Minimal configuration trees

A graph is singular of nullity η if zero is an eigenvalue of its adjacency matrix with multiplicity η. If η(G)=1, then the core of G is the subgraph induced by the vertices associated with the non-zero entries of the zero-eigenvector. A connected subgraph of G with the least number of vertices and edges, that has nullity one and the same core as G, is called a minimal configuration. A subdivision of a graph G is obtained by inserting a vertex on every edge of G. We review various properties of minimal configurations. In particular, we show that a minimal configuration is a tree if and only if it is a subdivision of some other tree.     

Minimal configuration bicyclic graphs

The nullity η(G) of a graph G is the multiplicity of zero as an eigenvalue of the adjacency matrix of G. If η(G)?=?1, then the core of G is the subgraph induced by the vertices associated with the nonzero entries of the kernel eigenvector. The set of vertices which are not in the core is the periphery of G. A graph G with nullity one is minimal configuration if no two vertices in the periphery are adjacent and deletion of any vertex in the periphery increases the nullity. An ∞-graph ∞(p,?l,?q) is a graph obtained by joining two vertex-disjoint cycles C _p and C _q by a path of length l?≥?0. Let ?* be the class of bicyclic graphs with an ∞-graph as an induced subgraph. In this article, we characterize the graphs in ?* which are minimal configurations.     

Note on a conjecture of toft

A conjecture of Toft [17] asserts that any 4-critical graph (or equivalently, every 4-chromatic graph) contains a fully odd subdivision ofK ₄. We show that if a graphG has a degree three nodev such thatG-v is 3-colourable, then eitherG is 3-colourable or it contains a fully oddK ₄. This resolves Toft's conjecture in the special case where a 4-critical graph has a degree three node, which is in turn used to prove the conjecture for line-graphs. The proof is constructive and yields a polynomial algorithm which given a 3-degenerate graph either finds a 3-colouring or exhibits a subgraph that is a fully odd subdivision ofK ₄. (A graph is 3-degenerate if every subgraph has some node of degree at most three.)     

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.     

Global cycle properties in graphs with large minimum clustering coefficient

Let 𝒫 be a graph property. A graph G is said to be locally 𝒫 (closed locally 𝒫) if the subgraph induced by the open neighbourhood (closed neighbourhood, respectively) of every vertex in G has property 𝒫. The clustering coefficient of a vertex is the proportion of pairs of its neighbours that are themselves neighbours. The minimum clustering coefficient of G is the smallest clustering coefficient among all vertices of G. Let H be a subgraph of a graph G and let S ? V (H). We say that H is a strongly induced subgraph of G with attachment set S, if H is an induced subgraph of G and the vertices of V (H) ? S are not incident with edges that are not in H. A graph G is fully cycle extendable if every vertex of G lies in a triangle and for every nonhamiltonian cycle C of G, there is a cycle of length |V (C)|?+?1 that contains the vertices of C. A complete characterization, of those locally connected graphs with minimum clustering coefficient 1/2 and maximum degree at most 6 that are fully cycle extendable, is given in terms of forbidden strongly induced subgraphs (with specified attachment sets). Moreover, it is shown that all locally connected graphs with Δ?≤?6 and sufficiently large minimum clustering coefficient are weakly pancylic, thereby proving Ryj´ǎcek’s conjecture for this class of graphs.     

On the nullity of tricyclic graphs

The nullity of a graph G, denoted by η(G), is the multiplicity of the eigenvalue zero in its spectrum. It is known that η(G)?n-2 if G is a simple graph on n vertices and G is not isomorphic to nK₁. The extremal graphs attaining the upper bound n-2 and the second upper bound n-3 have been obtained. In this paper, the graphs with nullity n-4 are characterized. Furthermore the tricyclic graphs with maximum nullity are discussed.     

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.     

Maximal and extremal singular graphs

A graph G is singular if the nullspace of its adjacency matrix is nontrivial. Such a graph contains induced subgraphs called singular configurations of nullity 1. We present two algorithms. One is for the construction of a maximal singular nontrivial graph G containing an induced subgraph, which is a singular configuration with the support of a vector in its nullspace as in that of G. The second is for the construction of a nut graph, a graph of nullity one whose null vector has no zero entries. An extremal singular graph of a given order, with the maximal nullity and support, has a nut graph as a maximal singular configuration.     

