Spanning Connectivity of the Power of a Graph and Hamilton-Connected Index of a Graph

Let G = (V, E) be a connected graph. The hamiltonian index h(G) (Hamilton-connected index hc(G)) of G is the least nonnegative integer k for which the iterated line graph L ^k (G) is hamiltonian (Hamilton-connected). In this paper we show the following. (a) If |V(G)| ≥ k + 1 ≥ 4, then in G ^k , for any pair of distinct vertices {u, v}, there exists k internally disjoint (u, v)-paths that contains all vertices of G; (b) for a tree T,  h(T) ≤ hc(T) ≤ h(T) + 1, and for a unicyclic graph G,  h(G) ≤ hc(G) ≤ max{h(G) + 1, k′ + 1}, where k′ is the length of a longest path with all vertices on the cycle such that the two ends of it are of degree at least 3 and all internal vertices are of degree 2; (c) we also characterize the trees and unicyclic graphs G for which hc(G) = h(G) + 1.     

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].].     

Brooks-type theorems for choosability with separation

We consider the following type of problems. Given a graph G = (V, E) and lists L(v) of allowed colors for its vertices v ∈ V such that |L(v)| = p for all v ∈ V and |L(u) ∩ L(v)| ≤ c for all uv ∈ E, is it possible to find a “list coloring,” i.e., a color f(v) ∈ L(v) for each v ∈ V, so that f(u) ≠ f(v) for all uv ∈ E? We prove that every of maximum degree Δ admits a list coloring for every such list assignment, provided p ≥ . Apart from a multiplicative constant, the result is tight, as lists of length may be necessary. Moreover, for G = K_n (the complete graph on n vertices) and c = 1 (i.e., almost disjoint lists), the smallest value of p is shown to have asymptotics (1 + o(1)) . For planar graphs and c = 1, lists of length 4 suffice. ˜© 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Graph Theory 27: 43–49, 1998     

On the spectral spread of bicyclic graphs with given girth

The spectral spread of a graph is defined to be the difference between the largest and the least eigenvalue of the adjacency matrix of the graph. A graph G is said to be bicyclic, if G is connected and |E(G)| = |V(G)|+ 1. Let B(n, g) be the set of bicyclic graphs on n vertices with girth g. In this paper some properties about the least eigenvalues of graphs are given, by which the unique graph with maximal spectral spread in B(n, g) is determined.     

The Harary index of ordinary and generalized quasi-tree graphs

The Harary index is defined as the sum of reciprocals of distances between all pairs of vertices of a connected graph. The quasi-tree graph is a graph G in which there exists a vertex v∈V(G) such that G?v is a tree. In this paper, we presented the upper and lower bounds on the Harary index of all quasi-tree graphs of order n and characterized the corresponding extremal graphs. Moreover we defined the k-generalized quasi-tree graph to be a connected graph G with a subset V _k ?V(G) where |V _k |=k such that G?V _k is a tree. And we also determined the k-generalized quasi-tree graph of order n with maximal Harary index for all values of k and the extremal one with minimal Harary index for k=2.     

Partitions of a graph into paths with prescribed endvertices and lengths

For a graph G, let σ₂(G) denote the minimum degree sum of a pair of nonadjacent vertices. We conjecture that if |V(G)| = n = Σ^k_{i = 1} a_i and σ₂(G) ≥ n + k − 1, then for any k vertices v₁, v₂,…, v_k in G, there exist vertex‐disjoint paths P₁, P₂,…, P_k such that |V(P_i)| = a_i and v_i is an endvertex of P_i for 1 ≤ i ≤ k. In this paper, we verify the conjecture for the cases where almost all a_i ≤ 5, and the cases where k ≤ 3. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Graph Theory 34: 163–169, 2000     

Hall number for list colorings of graphs: Extremal results

Given a graph G=(V,E) and sets L(v) of allowed colors for each v∈V, a list coloring of G is an assignment of colors φ(v) to the vertices, such that φ(v)∈L(v) for all v∈V and φ(u)≠φ(v) for all uv∈E. The choice number of G is the smallest natural number k admitting a list coloring for G whenever |L(v)|≥k holds for every vertex v. This concept has an interesting variant, called Hall number, where an obvious necessary condition for colorability is put as a restriction on the lists L(v). (On complete graphs, this condition is equivalent to the well-known one in Hall’s Marriage Theorem.) We prove that vertex deletion or edge insertion in a graph of order n>3 may make the Hall number decrease by as much as n−3. This estimate is tight for all n. Tightness is deduced from the upper bound that every graph of order n has Hall number at most n−2. We also characterize the cases of equality; for n≥6 these are precisely the graphs whose complements are K₂∪(n−2)K₁, P₄∪(n−4)K₁, and C₅∪(n−5)K₁. Our results completely solve a problem raised by Hilton, Johnson and Wantland [A.J.W. Hilton, P.D. Johnson, Jr., E. B. Wantland, The Hall number of a simple graph, Congr. Numer. 121 (1996), 161-182, Problem 7] in terms of the number of vertices, and strongly improve some estimates due to Hilton and Johnson [A.J.W. Hilton, P.D. Johnson, Jr., The Hall number, the Hall index, and the total Hall number of a graph, Discrete Appl. Math. 94 (1999), 227-245] as a function of maximum degree.     

