Polar cographs

Polar graphs are a natural extension of some classes of graphs like bipartite graphs, split graphs and complements of bipartite graphs. A graph is (s,k)-polar if there exists a partition A,B of its vertex set such that A induces a complete s-partite graph (i.e., a collection of at most s disjoint stable sets with complete links between all sets) and B a disjoint union of at most k cliques (i.e., the complement of a complete k-partite graph).Recognizing a polar graph is known to be NP-complete. These graphs have not been extensively studied and no good characterization is known. Here we consider the class of polar graphs which are also cographs (graphs without induced path on four vertices). We provide a characterization in terms of forbidden subgraphs. Besides, we give an algorithm in time O(n) for finding a largest induced polar subgraph in cographs; this also serves as a polar cograph recognition algorithm. We examine also the monopolar cographs which are the (s,k)-polar cographs where min(s,k)?1. A characterization of these graphs by forbidden subgraphs is given. Some open questions related to polarity are discussed.     

A forbidden subgraph characterization of line-polar bipartite graphs

A graph is polar if the vertex set can be partitioned into A and B in such a way that the subgraph induced by A is a complete multipartite graph and the subgraph induced by B is a disjoint union of cliques. Polar graphs are a common generalization of bipartite, cobipartite, and split graphs. However, recognizing polar graphs is an NP-complete problem in general. This led to the study of the polarity of special classes of graphs such as cographs and chordal graphs, cf. Ekim et al. (2008) [7] and [5]. In this paper, we study the polarity of line graphs and call a graph line-polar if its line graph is polar. We characterize line-polar bipartite graphs in terms of forbidden subgraphs. This answers a question raised in the fist reference mentioned above. Our characterization has already been used to develop a linear time algorithm for recognizing line-polar bipartite graphs, cf. Ekim (submitted for publication) [6].     

Long cycles in bipartite graphs

Let G be a 2-connected bipartite graph with bipartition (A, B), where |A| ≥ |B|. It is shown that if each vertex of A has degree at least k, and each vertex of B has degree at least l, then G contains a cycle of length at least 2min(|B|, k + l ? 1, 2k ? 2). Then this result is used to determine the minimum number of edges required in a bipartite graph to ensure a cycle of length at least 2m, for any integer m ≥ 2.     

Diameters of uniform subset graphs

Let r,s be positive integers with r>s, k a nonnegative integer, and n=2r−s+k. A uniform subset graph G(n,r,s) is a graph with vertex set [n]^r and where two r-subsets A,B∈[n]^r are adjacent if and only if |A∩B|=s. Let denote the diameter of a graph G.In this paper, we prove the following results: (1) If k>0, then if r≥2s+k+2, 2 if k≥s and 2s≤r≤s+k, or k<s and s+k≤r≤2s, and 3 otherwise; (2) If k=0, then . This generalizes a result in [M. Valencia-Pabon, J.-C. Vera, On the diameter of Kneser graphs, Discrete Math. 305 (2005) 383-385].     

On the diameter of generalized Kneser graphs

Let r, k be positive integers, s(<r), a nonnegative integer, and n=2r-s+k. The set of r-subsets of [n]={1,2,…,n} is denoted by [n]^r. The generalized Kneser graph K(n,r,s) is the graph whose vertex-set is [n]^r where two r-subsets A and B are joined by an edge if |A∩B|?s. This note determines the diameter of generalized Kneser graphs. More precisely, the diameter of K(n,r,s) is equal to , which generalizes a result of Valencia-Pabon and Vera [On the diameter of Kneser graphs, Discrete Math. 305 (2005) 383-385].     

On the zeros of a minimal realization

In an earlier work, the authors have introduced a coordinate-free, module-theoretic definition of zeros for the transfer function G(s) of a linear multivariable system (A,B,C). The first contribution of this paper is the construction of an explicit k[z]-module isomorphism from that zero module, Z(G), to V¹/R¹, where V¹ is the supremal (A,B)-invariant subspace contained in kerC and R¹ is the supremal (A,B)-controllable subspace contained in kerC, and where (A,B,C) constitutes a minimal realization of G(s). The isomorphism is developed from an exact commutative diagram of k-vector spaces. The second contribution is the introduction of a zero-signal generator and the establishment of a relation between this generator and the classic notion of blocked signal transmissions.     

