Maximum Number of Constant Weight Vertices of the Unit <Emphasis Type="Italic">n</Emphasis>-Cube Contained in a <Emphasis Type="Italic">k</Emphasis>-Dimensional Subspace

We introduce and solve a natural geometrical extremal problem. For the set E (n,w) = {x ⁿ {0,1} ⁿ : x ⁿ has w ones } of vertices of weight w in the unit cube of ⁿ we determine M (n,k,w) max{|U _k ⁿ E(n,w)|:U _k ⁿ is a k-dimensional subspace of ⁿ . We also present an extension to multi-sets and explain a connection to a higher dimensional Erds–Moser type problem.     

Nontrivial lower bounds for the least common multiple of some finite sequences of integers

We present here a method which allows to derive a nontrivial lower bounds for the least common multiple of some finite sequences of integers. We obtain efficient lower bounds (which in a way are optimal) for the arithmetic progressions and lower bounds less efficient (but nontrivial) for quadratic sequences whose general term has the form un=an(n+t)+b with (a,t,b)∈Z³, a?5, t?0, gcd(a,b)=1. From this, we deduce for instance the lower bound: lcm{¹²+1,²²+1,…,n²+1}?0,32n(1,442) (for all n?1). In the last part of this article, we study the integer lcm(n,n+1,…,n+k) (k∈N, n∈N^∗). We show that it has a divisor dn,k simple in its dependence on n and k, and a multiple mn,k also simple in its dependence on n. In addition, we prove that both equalities: lcm(n,n+1,…,n+k)=dn,k and lcm(n,n+1,…,n+k)=mn,k hold for an infinitely many pairs (n,k).     

An algebraic structure for Faber polynomials

Let Σ be the set of functions, convergent for all |z|>1, with a Laurent series of the form f(z)=z+∑_n?0a_nz^-n. In this paper, we prove that the set of Faber polynomial sequences over Σ and the set of their normalized kth derivative sequences form groups which are isomorphic to the hitting time subgroup and the Bell^(k) subgroup of the Riordan group, respectively. Further, a relationship between such Faber polynomial sequences and Lucas and Sheffer polynomial sequences is derived.     

The signless Laplacian spectral radius of tricyclic graphs and trees with k pendant vertices

In this paper, we consider the following problem: of all tricyclic graphs or trees of order n with k pendant vertices (n,k fixed), which achieves the maximal signless Laplacian spectral radius?We determine the graph with the largest signless Laplacian spectral radius among all tricyclic graphs with n vertices and k pendant vertices. Then we show that the maximal signless Laplacian spectral radius among all trees of order n with k pendant vertices is obtained uniquely at T_n,k, where T_n,k is a tree obtained from a star K_1,k and k paths of almost equal lengths by joining each pendant vertex to one end-vertex of one path. We also discuss the signless Laplacian spectral radius of T_n,k and give some results.     

Some intersection theorems

LetL(A) be the set of submatrices of anm×n matrixA. ThenL(A) is a ranked poset with respect to the inclusion, and the poset rank of a submatrix is the sum of the number of rows and columns minus 1, the rank of the empty matrix is zero. We attack the question: What is the maximum number of submatrices such that any two of them have intersection of rank at leastt? We have a solution fort=1,2 using the followoing theorem of independent interest. Letm(n,i,j,k) = max(|F|;|G|), where maximum is taken for all possible pairs of families of subsets of ann-element set such thatF isi-intersecting,G isj-intersecting andF ansd,G are cross-k-intersecting. Then fori≤j≤k, m(n,i,j,k) is attained ifF is a maximali-intersecting family containing subsets of size at leastn/2, andG is a maximal2k?i-intersecting family. Furthermore, we discuss and Erd?s-Ko-Rado-type question forL(A), as well.     

An interpretation of the Dittert conjecture in terms of semi-matchings

Let G be K_n,n with non-negative edge weights and let U and V be the two colour classes of vertices in G. We define a k-semimatching in G to be a set of k edges such that the edges either have distinct ends in U or distinct ends in V. Semimatchings are to be counted according to the product of the weights on the edges in the semimatching. The Dittert conjecture is a longstanding open problem involving matrix permanents. Here we show that it is equivalent to the following assertion: For a fixed total weight, the number of n-semimatchings in G is maximised by weighting all edges of G equally. We also introduce sub-Dittert functions which count k-semimatchings and are analogous to the subpermanent functions which count k-matchings. We prove some results about the extremal values of our sub-Dittert functions, and also that the Dittert conjecture cannot be disproved by means of unweighted graphs.     

Connected graphs with maximal Q-index: The one-dominating-vertex case

By the signless Laplacian of a (simple) graph G we mean the matrix Q(G)=D(G)+A(G), where A(G),D(G) denote respectively the adjacency matrix and the diagonal matrix of vertex degrees of G. For every pair of positive integers n,k, it is proved that if 3?k?n-3, then H_n,k, the graph obtained from the star K_1,n-1 by joining a vertex of degree 1 to k+1 other vertices of degree 1, is the unique connected graph that maximizes the largest signless Laplacian eigenvalue over all connected graphs with n vertices and n+k edges.     

Coefficients of ergodicity and the scrambling index

For a primitive stochastic matrix S, upper bounds on the second largest modulus of an eigenvalue of S are very important, because they determine the asymptotic rate of convergence of the sequence of powers of the corresponding matrix. In this paper, we introduce the definition of the scrambling index for a primitive digraph. The scrambling index of a primitive digraph D is the smallest positive integer k such that for every pair of vertices u and v, there is a vertex w such that we can get to w from u and v in D by directed walks of length k; it is denoted by k(D). We investigate the scrambling index for primitive digraphs, and give an upper bound on the scrambling index of a primitive digraph in terms of the order and the girth of the digraph. By doing so we provide an attainable upper bound on the second largest modulus of eigenvalues of a primitive matrix that make use of the scrambling index.     

