)=⌊(n+2)/2⌋.     

Total restrained domination in graphs with minimum degree two

In this paper, we continue the study of total restrained domination in graphs, a concept introduced by Telle and Proskurowksi (Algorithms for vertex partitioning problems on partial k-trees, SIAM J. Discrete Math. 10 (1997) 529-550) as a vertex partitioning problem. A set S of vertices in a graph G=(V,E) is a total restrained dominating set of G if every vertex is adjacent to a vertex in S and every vertex of V?S is adjacent to a vertex in V?S. The minimum cardinality of a total restrained dominating set of G is the total restrained domination number of G, denoted by γ_tr(G). Let G be a connected graph of order n with minimum degree at least 2 and with maximum degree Δ where Δ?n-2. We prove that if n?4, then and this bound is sharp. If we restrict G to a bipartite graph with Δ?3, then we improve this bound by showing that and that this bound is sharp.     

Matching properties in connected domination critical graphs

A dominating set of vertices S of a graph G is connected if the subgraph G[S] is connected. Let γ_c(G) denote the size of any smallest connected dominating set in G. A graph G is k-γ-connected-critical if γ_c(G)=k, but if any edge is added to G, then γ_c(G+e)?k-1. This is a variation on the earlier concept of criticality of edge addition with respect to ordinary domination where a graph G was defined to be k-critical if the domination number of G is k, but if any edge is added to G, the domination number falls to k-1.A graph G is factor-critical if G-v has a perfect matching for every vertex v∈V(G), bicritical if G-u-v has a perfect matching for every pair of distinct vertices u,v∈V(G) or, more generally, k-factor-critical if, for every set S⊆V(G) with |S|=k, the graph G-S contains a perfect matching. In two previous papers [N. Ananchuen, M.D. Plummer, Matching properties in domination critical graphs, Discrete Math. 277 (2004) 1-13; N. Ananchuen, M.D. Plummer, 3-factor-criticality in domination critical graphs, Discrete Math. 2007, to appear [3].] on ordinary (i.e., not necessarily connected) domination, the first and third authors showed that under certain assumptions regarding connectivity and minimum degree, a critical graph G with (ordinary) domination number 3 will be factor-critical (if |V(G)| is odd), bicritical (if |V(G)| is even) or 3-factor-critical (again if |V(G)| is odd). Analogous theorems for connected domination are presented here. Although domination and connected domination are similar in some ways, we will point out some interesting differences between our new results for the case of connected domination and the results in [N. Ananchuen, M.D. Plummer, Matching properties in domination critical graphs, Discrete Math. 277 (2004) 1-13; N. Ananchuen, M.D. Plummer, 3-factor-criticality in domination critical graphs, Discrete Math. 2007, to appear [3].].     

A note on Roman domination in graphs

Let G=(V,E) be a simple graph. A subset S⊆V is a dominating set of G, if for any vertex u∈V-S, there exists a vertex v∈S such that uv∈E. The domination number of G, γ(G), equals the minimum cardinality of a dominating set. A Roman dominating function on graph G=(V,E) is a function f:V→{0,1,2} satisfying the condition that every vertex v for which f(v)=0 is adjacent to at least one vertex u for which f(u)=2. The weight of a Roman dominating function is the value f(V)=∑_v∈Vf(v). The Roman domination number of a graph G, denoted by γ_R(G), equals the minimum weight of a Roman dominating function on G. In this paper, for any integer k(2?k?γ(G)), we give a characterization of graphs for which γ_R(G)=γ(G)+k, which settles an open problem in [E.J. Cockayne, P.M. Dreyer Jr, S.M. Hedetniemi et al. On Roman domination in graphs, Discrete Math. 278 (2004) 11-22].     

Properties of total domination edge-critical graphs

A set S of vertices in a graph G is a total dominating set of G if every vertex of G is adjacent to some vertex in S. The minimum cardinality of a total dominating set of G is the total domination number γ_t(G) of G. The graph G is total domination edge critical if for every edge e in the complement of G, γ_t(G+e)<γ_t(G). We call such graphs γ_tEC. Properties of γ_tEC graphs are established.     

