Graph-theoretic parameters concerning domination,independence, and irredundance

A vertex x in a subset X of vertices of an undericted graph is redundant if its closed neighbourhood is contained in the union of closed neighborhoods of vertices of X – {x}. In the context of a communications network, this means that any vertex that may receive communications from X may also be informed from X – {x}. The irredundance number ir (G) is the minimum cardinality taken over all maximal sets of vertices having no redundancies. The domination number γ(G) is the minimum cardinality taken over all dominating sets of G, and the independent domination number i(G) is the minimum cardinality taken over all maximal independent sets of vertices of G. The paper contians results that relate these parameters. For example, we prove that for any graph G, ir (G) > γ(G)/2 and for any grpah Gwith p vertices and no isolated vertices, i(G) ≤ p-γ(G) + 1 - ?(p - γ(G))/γ(G)?.     

Upper domination and upper irredundance perfect graphs

Let β(G), Γ(G) and IR(G) be the independence number, the upper domination number and the upper irredundance number, respectively. A graph G is called Γ-perfect if β(H) = Γ(H), for every induced subgraph H of G. A graph G is called IR-perfect if Γ(H) =IR(H), for every induced subgraph H of G. In this paper, we present a characterization of Γ-perfect graphs in terms of a family of forbidden induced subgraphs, and show that the class of Γ-perfect graphs is a subclass of IR-perfect graphs and that the class of absorbantly perfect graphs is a subclass of Γ-perfect graphs. These results imply a number of known theorems on Γ-perfect graphs and IR-perfect graphs. Moreover, we prove a sufficient condition for a graph to be Γ-perfect and IR-perfect which improves a known analogous result.     

ContributionsUpper domination and upper irredundance perfect graphs

Let β(G), Γ(G) and IR(G) be the independence number, the upper domination number and the upper irredundance number, respectively. A graph G is calledΓ-perfect if β(H) = Γ(H), for every induced subgraph H of G. A graph G is called IR-perfect if Γ(H) = IR(H), for every induced subgraph H of G. In this paper, we present a characterization of Γ-perfect graphs in terms of a family of forbidden induced subgraphs, and show that the class of Γ-perfect graphs is a subclass of IR-perfect graphs and that the class of absorbantly perfect graphs is a subclass of Γ-perfect graphs. These results imply a number of known theorems on Γ-perfect graphs and IR-perfect graphs. Moreover, we prove a sufficient condition for a graph to be Γ-perfect and IR-perfect which improves a known analogous result.     

The ratio of the irredundance number and the domination number for block-cactus graphs

Let γ(G) and ir(G) denote the domination number and the irredundance number of a graph G, respectively. Allan and Laskar [Proc. 9th Southeast Conf. on Combin., Graph Theory & Comp. (1978) 43–56] and Bollobás and Cockayne [J. Graph Theory (1979) 241–249] proved independently that γ(G) < 2ir(G) for any graph G. For a tree T, Damaschke [Discrete Math. (1991) 101–104] obtained the sharper estimation 2γ(T) < 3ir(T). Extending Damaschke's result, Volkmann [Discrete Math. (1998) 221–228] proved that 2γ(G) ≤ 3ir(G) for any block graph G and for any graph G with cyclomatic number μ(G) ≤ 2. Volkmann also conjectured that 5γ(G) < 8ir(G) for any cactus graph. In this article we show that if G is a block-cactus graph having π(G) induced cycles of length 2 (mod 4), then γ(G)(5π(G) + 4) ≤ ir(G)(8π(G) + 6). This result implies the inequality 5γ(G) < 8ir(G) for a block-cactus graph G, thus proving the above conjecture. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J. Graph Theory 29: 139–149, 1998     