Estimates related to sumfree subsets of sets of integers

A subsetA of the positive integers ?₊ is called sumfree provided (A+A)∩A=ø. It is shown that any finite subsetB of ?₊ contains a sumfree subsetA such that |A|≥1/3(|B|+2), which is a slight improvement of earlier results of P. Erdös [Erd] and N. Alon-D. Kleitman [A-K]. The method used is harmonic analysis, refining the original approach of Erdös. In general, defines _k (B) as the maximum size of ak-sumfree subsetA ofB, i.e. (A) _k = $\underbrace {A + ... + A}_{k times}$ % MathType!End!2!1! is disjoint fromA. Elaborating the techniques permits one to prove that, for instance, $s_3 \left( B \right) > \frac{{\left| B \right|}}{4} + c\frac{{\log \left| B \right|}}{{\log \log \left| B \right|}}$ % MathType!End!2!1!as an improvement of the estimate $s_k \left( B \right) > \frac{{\left| B \right|}}{4}$ % MathType!End!2!1! resulting from Erdös’ argument. It is also shown that in an inequalitys _k (B)>δ _k |B|, valid for any finite subsetB of ?₊, necessarilyδ _k → 0 fork → ∞ (which seemed to be an unclear issue). The most interesting part of the paper are the methods we believe and the resulting harmonic analysis questions. They may be worthwhile to pursue.     

A short note about pursuit games played on a graph with a given genus

On a finite simple graph G = (X,E), p players pursuers $\text{A}{}_1\text{, ∴, A}{}_{\mathrm{p}}$ and one player evader B who move in turn along the edges of G are considered. The p pursuers $\text{A}{}_1\text{, ∴, A}{}_{\mathrm{p}}$ want to catch B who tries to escape. R. Nowakowski and P. Winkler [Discrete Math.43 (1983), 235–240] and A. Quilliot [“Thèse de 3° cycle,” pp. 131–145, Université de Paris VI, 1978] already characterized the graphs such that one pursuer is sufficient to catch the evader B. Very recently, M. Aigner and M. Fromme [Appl. Discrete Math., in press] proved that if G is a planar graph, three pursuers are sufficient to catch the evader B. This result is extended, showing that if G is a graph with a given genus k, then 3 + 2k pursuers are enough to “arrest” the evader B.     

On rank three graphs with a large eigenvalue

Suppose a rank three graph has parameters n, k, λ, μ, and eigenvalues k, s, ?r. Assume that s is larger than a certain function of μ and r and that the graph has a rank three permutation group acting on it; then the graph is a partial geometry. This supplements a theorem of R.C. Bose.     

Some isomorphisms between pairs of latin squares

Let A, B, C, D be latin squares with A orthogonal to B and C orthogonal to D. The pair A, B is isomorphic with the pair C, D if the graph of A, B is graph-isomorphic with the graph of C, D. A characterization is given for determining when a pair A, B of latin squares is isomorphic with a self-orthogonal square C and its transpose. Self-orthogonal squares are important because they are both abundant and easy to store. An algorithm either displays a self-orthogonal square C and an isomorphism from A, B to C, C^T or, if none exists, gives a small set of blocks to the existence of such a square isomorphism.     

Semisimilarity for matrices over a division ring

Two square matrices A and B over a ring R are semisimilar, written A$\text{?}$B, if YAX=B and XBY=A for some (possibly rectangular) matrices X, Y over R. We show that if A and B have the same dimension, and if the ring is a division ring $\text{D}$, then A$\text{?}$B if and only if A² is similar to B² and rank(A^k)=rank(B^k), k=1,2,…     

On the extendability of Bi-Cayley graphs of finite abelian groups

Let G be a finite group and A a nonempty subset (possibly containing the identity element) of G. The Bi-Cayley graph X=BC(G,A) of G with respect to A is defined as the bipartite graph with vertex set G×{0,1} and edge set {{(g,0),(sg,1)}∣g∈G,s∈A}. A graph Γ admitting a perfect matching is called n-extendable if ∣V(Γ)∣≥2n+2 and every matching of size n in Γ can be extended to a perfect matching of Γ. In this paper, the extendability of Bi-Cayley graphs of finite abelian groups is explored. In particular, 2-extendable and 3-extendable Bi-Cayley graphs of finite abelian groups are characterized.     

Partitioning graphs into complete and empty graphs

Given integers j and k and a graph G, we consider partitions of the vertex set of G into j+k parts where j of these parts induce empty graphs and the remaining k induce cliques. If such a partition exists, we say G is a (j,k)-graph. For a fixed j and k we consider the maximum order n where every graph of order n is a (j,k)-graph. The split-chromatic number of G is the minimum j where G is a (j,j)-graph. Further, the cochromatic number is the minimum j+k where G is a (j,k)-graph. We examine some relations between cochromatic, split-chromatic and chromatic numbers. We also consider some computational questions related to chordal graphs and cographs.     

M-matrices leading to semiconvergent splittings

An M-matrix as defined by Ostrowski is a matrix that can be split into A = sI ? B, s > 0, B ? 0 with s ? ρ(B), the spectral radius of B. M-matrices with the property that the powers of T = (1/s)B converge for some s are studied and are characterized here in terms of the nonnegativity of the group generalized inverse of A on the range space of A, extending the well-known property that A^{? 1} ? 0 whenever A is nonsingular.     