Improved pebbling bounds

Consider a configuration of pebbles distributed on the vertices of a connected graph of order n. A pebbling step consists of removing two pebbles from a given vertex and placing one pebble on an adjacent vertex. A distribution of pebbles on a graph is called solvable if it is possible to place a pebble on any given vertex using a sequence of pebbling steps. The pebbling number of a graph, denoted f(G), is the minimal number of pebbles such that every configuration of f(G) pebbles on G is solvable. We derive several general upper bounds on the pebbling number, improving previous results.     

The 3-choosability of plane graphs of girth 4

A set S of vertices of the graph G is called k-reducible if the following is true: G is k-choosable if and only if G-S is k-choosable. A k-reduced subgraphH of G is a subgraph of G such that H contains no k-reducible set of some specific forms. In this paper, we show that a 3-reduced subgraph of a non-3-choosable plane graph G contains either adjacent 5-faces, or an adjacent 4-face and k-face, where k?6. Using this result, we obtain some sufficient conditions for a plane graph to be 3-choosable. In particular, if G is of girth 4 and contains no 5- and 6-cycles, then G is 3-choosable.     

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.     

The Erdős–Pósa Property for Odd Cycles in Graphs of Large Connectivity

Dedicated to the memory of Paul Erdős A graph G is k-linked if G has at least 2k vertices, and, for any vertices , , ..., , , , ..., , G contains k pairwise disjoint paths such that joins for i = 1, 2, ..., k. We say that G is k-parity-linked if G is k-linked and, in addition, the paths can be chosen such that the parities of their lengths are prescribed. We prove the existence of a function g(k) such that every g(k)-connected graph is k-parity-linked if the deletion of any set of less than 4k-3 vertices leaves a nonbipartite graph. As a consequence, we obtain a result of Erdős–Pósa type for odd cycles in graphs of large connectivity. Also, every -connected graph contains a totally odd -subdivision, that is, a subdivision of in which each edge of corresponds to an odd path, if and only if the deletion of any vertex leaves a nonbipartite graph. Received May 13, 1999/Revised June 19, 2000     

Unoriented Laplacian maximizing graphs are degree maximal

A connected graph is said to be unoriented Laplacian maximizing if the spectral radius of its unoriented Laplacian matrix attains the maximum among all connected graphs with the same number of vertices and the same number of edges. A graph is said to be threshold (maximal) if its degree sequence is not majorized by the degree sequence of any other graph (and, in addition, the graph is connected). It is proved that an unoriented Laplacian maximizing graph is maximal and also that there are precisely two unoriented Laplacian maximizing graphs of a given order and with nullity 3. Our treatment depends on the following known characterization: a graph G is threshold (maximal) if and only if for every pair of vertices u,v of G, the sets N(u)?{v},N(v)?{u}, where N(u) denotes the neighbor set of u in G, are comparable with respect to the inclusion relation (and, in addition, the graph is connected). A conjecture about graphs that maximize the unoriented Laplacian matrix among all graphs with the same number of vertices and the same number of edges is also posed.     

Total Colorings Of Degenerate Graphs

A total coloring of a graph G is a coloring of all elements of G, i.e. vertices and edges, such that no two adjacent or incident elements receive the same color. A graph G is s-degenerate for a positive integer s if G can be reduced to a trivial graph by successive removal of vertices with degree ≤s. We prove that an s-degenerate graph G has a total coloring with Δ+1 colors if the maximum degree Δ of G is sufficiently large, say Δ≥4s+3. Our proof yields an efficient algorithm to find such a total coloring. We also give a lineartime algorithm to find a total coloring of a graph G with the minimum number of colors if G is a partial k-tree, that is, the tree-width of G is bounded by a fixed integer k.     