The edge nucleus of a point-determining graph

In this paper we investigate the edge nucleus E⁰(G) of a point-determining graph G. We observe several relationships between E⁰(G) and the nucleus G⁰ = {v ∈ V(G)∣ G ? v is point determining} and use these relationships to prove several properties of E⁰(G). In particular, we show that there are only a finite number of graphs with a given edge nucleus and we determine those graphs G for which |E⁰(G)| ≤ 2. We also show that an n-clique of a point-determining graph G contains at least n?2 edges of E⁰(G) and if G is totally point determining, then every odd cycle of G meets E⁰(G).     

A generalization of Fan’s results: Distribution of cycle lengths in graphs

Fan [G. Fan, Distribution of cycle lengths in graphs, J. Combin. Theory Ser. B 84 (2002) 187-202] proved that if G is a graph with minimum degree δ(G)≥3k for any positive integer k, then G contains k+1 cycles C₀,C₁,…,C_k such that k+1<|E(C₀)|<|E(C₁)|<?<|E(C_k)|, |E(C_i)−E(C_i−1)|=2, 1≤i≤k−1, and 1≤|E(C_k)|−|E(C_k−1)|≤2, and furthermore, if δ(G)≥3k+1, then |E(C_k)|−|E(C_k−1)|=2. In this paper, we generalize Fan’s result, and show that if we let G be a graph with minimum degree δ(G)≥3, for any positive integer k (if k≥2, then δ(G)≥4), if d_G(u)+d_G(v)≥6k−1 for every pair of adjacent vertices u,v∈V(G), then G contains k+1 cycles C₀,C₁,…,C_k such that k+1<|E(C₀)|<|E(C₁)|<?<|E(C_k)|, |E(C_i)−E(C_i−1)|=2, 1≤i≤k−1, and 1≤|E(C_k)|−|E(C_k−1)|≤2, and furthermore, if d_G(u)+d_G(v)≥6k+1, then |E(C_k)|−|E(C_k−1)|=2.     

A characterization of panconnected graphs satisfying a local ore-type condition

It is well known that a graph G of order p ≥ 3 is Hamilton-connected if d(u) + d(v) ≥ p + 1 for each pair of nonadjacent vertices u and v. In this paper we consider connected graphs G of order at least 3 for which d(u) + d(v) ≥ |N(u) ∪ N(v) ∪ N(w)| + 1 for any path uwv with uv ∉ E(G), where N(x) denote the neighborhood of a vertex x. We prove that a graph G satisfying this condition has the following properties: (a) For each pair of nonadjacent vertices x, y of G and for each integer k, d(x, y) ≤ k ≤ |V(G)| − 1, there is an x − y path of length k. (b) For each edge xy of G and for each integer k (excepting maybe one k η {3,4}) there is a cycle of length k containing xy. Consequently G is panconnected (and also edge pancyclic) if and only if each edge of G belongs to a triangle and a quadrangle. Our results imply some results of Williamson, Faudree, and Schelp. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Acyclic 5-choosability of planar graphs without 4-cycles

A proper vertex coloring of a graph G=(V,E) is acyclic if G contains no bicolored cycle. A graph G is acyclically L-list colorable if for a given list assignment L={L(v):v∈V}, there exists a proper acyclic coloring π of G such that π(v)∈L(v) for all v∈V. If G is acyclically L-list colorable for any list assignment with |L(v)|≥k for all v∈V, then G is acyclically k-choosable. In this paper we prove that every planar graph without 4-cycles and without two 3-cycles at distance less than 3 is acyclically 5-choosable. This improves a result in [M. Montassier, P. Ochem, A. Raspaud, On the acyclic choosability of graphs, J. Graph Theory 51 (2006) 281-300], which says that planar graphs of girth at least 5 are acyclically 5-choosable.     

A note on Z 3-connected graphs with degree sum condition

A graph G satisfies the Ore-condition if d(x) + d(y) ≥ | V (G) | for any xy ■ E(G). Luo et al. [European J. Combin., 2008] characterized the simple Z3-connected graphs satisfying the Ore-condition. In this paper, we characterize the simple Z3-connected graphs G satisfying d(x) + d(y) ≥ | V (G) |-1 for any xy ■ E(G), which improves the results of Luo et al.     

A Generalization of Opsut’s Lower Bounds for the Competition Number of a Graph

The notion of a competition graph was introduced by Cohen in 1968. The competition graph C(D) of a digraph D is a (simple undirected) graph which has the same vertex set as D and has an edge between two distinct vertices x and y if and only if there exists a vertex v in D such that (x, v) and (y, v) are arcs of D. For any graph G, G together with sufficiently many isolated vertices is the competition graph of some acyclic digraph. In 1978, Roberts defined the competition number k(G) of a graph G as the minimum number of such isolated vertices. In general, it is hard to compute the competition number k(G) for a graph G and it has been one of the important research problems in the study of competition graphs to characterize a graph by its competition number. In 1982, Opsut gave two lower bounds for the competition number of a graph. In this paper, we give a generalization of these two lower bounds for the competition number of a graph.     