Pancyclic graphs and linear forests

Given integers k,s,t with 0≤s≤t and k≥0, a (k,t,s)-linear forest F is a graph that is the vertex disjoint union of t paths with a total of k edges and with s of the paths being single vertices. If the number of single vertex paths is not critical, the forest F will simply be called a (k,t)-linear forest. A graph G of order n≥k+t is (k,t)-hamiltonian if for any (k,t)-linear forest F there is a hamiltonian cycle containing F. More generally, given integers m and n with k+t≤m≤n, a graph G of order n is (k,t,s,m)-pancyclic if for any (k,t,s)-linear forest F and for each integer r with m≤r≤n, there is a cycle of length r containing the linear forest F. Minimum degree conditions and minimum sum of degree conditions of nonadjacent vertices that imply that a graph is (k,t,s,m)-pancyclic (or just (k,t,m)-pancyclic) are proved.     

On the chromaticity of complete multipartite graphs with certain edges added

Let P(G,λ) be the chromatic polynomial of a graph G. A graph G is chromatically unique if for any graph H, P(H,λ)=P(G,λ) implies H is isomorphic to G. For integers k≥0, t≥2, denote by K((t−1)×p,p+k) the complete t-partite graph that has t−1 partite sets of size p and one partite set of size p+k. Let K(s,t,p,k) be the set of graphs obtained from K((t−1)×p,p+k) by adding a set S of s edges to the partite set of size p+k such that 〈S〉 is bipartite. If s=1, denote the only graph in K(s,t,p,k) by K⁺((t−1)×p,p+k). In this paper, we shall prove that for k=0,1 and p+k≥s+2, each graph G∈K(s,t,p,k) is chromatically unique if and only if 〈S〉 is a chromatically unique graph that has no cut-vertex. As a direct consequence, the graph K⁺((t−1)×p,p+k) is chromatically unique for k=0,1 and p+k≥3.     

The number of meets between two subsets of a lattice

Let L be a lattice of divisors of an integer (isomorphically, a direct product of chains). We prove |A| |B| ? |L| |A ∧ B| for any A, B ? L, where |·| denotes cardinality and A ∧ B = {a ∧ b: a?A, b?B}. |A ∧ B| attains its minimum for fixed |A|, |B| when A and B are ideals. |·| can be replaced by certain other weight functions. When the n chains are of equal size k, the elements may be viewed as n-digit k-ary numbers. Then for fixed |A|, |B|, |A ∧ B| is minimized when A and B are the |A| and |B| smallest n-digit k-ary numbers written backwards and forwards, respectively. |A ∧ B| for these sets is determined and bounded. Related results are given, and conjectures are made.     

Bijective linear maps on semimodules spanned by Boolean matrices of fixed rank

Let M_m,n(B) be the semimodule of all m×n Boolean matrices where B is the Boolean algebra with two elements. Let k be a positive integer such that 2?k?min(m,n). Let B(m,n,k) denote the subsemimodule of M_m,n(B) spanned by the set of all rank k matrices. We show that if T is a bijective linear mapping on B(m,n,k), then there exist permutation matrices P and Q such that T(A)=PAQ for all A∈B(m,n,k) or m=n and T(A)=PA^tQ for all A∈B(m,n,k). This result follows from a more general theorem we prove concerning the structure of linear mappings on B(m,n,k) that preserve both the weight of each matrix and rank one matrices of weight k². Here the weight of a Boolean matrix is the number of its nonzero entries.     

Global convergence properties of two modified BFGS-type methods

This article studies a modified BFGS algorithm for solving smooth unconstrained strongly convex minimization problem. The modified BFGS method is based on the new quasi-Newton equation B_k+1s_k=yk where y_k*, =yk + A_ks_k andA _k is a matrix. Wei, Li and Qi [WLQ] have proven that the average performance of two of those algorithms is better than that of the classical one. In this paper, we prove the global convergence of these algorithms associated to a general line search rule.     

Equitable specialized block-colourings for 4-cycle systems—I

A block-colouring of a 4-cycle system (V,B) of order v=1+8k is a mapping ?:B→C, where C is a set of colours. Every vertex of a 4-cycle system of order v=8k+1 is contained in blocks and r is called, using the graph theoretic terminology, the degree or the repetition number. A partition of degree r into s parts defines a colouring of type s in which the blocks containing a vertex x are coloured exactly with s colours. For a vertex x and for i=1,2,…,s, let B_x,i be the set of all the blocks incident with x and coloured with the ith colour. A colouring of type s is equitable if, for every vertex x, we have |B_x,i−B_x,j|≤1, for all i,j=1,…,s. In this paper we study bicolourings, tricolourings and quadricolourings, i.e. the equitable colourings of type s with s=2, s=3 and s=4, for 4-cycle systems.