Linear arboricity for graphs with multiple edges

Akiyama, Exoo, and Harary conjectured that for any simple graph G with maximum degree Δ(G), the linear arboricity la(G) satisfies ?Δ(G)/2? ≦ la(G) ≦ ?(Δ(G) + 1)/2?. Here it is proved that if G is a loopless graph with maximum degree Δ(G) ≦ k and maximum edge multiplicity μ(G) ≦ k ? 2ⁿ⁺¹ + 1, where k ≧ 2^n?2, then la(G) ≦ k ? 2ⁿ. It is also conjectured that for any loopless graph G, ?Δ(G)/2? ≦ la(G) ≦ ?(Δ(G) + μ(G))/2?.     

GENERALISED MAXIMAL INDEPENDENCE AND CLIQUE NUMBERS OF GRAPHS

Abstract

A set B of vertices of a graph G = (V,E) is a k-maximal independent set (kMIS) if B is independent but for all ?-subsets X of B, where ? ? k—1, and all (? + 1)-subsets Y of V—B, the set (B—X) u Y is dependent. A set S of vertices of C is a k-maximal clique (kMc) of G iff S is a kMIS of [Gbar]. Let β_k, (G) (w_k(G) respectively) denote the smallest cardinality of a kMIS (kMC) of G—obviously β_k(G) = w_k([Gbar]). For the sequence m₁ ? m₂ ?…? m_n = r of positive integers, necessary and sufficient conditions are found for a graph G to exist such that w_k(G) = m_k for k = 1,2,…,n and w(G) = r (equivalently, β_k(G) = m_k for k = 1,2,…,n and β(G) = r). Define s_k(?,m) to be the largest integer such that for every graph G with at most s_k(?,m) vertices, β_k(G) ? ? or w_k(G) ? m. Exact values for s_k(?,m) if k ≥ 2 and upper and lower bounds for s₁(?,m) are de termined.     

Pancyclic and panconnected line graphs

Let G be a graph of order n ? 3. We prove that if G is k-connected (k ? 2) and the degree sum of k + 1 mutually independent vertices of G is greater than 1/3(k + 1)(n + 1), then the line graph L(G) of G is pancyclic. We also prove that if G is such that the degree sum of every 2 adjacent vertices is at least n, then L(G) is panconnected with some exceptions.     

Diameter increase caused by edge deletion

We consider the following problem: Given positive integers k and D, what is the maximum diameter of the graph obtained by deleting k edges from a graph G with diameter D, assuming that the resulting graph is still connected? For undirected graphs G we prove an upper bound of (k + 1)D and a lower bound of (k + 1)D ? k for even D and of (k + 1)D ? 2k + 2 for odd D ? 3. For the special cases of k = 2 and k = 3, we derive the exact bounds of 3D ? 1 and 4D ? 2, respectively. For D = 2 we prove exact bounds of k + 2 and k + 3, for k ? 4 and k = 6, and k = 5 and k ? 7, respectively. For the special case of D = 1 we derive an exact bound on the resulting maximum diameter of order θ(√k). For directed graphs G, the bounds depend strongly on D: for D = 1 and D = 2 we derive exact bounds of θ(√k) and of 2k + 2, respectively, while for D ? 3 the resulting diameter is in general unbounded in terms of k and D. Finally, we prove several related problems NP-complete.     

Maximally connected digraphs

This paper introduces a new parameter I = I(G) for a loopless digraph G, which can be thought of as a generalization of the girth of a graph. Let k, λ, δ, and D denote respectively the connectivity, arc-connectivity, minimum degree, and diameter of G. Then it is proved that λ = δ if D ? 2I and κ k = δ if D ? 2I - 1. Analogous results involving upper bounds for k and λ are given for the more general class of digraphs with loops. Sufficient conditions for a digraph to be super-λ and super-k are also given. As a corollary, maximally connected and superconnected iterated line digraphs and (undirected) graphs are characterized.     

Complexity of approximating the oriented diameter of chordal graphs

The oriented diameter of a bridgeless connected undirected (bcu) graph G is the smallest diameter among all the diameters of strongly connected orientations of G. We study algorithmic aspects of determining the oriented diameter of a chordal graph. We (a) construct a linear‐time approximation algorithm that, for a given chordal bcu graph G, finds a strongly connected orientation of G with diameter at most one plus twice the oriented diameter of G; (b) prove that, for every k ≥ 2 and k # 3, to decide whether a chordal (split for k = 2) bcu graph G admits an orientation of diameter k is NP‐complete; (c) show that, unless P = NP, there is neither a polynomial‐time absolute approximation algorithm nor an α‐approximation algorithm that computes the oriented diameter of a bcu chordal graph for α < . © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Graph Theory 45: 255–269, 2004     

The nonorientable genus is additive

A graph G is a k-amalgamation of two graphs G₁ and G₂ if G = G₁ ∪ G₂ and G₁ ∩G₂ is a set of k vertices. In this paper we show that γ(G) differs from γ(G₁) + γ(G₂) by at most a quadratic on k, where γ denotes the nonorientable genus of a graph. In the sequel to this paper we show that no such bound holds for the orientable genus of k-amalgamations.     