Linear choosability of graphs

A proper vertex coloring of a non-oriented graph G is linear if the graph induced by the vertices of any two color classes is a forest of paths. A graph G is linearly L-list colorable if for a given list assignment L={L(v):v∈V(G)}, there exists a linear coloring c of G such that c(v)∈L(v) for all v∈V(G). If G is linearly L-list colorable for any list assignment with |L(v)|?k for all v∈V(G), then G is said to be linearly k-choosable. In this paper, we investigate the linear choosability for some families of graphs: graphs with small maximum degree, with given maximum average degree, outerplanar and planar graphs. Moreover, we prove that deciding whether a bipartite subcubic planar graph is linearly 3-colorable is an NP-complete problem.     

Acyclic 5-choosability of planar graphs with neither 4-cycles nor chordal 6-cycles

A proper vertex coloring of a graph G=(V,E) is acyclic if G contains no bicolored cycle. A graph G is acyclically L-list colorable if for a given list assignment L={L(v):v∈V}, there exists a proper acyclic coloring ? of G such that ?(v)∈L(v) for all v∈V(G). If G is acyclically L-list colorable for any list assignment with |L(v)|≥k for all v∈V, then G is acyclically k-choosable. In this paper it is proved that every planar graph with neither 4-cycles nor chordal 6-cycles is acyclically 5-choosable. This generalizes the results of [M. Montassier, A. Raspaud, W. Wang, Acyclic 5-choosability of planar graphs without small cycles, J. Graph Theory 54 (2007) 245-260], and a corollary of [M. Montassier, P. Ochem, A. Raspaud, On the acyclic choosability of graphs, J. Graph Theory 51 (4) (2006) 281-300].     

Strong edge-magic graphs of maximum size

An edge-magic total labeling on G is a one-to-one map λ from V(G)∪E(G) onto the integers 1,2,…,|V(G)∪E(G)| with the property that, given any edge (x,y), λ(x)+λ(x,y)+λ(y)=k for some constant k. The labeling is strong if all the smallest labels are assigned to the vertices. Enomoto et al. proved that a graph admitting a strong labeling can have at most 2|V(G)|-3 edges. In this paper we study graphs of this maximum size.     

Relationships between total domination,order, size,and maximum degree of graphs

A total dominating set, S, in a graph, G, has the property that every vertex in G is adjacent to a vertex in S. The total dominating number, γ_t(G) of a graph G is the size of a minimum total dominating set in G. Let G be a graph with no component of size one or two and with Δ(G) ≥ 3. In 6 , it was shown that |E(G)| ≤ Δ(G) (|V(G)|–γ_t(G)) and conjectured that |E(G)| ≤ (Δ(G)+3) (|V(G)|–γ_t(G))/2 holds. In this article, we prove that holds and that the above conjecture is false as there for every Δ exist Δ‐regular bipartite graphs G with |E(G)| ≥ (Δ+0.1 ln(Δ)) (|V(G)|–γ_t(G))/2. The last result also disproves a conjecture on domination numbers from 8 . © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Graph Theory 55: 325–337, 2007     

Small cycles and 2-factor passing through any given vertices in graphs

The theory of vertex-disjoint cycles and 2-factor of graphs has important applications in computer science and network communication. For a graph G, let σ ₂(G):=min?{d(u)+d(v)|uv ? E(G),u≠v}. In the paper, the main results of this paper are as follows:

1. Let k≥2 be an integer and G be a graph of order n≥3k, if σ ₂(G)≥n+2k?2, then for any set of k distinct vertices v ₁,…,v _k , G has k vertex-disjoint cycles C ₁,C ₂,…,C _k of length at most four such that v _i ∈V(C _i ) for all 1≤i≤k.
2. Let k≥1 be an integer and G be a graph of order n≥3k, if σ ₂(G)≥n+2k?2, then for any set of k distinct vertices v ₁,…,v _k , G has k vertex-disjoint cycles C ₁,C ₂,…,C _k such that:
   1. v _i ∈V(C _i ) for all 1≤i≤k.
   2. V(C ₁)∪???∪V(C _k )=V(G), and
   3. |C _i |≤4, 1≤i≤k?1.

Moreover, the condition on σ ₂(G)≥n+2k?2 is sharp.     

An efficient condition for a graph to be Hamiltonian

Let G=(V,E) be a 2-connected simple graph and let d_G(u,v) denote the distance between two vertices u,v in G. In this paper, it is proved: if the inequality d_G(u)+d_G(v)?|V(G)|-1 holds for each pair of vertices u and v with d_G(u,v)=2, then G is Hamiltonian, unless G belongs to an exceptional class of graphs. The latter class is described in this paper. Our result implies the theorem of Ore [Note on Hamilton circuits, Amer. Math. Monthly 67 (1960) 55]. However, it is not included in the theorem of Fan [New sufficient conditions for cycles in graph, J. Combin. Theory Ser. B 37 (1984) 221-227].