On the signless Laplacian spectral radius of graphs with cut vertices

In this paper, we show that among all the connected graphs with n vertices and k cut vertices, the maximal signless Laplacian spectral radius is attained uniquely at the graph G_n,k, where G_n,k is obtained from the complete graph K_n-k by attaching paths of almost equal lengths to all vertices of K_n-k. We also give a new proof of the analogous result for the spectral radius of the connected graphs with n vertices and k cut vertices (see [A. Berman, X.-D. Zhang, On the spectral radius of graphs with cut vertices, J. Combin. Theory Ser. B 83 (2001) 233-240]). Finally, we discuss the limit point of the maximal signless Laplacian spectral radius.     

Matrices with maximum kth local exponent in the class of doubly symmetric primitive matrices

Let A be a primitive matrix of order n, and let k be an integer with 1?k?n. The kth local exponent of A, is the smallest power of A for which there are k rows with no zero entry. We have recently obtained the maximum value for the kth local exponent of doubly symmetric primitive matrices of order n with 1?k?n. In this paper, we use the graph theoretical method to give a complete characterization of those doubly symmetric primitive matrices whose kth local exponent actually attain the maximum value.     

Dyck paths and restricted permutations

This paper is devoted to characterize permutations with forbidden patterns by using canonical reduced decompositions, which leads to bijections between Dyck paths and S_n(321) and S_n(231), respectively. We also discuss permutations in S_n avoiding two patterns, one of length 3 and the other of length k. These permutations produce a kind of discrete continuity between the Motzkin and the Catalan numbers.     

Restricted even permutations and Chebyshev polynomials

We study generating functions for the number of even (odd) permutations on n letters avoiding 132 and an arbitrary permutation τ on k letters, or containing τ exactly once. In several interesting cases the generating function depends only on k and is expressed via Chebyshev polynomials of the second kind.     

Erd?s-Ko-Rado for three sets

Fix integers k?3 and n?3k/2. Let F be a family of k-sets of an n-element set so that whenever A,B,C∈F satisfy |A∪B∪C|?2k, we have A∩B∩C≠∅. We prove that with equality only when ?_F∈FF≠∅. This settles a conjecture of Frankl and Füredi [2], who proved the result for n?k²+3k.     

The generalized Füredi conjecture holds for finite linear lattices

We say that a rank-unimodal poset P has rapidly decreasing rank numbers, or the RDR property, if above (resp. below) the largest ranks of P, the size of each level is at most half of the previous (resp. next) one. We show that a finite rank-unimodal, rank-symmetric, normalized matching, RDR poset of width w has a partition into w chains such that the sizes of the chains are one of two consecutive integers. In particular, there exists a partition of the linear lattices L_n(q) (subspaces of an n-dimensional vector space over a finite field, ordered by inclusion) into chains such that the number of chains is the width of L_n(q) and the sizes of the chains are one of two consecutive integers.     

Primitive non-powerful symmetric loop-free signed digraphs with given base and minimum number of arcs

In [B.M. Kim, B.C. Song, W. Hwang, Primitive graphs with given exponents and minimum number of edges, Linear Algebra Appl. 420 (2007) 648-662], the minimum number of edges of a simple graph on n vertices with exponent k was determined. In this paper, we completely determine the minimum number, H(n,k), of arcs of primitive non-powerful symmetric loop-free signed digraphs on n vertices with base k, characterize the underlying digraphs which have H(n,k) arcs when k is 2, nearly characterize the case when k is 3 and propose an open problem.     

A size-width inequality for distributive lattices

We show that every collection ofw sets such that none contains any other generates at least 3w-2 sets under the operations of taking intersections and unions. In particular, we prove that if the finite distributive lattice ? contains an antichain of sizew, then |?| ≧3w, forw≠1, 2, 3, 6, where the minimal exceptional cases arise from the Boolean algebras ?_n withn=0, 1, 2, 3, 4 atoms.     

Successions in Words and Compositions

We consider words over the alphabet [k] = {1, 2, . . . , k}, k ?? 2. For a fixed nonnegative integer p, a p-succession in a word w ₁ w ₂ . . . w _n consists of two consecutive letters of the form (w _i , w _i ?+ p), i = 1, 2, . . . , n ? 1. We analyze words with respect to a given number of contained p-successions. First we find the mean and variance of the number of p-successions. We then determine the distribution of the number of p-successions in words of length n as n (and possibly k) tends to infinity; a simple instance of a phase transition (Gaussian-Poisson-degenerate) is encountered. Finally, we also investigate successions in compositions of integers.     

Subwords in Reverse-Complement Order

We examine finite words over an alphabet of pairs of letters, where each word w₁w₂ ... w_t is identified with its reverse complement where ( ). We seek the smallest k such that every word of length n, composed from Γ, is uniquely determined by the set of its subwords of length up to k. Our almost sharp result (k~ 2n = 3) is an analogue of a classical result for “normal” words. This problem has its roots in bioinformatics. Received October 19, 2005     

Bounds on some van der Waerden numbers

For positive integers s and k₁,k₂,…,ks, the van der Waerden number w(k₁,k₂,…,ks;s) is the minimum integer n such that for every s-coloring of set {1,2,…,n}, with colors 1,2,…,s, there is a ki-term arithmetic progression of color i for some i. We give an asymptotic lower bound for w(k,m;2) for fixed m. We include a table of values of w(k,3;2) that are very close to this lower bound for m=3. We also give a lower bound for w(k,k,…,k;s) that slightly improves previously-known bounds. Upper bounds for w(k,4;2) and w(4,4,…,4;s) are also provided.     

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.