Steiner intervals and Steiner geodetic numbers in distance-hereditary graphs

A Steiner tree for a set S of vertices in a connected graph G is a connected subgraph of G with a smallest number of edges that contains S. The Steiner interval I(S) of S is the union of all the vertices of G that belong to some Steiner tree for S. If S={u,v}, then I(S)=I[u,v] is called the interval between u and v and consists of all vertices that lie on some shortest u-v path in G. The smallest cardinality of a set S of vertices such that ?_u,v∈SI[u,v]=V(G) is called the geodetic number and is denoted by g(G). The smallest cardinality of a set S of vertices of G such that I(S)=V(G) is called the Steiner geodetic number of G and is denoted by sg(G). We show that for distance-hereditary graphs g(G)?sg(G) but that g(G)/sg(G) can be arbitrarily large if G is not distance hereditary. An efficient algorithm for finding the Steiner interval for a set of vertices in a distance-hereditary graph is described and it is shown how contour vertices can be used in developing an efficient algorithm for finding the Steiner geodetic number of a distance-hereditary graph.     

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.     

On the nullity of graphs with pendent vertices

The nullity of a graph G, denoted by η(G), is the multiplicity of the eigenvalue zero in its spectrum. Cheng and Liu [B. Cheng, B. Liu, On the nullity of graphs, Electron. J. Linear Algebra 16 (2007) 60-67] characterized the extremal graphs attaining the upper bound n-2 and the second upper bound n-3. In this paper, as the continuance of it, we determine the extremal graphs with pendent vertices achieving the third upper bound n-4 and fourth upper bound n-5. We then proceed recursively to construct all graphs with pendent vertices which satisfy η(G)>0. Our results provide a unified approach to determine n-vertex unicyclic (respectively, bicyclic and tricyclic) graphs which achieve the maximal and second maximal nullity and characterize n-vertex extremal trees attaining the second and third maximal nullity. As a consequence we, respectively, determine the nullity sets of trees, unicyclic graphs, bicyclic graphs and tricyclic graphs on n vertices.     

Packing in regular graphs

A set S of vertices in a graph G is a packing if the vertices in S are pairwise at distance at least 3 apart in G. The packing number of G, denoted by ρ(G), is the maximum cardinality of a packing in G. Favaron [Discrete Math. 158 (1996), 287–293] showed that if G is a connected cubic graph of order n different from the Petersen graph, then ρ(G) ≥ n/8. In this paper, we generalize Favaron’s result. We show that for k ≥ 3, if G is a connected k-regular graph of order n that is not a diameter-2 Moore graph, then ρ(G) ≥ n/(k² ? 1).     

Total domination subdivision numbers of trees

A set S of vertices in a graph G is a total dominating set of G if every vertex is adjacent to a vertex in S. The total domination number γ_t(G) is the minimum cardinality of a total dominating set of G. The total domination subdivision number sd_γt(G) of a graph G is the minimum number of edges that must be subdivided (where each edge in G can be subdivided at most once) in order to increase the total domination number. Haynes et al. (J. Combin. Math. Combin. Comput. 44 (2003) 115) showed that for any tree T of order at least 3, 1?sd_γt(T)?3. In this paper, we give a constructive characterization of trees whose total domination subdivision number is 3.     

Cores of Imprimitive Symmetric Graphs of Order a Product of Two Distinct Primes

A retract of a graph Γ is an induced subgraph Ψ of Γ such that there exists a homomorphism from Γ to Ψ whose restriction to Ψ is the identity map. A graph is a core if it has no nontrivial retracts. In general, the minimal retracts of a graph are cores and are unique up to isomorphism; they are called the core of the graph. A graph Γ is G‐symmetric if G is a subgroup of the automorphism group of Γ that is transitive on the vertex set and also transitive on the set of ordered pairs of adjacent vertices. If in addition the vertex set of Γ admits a nontrivial partition that is preserved by G, then Γ is an imprimitive G‐symmetric graph. In this paper cores of imprimitive symmetric graphs Γ of order a product of two distinct primes are studied. In many cases the core of Γ is determined completely. In other cases it is proved that either Γ is a core or its core is isomorphic to one of two graphs, and conditions on when each of these possibilities occurs is given.