Stability,domination and irredundance in a graph

In a graph G, a set X is called a stable set if any two vertices of X are nonadjacent. A set X is called a dominating set if every vertex of V – X is joined to at least one vertex of X. A set X is called an irredundant set if every vertex of X, not isolated in X, has at least one proper neighbor, that is a vertex of V – X joined to it but to no other vertex of X. Let α′ and α, γ, and Γ, ir and IR, denote respectively the minimum and maximum cardinalities of a maximal stable set, a minimal dominating set, and a maximal irredundant set. It is known that ir ? γ ? α′ ? α ? Γ ? IR and that if G does not contain any induced subgraph isomorphic to K_1,3, then γ = α′. Here we prove that if G contains no induced subgraph isomorphic to K_1,3 or to the graph H of figure 1, then ir = γ = α′. We prove also that if G contains no induced subgraph isomorphic to K_1,3, to H, or to the graph h of figure 3, then Γ = IR. Finally, we improve a result of Bollobas and Cockayne about sufficient conditions for γ = ir in terms of forbidden subgraphs.     

Vertex criticality for upper domination and irredundance

Let π be any of the domination parameters ir γ, i, β, Γ or IR. The graph G is π‐critical (π⁺‐critical) if the removal of any vertex of G causes π(G) to decrease (increase). We show that the classes of IR‐critical and Γ‐critical graphs coincide, and exhibit a class of Γ⁺‐critical graphs. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Graph Theory 37: 205–212, 2001     

Variable neighborhood search for extremal graphs. 22. Extending bounds for independence to upper irredundance

A set of vertices S in a graph G is independent if no neighbor of a vertex of S belongs to S. A set of vertices U in a graph G is irredundant if each vertex v of U has a private neighbor, which may be v itself, i.e., a neighbor of v which is not a neighbor of any other vertex of U. The independence number α (resp. upper irredundance number IR) is the maximum number of vertices of an independent (resp. irredundant) set of G. In previous work, a series of best possible lower and upper bounds on α and some other usual invariants of G were obtained by the system AGX 2, and proved either automatically or by hand. These results are strengthened in the present paper by systematically replacing α by IR. The resulting conjectures were tested by AGX which could find no counter-example to an upper bound nor any case where a lower bound could not be shown to remain tight. Some proofs for the bounds on α carry over. In all other cases, new proofs are provided.     

Open irredundance and maximum degree in graphs

A necessary and sufficient condition for an open irredundant set of vertices of a graph to be maximal is obtained. This result is used to show that the smallest cardinality amongst the maximal open irredundant sets in an n-vertex isolate-free graph with maximum degree Δ is at least n(3Δ−1)/(2Δ³−5Δ²+8Δ−1) for Δ≥5, n/8 for Δ=4 and 2n/11 for Δ=3. The bounds are the best possible.     

Independence,irredundance, degrees and chromatic number in graphs

Let β(G) and IR(G) denote the independence number and the upper irredundance number of a graph G. We prove that in any graph of order n, minimum degree δ and maximum degree Δ≠0, IR(G)⩽n/(1+δ/Δ) and IR(G)−β(G)⩽((Δ−2)/2Δ)n. The two bounds are attained by arbitrarily large graphs. The second one proves a conjecture by Rautenbach related to the case Δ=3. When the chromatic number χ of G is less than Δ, it can be improved to IR(G)−β(G)⩽((χ−2)/2χ)n in any non-empty graph of order n⩾2.     

Distance irredundance and connected domination numbers of a graph

Let k be a positive integer and G be a connected graph. This paper considers the relations among four graph theoretical parameters: the k-domination number γ_k(G), the connected k-domination number ; the k-independent domination number and the k-irredundance number ir_k(G). The authors prove that if an ir_k-set X is a k-independent set of G, then , and that for k?2, if ir_k(G)=1, if ir_k(G) is odd, and if ir_k(G) is even, which generalize some known results.     

