Extremal maximal uniquely hamiltonian graphs

Let G be a graph of order n with exactly one Hamiltonian cycle and suppose that G is maximal with respect to this property. We determine the minimum number of edges G can have.     

Unicycle graphs and uniquely restricted maximum matchings

A matching M is called uniquely restricted in a graph G if it is the unique perfect matching of the subgraph induced by the vertices that M saturates. G is a unicycle graph if it owns only one cycle. Golumbic, Hirst and Lewenstein observed that for a tree or a graph with only odd cycles the size of a maximum uniquely restricted matching is equal to the matching number of the graph. In this paper we characterize unicycle graphs enjoying this equality. Moreover, we describe unicycle graphs with only uniquely restricted maximum matchings. Using these findings, we show that unicycle graphs having only uniquely restricted maximum matchings can be recognized in polynomial time.     

Triangle-free graphs with uniquely restricted maximum matchings and their corresponding greedoids

A matching M is uniquely restricted in a graph G if its saturated vertices induce a subgraph which has a unique perfect matching, namely M itself [M.C. Golumbic, T. Hirst, M. Lewenstein, Uniquely restricted matchings, Algorithmica 31 (2001) 139-154]. G is a König-Egerváry graph provided α(G)+μ(G)=|V(G)| [R.W. Deming, Independence numbers of graphs—an extension of the König-Egerváry theorem, Discrete Math. 27 (1979) 23-33; F. Sterboul, A characterization of the graphs in which the transversal number equals the matching number, J. Combin. Theory Ser. B 27 (1979) 228-229], where μ(G) is the size of a maximum matching and α(G) is the cardinality of a maximum stable set. S is a local maximum stable set of G, and we write S∈Ψ(G), if S is a maximum stable set of the subgraph spanned by S∪N(S), where N(S) is the neighborhood of S. Nemhauser and Trotter [Vertex packings: structural properties and algorithms, Math. Programming 8 (1975) 232-248], proved that any S∈Ψ(G) is a subset of a maximum stable set of G. In [V.E. Levit, E. Mandrescu, Local maximum stable sets in bipartite graphs with uniquely restricted maximum matchings, Discrete Appl. Math. 132 (2003) 163-174] we have proved that for a bipartite graph G,Ψ(G) is a greedoid on its vertex set if and only if all its maximum matchings are uniquely restricted. In this paper we demonstrate that if G is a triangle-free graph, then Ψ(G) is a greedoid if and only if all its maximum matchings are uniquely restricted and for any S∈Ψ(G), the subgraph spanned by S∪N(S) is a König-Egerváry graph.     

A characterization of uniquely representable interval graphs

An alternative to Hanlon's buried-subgraph characterization of interval graphs that have unique (up to duality) agreeing interval orders is proveded. The alternative is based on a relation L between ordered pairs of points that are adjacent in the interval graph. The interpretation of abLxy is that if the interval for a precedes (follows) the interval for b in a representation of the interval graph, then the interval for x must precede (follow) the interval for y.     

A canonical representation of trivalent hamiltonian graphs

A canonical representation of trivalent hamiltonian graphs in the form of “span lists” had been proposed by J. Lederberg. It is here presented in a modified form due to H. S. M. Coxeter and the author, and therefore called “LCF notation.” This notation has the advantage of being more concise than Lederberg's original span lists whenever the graph has a hamiltonian circuit with rotational symmetry. It is also useful as a method for a systematic classification of trivalent hamiltonian graphs and allows one to define for such graphs two interesting properties, called, respectively, “antipalindromic” and “quasiantipalindromic.”.     

A new sufficient condition for hamiltonian graphs

We prove that a k-connected graph of order n, such that the number of neighbors of every independent set of k vertices is greater than (k(n – 1))/(k + 1) is hamiltonian.     

Chromatic properties of hamiltonian graphs

We study the problem of the location of real zeros of chromatic polynomials for some families of graphs. In particular, a problem presented by Thomassen (see [On the number of hamiltonian cycles in bipartite graphs, Combin. Probab. Comput. 5 (1996) 437–442.]) is discussed and a result for hamiltonian graphs is presented. An open problem is stated for 2-connected graphs with a hamiltonian path.     

Characterization of special hamiltonian graphs

We get a formula for the number of hamiltonian circuits of a graph through which we characterize the special hamiltonian graphs, that is containing a dominant circuit of minimal length.     

Tough graphs and hamiltonian circuits

The toughness of a graph G is defined as the largest real number t such that deletion of any s points from G results in a graph which is either connected or else has at most s/t components. Clearly, every hamiltonian graph is 1-tough. Conversely, we conjecture that for some t₀, every t₀-tough graph is hamiltonian. Since a square of a k-connected graph is always k-tough, a proof of this conjecture with t₀ = 2 would imply Fleischner's theorem (the square of a block is hamiltonian). We construct an infinite family of ($\text{3}\text{2}$)-tough nonhamiltonian graphs.     

The uniquely embeddable planar graphs

Whitney [7] proved in 1932 that for any two embeddings of a planar 3-connected graph, their combinatorial duals are isomorphic. In this manner, the term “uniquely embeddable planar graph” was introduced. It is a well-known fact that combinatorial and geometrical duals are equivalent concepts. In this paper, the concept of unique embeddability is introduced in terms of special types of isomorphisms between any two embeddings of a planar graph. From this, the class U of all graphs which are uniquely embeddable in the plane according to this definition, is determined, and the planar 3-connected graphs are a proper subset of U. It turns out that the graphs in U have a unique geometrical dual (i.e., for any two embeddings of such a graph, their geometrical duals are isomorphic). Furthermore, the theorems and their proofs do not involve any type of duals.     

Contractions and hamiltonian line graphs

Using the contraction method, we find a best possible condition involving the minimum degree for a triangle-free graph to have a spanning eulerian subgraph.