Hamiltonian properties of locally connected graphs with bounded vertex degree

We consider the existence of Hamiltonian cycles for the locally connected graphs with a bounded vertex degree. For a graph G, let Δ(G) and δ(G) denote the maximum and minimum vertex degrees, respectively. We explicitly describe all connected, locally connected graphs with Δ(G)?4. We show that every connected, locally connected graph with Δ(G)=5 and δ(G)?3 is fully cycle extendable which extends the results of Kikust [P.B. Kikust, The existence of the Hamiltonian circuit in a regular graph of degree 5, Latvian Math. Annual 16 (1975) 33-38] and Hendry [G.R.T. Hendry, A strengthening of Kikust’s theorem, J. Graph Theory 13 (1989) 257-260] on full cycle extendability of the connected, locally connected graphs with the maximum vertex degree bounded by 5. Furthermore, we prove that problem Hamilton Cycle for the locally connected graphs with Δ(G)?7 is NP-complete.     

The diameter of total domination vertex critical graphs

A graph G with no isolated vertex is total domination vertex critical if for any vertex v of G that is not adjacent to a vertex of degree one, the total domination number of G-v is less than the total domination number of G. These graphs we call γ_t-critical. If such a graph G has total domination number k, we call it k-γ_t-critical. We characterize the connected graphs with minimum degree one that are γ_t-critical and we obtain sharp bounds on their maximum diameter. We calculate the maximum diameter of a k-γ_t-critical graph for k?8 and provide an example which shows that the maximum diameter is in general at least 5k/3-O(1).     

An Improved Upper Bound on the Total Restrained Domination Number in Cubic Graphs

In this paper, we continue the study of total restrained domination in graphs. A set S of vertices in a graph G = (V, E) is a total restrained dominating set of G if every vertex of G is adjacent to some vertex in S and every vertex of ${V {\setminus} S}$ is adjacent to a vertex in ${V {\setminus} S}$ . The minimum cardinality of a total restrained dominating set of G is the total restrained domination number γ _tr(G) of G. Jiang et?al. (Graphs Combin 25:341–350, 2009) showed that if G is a connected cubic graph of order n, then γ _tr(G) ≤ 13n/19. In this paper we improve this upper bound to γ _tr(G) ≤ (n?+?4)/2. We provide two infinite families of connected cubic graphs G with γ _tr(G) = n/2, showing that our new improved bound is essentially best possible.     

Characterization of double domination subdivision number of trees

In a graph G, a vertex dominates itself and its neighbors. A subset S⊆V(G) is a double dominating set of G if S dominates every vertex of G at least twice. The double domination numberdd(G) is the minimum cardinality of a double dominating set of G. The double domination subdivision numbersd_dd(G) is the minimum number of edges that must be subdivided (each edge in G can be subdivided at most once) in order to increase the double domination number. In this paper first we establish upper bounds on the double domination subdivision number for arbitrary graphs in terms of vertex degree. Then we present several different conditions on G which are sufficient to imply that sd_dd(G)?3. We also prove that 1?sd_dd(T)?2 for every tree T, and characterize the trees T for which sd_dd(T)=2.     

Matching Properties in Total Domination Vertex Critical Graphs

A vertex subset S of a graph G = (V,E) is a total dominating set if every vertex of G is adjacent to some vertex in S. The total domination number of G, denoted by γ _t (G), is the minimum cardinality of a total dominating set of G. A graph G with no isolated vertex is said to be total domination vertex critical if for any vertex v of G that is not adjacent to a vertex of degree one, γ _t (G?v) < γ _t (G). A total domination vertex critical graph G is called k-γ _t -critical if γ _t (G) = k. In this paper we first show that every 3-γ _t -critical graph G of even order has a perfect matching if it is K _1,5-free. Secondly, we show that every 3-γ _t -critical graph G of odd order is factor-critical if it is K _1,5-free. Finally, we show that G has a perfect matching if G is a K _1,4-free 4-γ _t (G)-critical graph of even order and G is factor-critical if G is a K _1,4-free 4-γ _t (G)-critical graph of odd order.     