Existential closure of block intersection graphs of infinite designs having finite block size and index

In this article we study the n‐existential closure property of the block intersection graphs of infinite t‐(v, k, λ) designs for which the block size k and the index λ are both finite. We show that such block intersection graphs are 2‐e.c. when 2?t?k ? 1. When λ = 1 and 2?t?k, then a necessary and sufficient condition on n for the block intersection graph to be n‐e.c. is that n?min{t, ?(k ? 1)/(t ? 1)? + 1}. If λ?2 then we show that the block intersection graph is not n‐e.c. for any n?min{t + 1, ?k/t? + 1}, and that for 3?n?min{t, ?k/t?} the block intersection graph is potentially but not necessarily n‐e.c. The cases t = 1 and t = k are also discussed. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Combin Designs 19: 85–94, 2011     

On the Ramsey number of trees versus graphs with large clique number

Chvátal established that r(T_m, K_n) = (m – 1)(n – 1) + 1, where T_m is an arbitrary tree of order m and K_n is the complete graph of order n. This result was extended by Chartrand, Gould, and Polimeni who showed K_n could be replaced by a graph with clique number n and order n + 1 provided n ≧ 3 and m ≧ 3. We further extend these results to show that K_n can be replaced by any graph on n + 2 vertices with clique number n, provided n ≧ 5 and m ≧ 4. We then show that further extensions, in particular to graphs on n + 3 vertices with clique number n are impossible. We also investigate the Ramsey number of trees versus complete graphs minus sets of independent edges. We show that r(T_m, K_n –tK₂) = (m – 1)(n – t – 1) + 1 for m ≧ 3, n ≧ 6, where T_m is any tree of order m except the star, and for each t, O ≦ t ≦ [(n – 2)/2].     

A lower bound for the distance k-domination number of trees

A subset D of vertices of a graph G = (V, E) is a distance k-dominating set for G if the distance between every vertex of V ? D and D is at most k. The minimum size of a distance k-dominating set of G is called the distance k-domination number γ_k(G) of G. In this paper we prove that (2k + 1)γ_k(T) ≥ ¦V¦ + 2k ? kn₁ for each tree T = (V, E) with n₁ leafs, and we characterize the class of trees that satisfy the equality (2k + 1)γ_k(T) = ¦V¦ + 2k ? kn₁. Our results generalize those of Lemanska [4] for k = 1 and of Cyman, Lemanska and Raczek [1] for k = 2.     

Edge disjoint cycles in graphs

Ore proved in 1960 that if G is a graph of order n and the sum of the degrees of any pair of nonadjacent vertices is at least n, then G has a hamiltonian cycle. In 1986, Li Hao and Zhu Yongjin showed that if n ? 20 and the minimum degree δ is at least 5, then the graph G above contains at least two edge disjoint hamiltonian cycles. The result of this paper is that if n ? 2δ², then for any 3 ? l₁ ? l₂ ? ? ? l_k ? n, 1 = k = [(δ - 1)/2], such graph has K edge disjoint cycles with lengths l₁, l₂…l_k, respectively. In particular, when l₁ = l₂ = ? = l_k = n and k = [(δ - 1)/2], the graph contains [(δ - 1)/2] edge disjoint hamiltonian cycles.     

Nowhere-zero flows in low genus graphs

A nowhere-zero k-flow is an assignment of edge directions and integer weights in the range 1,…, k ? 1 to the edges of an undirected graph such that at every vertex the flow in is equal to the flow out. Tutte has conjectured that every bridgeless graph has a nowhere-zero 5-flow. We show that a counterexample to this conjecture, minimal in the class of graphs embedded in a surface of fixed genus, has no face-boundary of length <7. Moreover, in order to prove or disprove Tutte's conjecture for graphs of fixed genus γ, one has to check graphs of order at most 28(γ ? 1) in the orientable case and 14(γ ? 2) in the nonorientable case. So, in particular, it follows immediately that every bridgeless graph of orientable genus ?1 or nonorientable genus ?2 has a nowhere-zero 5-flow. Using a computer, we checked that all graphs of orientable genus ?2 or nonorientable genus ?4 have a nowhere-zero 5-flow.     