The ratio of the distance irredundance and domination numbers of a graph

Let n ≥ 1 be an integer and let G be a graph. A set D of vertices in G is defined to be an n-dominating set of G if every vertex of G is within distance n from some vertex of D. The minimum cardinality among all n-dominating sets of G is called the n-domination number of G and is denoted by γ_n(G). A set / of vertices in G is n-irredundant if for every vertex x ∈ / there exists a vertex y that is within distance n from x but at distance greater than n from every vertex of / - {x}. The n-irredundance number of G, denoted by ir_n(G), is the minimum cardinality taken over all maximal n-irredundant sets of vertices of G. We show that inf{ir_n(G)/γ_n(G) | G is an arbitrary finite undirected graph with neither loops nor multiple edges} = 1/2 with the infimum not being attained. Subsequently, we show that 2/3 is a lower bound on all quotients ir_n(T)/γ_n(T) in which T is a tree. Furthermore, we show that, for n ≥ 2, this bound is sharp. These results extend those of R. B. Allan and R.C. Laskar [“On Domination and Some Related Concepts in Graph Theory,” Utilitas Mathematica, Vol. 21 (1978), pp. 43–56], B. Bollobás and E. J. Cockayne [“Graph-Theoretic Parameters Concerning Domination, Independence and Irredundance,” Journal of Graph Theory, Vol. 3 (1979), pp. 241–249], and P. Damaschke [Irredundance Number versus Domination Number, Discrete Mathematics, Vol. 89 (1991), pp. 101–104].     

Proof of a conjecture on irredundance perfect graphs

Let ir(G) and γ(G) be the irredundance number and the domination number of a graph G, respectively. A graph G is called irredundance perfect if ir(H)=γ(H), for every induced subgraph H of G. In this article we present a result which immediately implies three known conjectures on irredundance perfect graphs. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Graph Theory 41: 292–306, 2002     

Power domination in graphs

The problem of monitoring an electric power system by placing as few measurement devices in the system as possible is closely related to the well-known domination problem in graphs. In 1998, Haynes et al. considered the graph theoretical representation of this problem as a variation of the domination problem. They defined a set S to be a power dominating set of a graph if every vertex and every edge in the system is monitored by the set S (following a set of rules for power system monitoring). The power domination number γ_P(G) of a graph G is the minimum cardinality of a power dominating set of G. In this paper, we present upper bounds on the power domination number for a connected graph with at least three vertices and a connected claw-free cubic graph in terms of their order. The extremal graphs attaining the upper bounds are also characterized.     

Smallest domination number and largest independence number of graphs and forests with given degree sequence

For a sequence d of nonnegative integers, let and be the sets of all graphs and forests with degree sequence d, respectively. Let , , , and where is the domination number and is the independence number of a graph G. Adapting results of Havel and Hakimi, Rao showed in 1979 that can be determined in polynomial time. We establish the existence of realizations with , and with and that have strong structural properties. This leads to an efficient algorithm to determine for every given degree sequence d with bounded entries as well as closed formulas for and .     

Vertex-edge domination in graphs

In this paper we study graph parameters related to vertex-edge domination, where a vertex dominates the edges incident to it as well as the edges adjacent to these incident edges. First, we present new relationships relating the ve-domination to some other domination parameters, answering in the affirmative four open questions posed in the 2007 PhD thesis by Lewis. Then we provide an upper bound for the independent ve-domination number in terms of the ve-domination number for every nontrivial connected K_1,k-free graph, with k ≥ 3, and we show that the independent ve-domination number is bounded above by the domination number for every nontrivial tree. Finally, we establish an upper bound on the ve-domination number for connected C₅-free graphs, improving a recent bound given for trees.     

Set domination in graphs

Let G = (V, E) be a connected graph. A set D ? V is a set-dominating set (sd-set) if for every set T ? V ? D, there exists a nonempty set S ? D such that the subgraph 〈S ∪ T〉 induced by S ∪ T is connected. The set-domination number γ_s(G) of G is the minimum cardinality of a sd-set. In this paper we develop properties of this new parameter and relate it to some other known domination parameters.     

Line domination in graphs

A setS of lines is a line dominating set if every line not inS is adjacent to some line ofS. The line domination number of a graph is the cardinality of a minimum line dominating set. In this paper we study the line dominating sets and obtain bounds for the line domination number. Also, Nordhaus-Gaddum type results are obtained for the line domination number and the line domatic number.     

Vertex-edge domination in graphs

Aequationes mathematicae - We establish that for any connected graph G of order $$n \ge 6$$ , a minimum vertex-edge dominating set of G has at most n/3 vertices, thus affirmatively answering the...