On graphs with equal domination and 2-domination numbers

Let G be a simple graph, and let p be a positive integer. A subset D⊆V(G) is a p-dominating set of the graph G, if every vertex v∈V(G)-D is adjacent to at least p vertices in D. The p-domination numberγ_p(G) is the minimum cardinality among the p-dominating sets of G. Note that the 1-domination number γ₁(G) is the usual domination numberγ(G). This definition immediately leads to the inequality γ(G)?γ₂(G).In this paper we present some sufficient as well as some necessary conditions for graphs G with the property that γ₂(G)=γ(G). In particular, we characterize all cactus graphs H with γ₂(H)=γ(H).     

A note on acyclic domination number in graphs of diameter two

A subset S of the vertex set of a graph G is called acyclic if the subgraph it induces in G contains no cycles. S is called an acyclic dominating set of G if it is both acyclic and dominating. The minimum cardinality of an acyclic dominating set, denoted by γ_a(G), is called the acyclic domination number of G. Hedetniemi et al. [Acyclic domination, Discrete Math. 222 (2000) 151-165] introduced the concept of acyclic domination and posed the following open problem: if δ(G) is the minimum degree of G, is γ_a(G)?δ(G) for any graph whose diameter is two? In this paper, we provide a negative answer to this question by showing that for any positive k, there is a graph G with diameter two such that γ_a(G)-δ(G)?k.     

On the domination number of the cartesian product of the cycle of length n and any graph

Let γ(G) denote the domination number of a graph G and let C_n□G denote the cartesian product of C_n, the cycle of length n?3, and G. In this paper, we are mainly concerned with the question: which connected nontrivial graphs satisfy γ(C_n□G)=γ(C_n)γ(G)? We prove that this equality can only hold if n≡1 (mod 3). In addition, we characterize graphs which satisfy this equality when n=4 and provide infinite classes of graphs for general n≡1 (mod 3).     

Geodetic and Steiner geodetic sets in 3-Steiner distance hereditary graphs

Let G be a connected graph and S⊆V(G). Then the Steiner distance of S, denoted by d_G(S), is the smallest number of edges in a connected subgraph of G containing S. Such a subgraph is necessarily a tree called a Steiner tree for S. The Steiner interval for a set S of vertices in a graph, denoted by I(S) is the union of all vertices that belong to some Steiner tree for S. If S={u,v}, then I(S) is the interval I[u,v] between u and v. A connected graph G is 3-Steiner distance hereditary (3-SDH) if, for every connected induced subgraph H of order at least 3 and every set S of three vertices of H, d_H(S)=d_G(S). The eccentricity of a vertex v in a connected graph G is defined as e(v)=max{d(v,x)|x∈V(G)}. A vertex v in a graph G is a contour vertex if for every vertex u adjacent with v, e(u)?e(v). The closure of a set S of vertices, denoted by I[S], is defined to be the union of intervals between pairs of vertices of S taken over all pairs of vertices in S. A set of vertices of a graph G is a geodetic set if its closure is the vertex set of G. The smallest cardinality of a geodetic set of G is called the geodetic number of G and is denoted by g(G). A set S of vertices of a connected graph G is a Steiner geodetic set for G if I(S)=V(G). The smallest cardinality of a Steiner geodetic set of G is called the Steiner geodetic number of G and is denoted by sg(G). We show that the contour vertices of 3-SDH and HHD-free graphs are geodetic sets. For 3-SDH graphs we also show that g(G)?sg(G). An efficient algorithm for finding Steiner intervals in 3-SDH graphs is developed.     

The bondage numbers of graphs with small crossing numbers

The bondage number b(G) of a nonempty graph G is the cardinality of a smallest edge set whose removal from G results in a graph with domination number greater than the domination number γ(G) of G. Kang and Yuan proved b(G)?8 for every connected planar graph G. Fischermann, Rautenbach and Volkmann obtained some further results for connected planar graphs. In this paper, we generalize their results to connected graphs with small crossing numbers.