Toughness,trees, and walks

A graph is t‐tough if the number of components of G\S is at most |S|/t for every cutset S ⊆ V (G). A k‐walk in a graph is a spanning closed walk using each vertex at most k times. When k = 1, a 1‐walk is a Hamilton cycle, and a longstanding conjecture by Chvátal is that every sufficiently tough graph has a 1‐walk. When k ≥ 3, Jackson and Wormald used a result of Win to show that every sufficiently tough graph has a k‐walk. We fill in the gap between k = 1 and k ≥ 3 by showing that, when k = 2, every sufficiently tough (specifically, 4‐tough) graph has a 2‐walk. To do this we first provide a new proof for and generalize a result by Win on the existence of a k‐tree, a spanning tree with every vertex of degree at most k. We also provide new examples of tough graphs with no k‐walk for k ≥ 2. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Graph Theory 33:125–137, 2000     

Chromaticity of triangulated graphs

It is shown here that a connected graph G without subgraphs isomorphic to K₄ is triangulated if and only if its chromatic polynomial P(G,λ) equals λ(λ ? 1)^m(λ ? 2)^r for some integers m ≧ 1, r ≧ 0. This result generalizes the characterization of Two-Trees given by E.G. Whitehead [“Chromaticity of Two-Trees,” Journal of Graph Theory 9 (1985) 279–284].     

Independence and connectivity in 3-domination-critical graphs

Let δ, γ, κ and α be, respectively, the minimum degree, the domination number, the connectivity and the independence number of a graph G. The graph G is 3-domination-critical if γ=3 and the addition of any edge decreases γ by 1. In this paper, we prove that if G is a 3-domination-critical graph, then α⩽κ+2; and moreover, if κ⩽δ−1, then α⩽κ+1. We also give a short proof of Wojcicka's result, which says that every connected 3-domination-critical graph of order at least 7 contains a hamiltonian path (J. Graph Theory 14 (1990) 205).     

Ramsey theory for graph connectivity

r_c(k) Denotes the smallest integer such that any c-edge-coloring of the r_c(k) vertex complete graph has a monochromatic k-connected subgraph. For any c, k ≧ 2, we show 2c(k – 1) + 1 ≦ r_c(k) < 10/3 c(k – 1) + 1, and further that 4(k – 1) + 1 ≧ r₂(k) < (3 + √ (k – 1) + 1. Some exact values for various Ramsey connectivity numbers are also computed.     

Some 3‐connected 4‐edge‐critical non‐Hamiltonian graphs

Let γ(G) be the domination number of graph G, thus a graph G is k‐edge‐critical if γ (G) = k, and for every nonadjacent pair of vertices u and υ, γ(G + uυ) = k?1. In Chapter 16 of the book “Domination in Graphs—Advanced Topics,” D. Sumner cites a conjecture of E. Wojcicka under the form “3‐connected 4‐critical graphs are Hamiltonian and perhaps, in general (i.e., for any k ≥ 4), (k?1)‐connected, k‐edge‐critical graphs are Hamiltonian.” In this paper, we prove that the conjecture is not true for k = 4 by constructing a class of 3‐connected 4‐edge‐critical non‐Hamiltonian graphs. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

On hamiltonian-connected graphs

One of the most fundamental results concerning paths in graphs is due to Ore: In a graph G, if deg x + deg y ≧ |V(G)| + 1 for all pairs of nonadjacent vertices x, y ? V(G), then G is hamiltonian-connected. We generalize this result using set degrees. That is, for S ? V(G), let deg S = |_x?S N(x)|, where N(x) = {v|xv ? E(G)} is the neighborhood of x. In particular we show: In a 3-connected graph G, if deg S₁ + deg S₂ ≧ |V(G)| + 1 for each pair of distinct 2-sets of vertices S₁, S₂ ? V(G), then G is hamiltonian-connected. Several corollaries and related results are also discussed.     

An upper bound for the k-domination number of a graph

The k-domination number of a graph G, γk(G), is the least cardinality of a set U of verticies such that any other vertex is adjacent to at least k vertices of U. We prove that if each vertex has degree at least k, then γk(G) ≤ kp/(k + 1).     

Smallest (1, 2)-eulerian weight and shortest cycle covering

The concept of a (1, 2)-eulerian weight was introduced and studied in several papers recently by Seymour, Alspach, Goddyn, and Zhang. In this paper, we proved that if G is a 2-connected simple graph of order n (n ≧ 7) and w is a smallest (1, 2)-eulerian weight of graph G, then |E_w=even | n - 4, except for a family of graphs. Consequently, if G admits a nowhere-zero 4-flow and is of order at least 7, except for a family of graphs, the total length of a shortest cycle covering is at most | V(G) | + |E(G) |- 4. This result generalizes some previous results due to Bermond, Jackson, Jaeger, and Zhang.