On the metric dimension of incidence graphs

A resolving set for a graph $\Gamma$ is a collection of vertices $S$, chosen so that for each vertex $v$, the list of distances from $v$ to the members of $S$ uniquely specifies $v$. The metric dimension$\mu \left(\Gamma \right)$ is the smallest size of a resolving set for $\Gamma$. We consider the metric dimension of two families of incidence graphs: incidence graphs of symmetric designs, and incidence graphs of symmetric transversal designs (i.e. symmetric nets). These graphs are the bipartite distance-regular graphs of diameter 3, and the bipartite, antipodal distance-regular graphs of diameter 4, respectively. In each case, we use the probabilistic method in the manner used by Babai to obtain bounds on the metric dimension of strongly regular graphs, and are able to show that $\mu \left(\Gamma \right)=O(\sqrt{n}logn)$ (where $n$ is the number of vertices).     

Clique-transversal sets in 4-regular claw-free graphs

A clique-transversal set D of a graph G is a set of vertices of G such that D meets all cliques of G. The clique-transversal number, denoted by τ _c (G), is the minimum cardinality of a clique-transversal set in G. In this paper we give the exact value of the clique-transversal number for the line graph of a complete graph. Also, we give a lower bound on the clique-transversal number for 4-regular claw-free graphs and characterize the extremal graphs achieving the lower bound.     

Tutte sets in graphs I: Maximal tutte sets and D‐graphs

A well‐known formula of Tutte and Berge expresses the size of a maximum matching in a graph G in terms of what is usually called the deficiency of G. A subset X of V(G) for which this deficiency is attained is called a Tutte set of G. While much is known about maximum matchings, less is known about the structure of Tutte sets. In this article, we study the structural aspects of maximal Tutte sets in a graph G. Towards this end, we introduce a related graph D(G). We first show that the maximal Tutte sets in G are precisely the maximal independent sets in its D‐graph D(G), and then continue with the study of D‐graphs in their own right, and of iterated D‐graphs. We show that G is isomorphic to a spanning subgraph of D(G), and characterize the graphs for which G?D(G) and for which D(G)?D²(G). Surprisingly, it turns out that for every graph G with a perfect matching, D³(G)?D²(G). Finally, we characterize bipartite D‐graphs and comment on the problem of characterizing D‐graphs in general. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Graph Theory 55: 343–358, 2007     

Strongly regular Cayley graphs from partitions of subdifference sets of the Singer difference sets

In this paper, we give a new lifting construction of “hyperbolic” type of strongly regular Cayley graphs. Also we give new constructions of strongly regular Cayley graphs over the additive groups of finite fields based on partitions of subdifference sets of the Singer difference sets. Our results unify some recent constructions of strongly regular Cayley graphs related to m-ovoids and i-tight sets in finite geometry. Furthermore, some of the strongly regular Cayley graphs obtained in this paper are new or nonisomorphic to known strongly regular graphs with the same parameters.     

Tight bounds for eternal dominating sets in graphs

The eternal domination number of a graph is the number of guards needed at vertices of the graph to defend the graph against any sequence of attacks at vertices. We consider the model in which at most one guard can move per attack and a guard can move across at most one edge to defend an attack. We prove that there are graphs G for which , where γ_∞(G) is the eternal domination number of G and α(G) is the independence number of G. This matches the upper bound proved by Klostermeyer and MacGillivray.     

Two problems on independent sets in graphs

Let i_t(G) denote the number of independent sets of size t in a graph G. Levit and Mandrescu have conjectured that for all bipartite G the sequence (i_t(G))_t≥0 (the independent set sequence of G) is unimodal. We provide evidence for this conjecture by showing that this is true for almost all equibipartite graphs. Specifically, we consider the random equibipartite graph G(n,n,p), and show that for any fixed p∈(0,1] its independent set sequence is almost surely unimodal, and moreover almost surely log-concave except perhaps for a vanishingly small initial segment of the sequence. We obtain similar results for .We also consider the problem of estimating i(G)=∑_t≥0i_t(G) for G in various families. We give a sharp upper bound on the number of independent sets in an n-vertex graph with minimum degree δ, for all fixed δ and sufficiently large n. Specifically, we show that the maximum is achieved uniquely by K_δ,n−δ, the complete bipartite graph with δ vertices in one partition class and n−δ in the other.We also present a weighted generalization: for all fixed x>0 and δ>0, as long as n=n(x,δ) is large enough, if G is a graph on n vertices with minimum degree δ then ∑_t≥0i_t(G)x^t≤∑_t≥0i_t(K_δ,n−δ)x^t with equality if and only if G=K_δ,n−δ.     

On the geodetic number and related metric sets in Cartesian product graphs

A set S of vertices of a graph G is a geodetic set if every vertex of G lies in at least one interval between the vertices of S. The size of a minimum geodetic set in G is the geodetic number of G. Upper bounds for the geodetic number of Cartesian product graphs are proved and for several classes exact values are obtained. It is proved that many metrically defined sets in Cartesian products have product structure and that the contour set of a Cartesian product is geodetic if and only if their projections are geodetic sets in factors.     

On the intersection problem for linear sets in the projective line

The aim of this paper is to investigate the intersection problem between two linear sets in the projective line over a finite field. In particular, we analyze the intersection between two clubs with possibly different maximum fields of linearity. We also consider the intersection between a certain linear set of maximum rank and any other linear set of the same rank. The strategy relies on the study of certain algebraic curves whose rational points describe the intersection of the two linear sets. Among other geometric and algebraic tools, function field theory and the Hasse–Weil bound play a crucial role. As an application, we give asymptotic results on semifields of BEL-rank two.     

Global secure sets of grid-like graphs

Let G=(V,E) be a graph and S⊆V. The set S is a secure set if ∀X⊆S,|N[X]∩S|≥|N[X]−S|, and S is a global secure set if S is a secure set and a dominating set. The cardinality of a minimum global secure set of G is the global security number of G, denoted γ_s(G). The sets studied in this paper are different from secure dominating sets studied in Cockayne et al. (2003) [3], Grobler and Mynhardt (2009) [8], or Klostermeyer and Mynhardt (2008) [13], which are also denoted by γ_s.In this paper, we provide results on the global security numbers of paths, cycles and their Cartesian products.     

Counting independent sets in Riordan graphs

The notion of a Riordan graph was introduced recently, and it is a far-reaching generalization of the well-known Pascal graphs and Toeplitz graphs. However, apart from a certain subclass of Toeplitz graphs, nothing was known on independent sets in Riordan graphs.In this paper, we give exact enumeration and lower and upper bounds for the number of independent sets for various classes of Riordan graphs. Remarkably, we offer a variety of methods to solve the problems that range from the structural decomposition theorem to methods in combinatorics on words. Some of our results are valid for any graph.     

The number of independent sets in unicyclic graphs with a given diameter

Let U_n,d denote the set of unicyclic graphs with a given diameter d. In this paper, the unique unicyclic graph in U_n,d with the maximum number of independent sets, is characterized.     

A combinatorial algorithm for weighted stable sets in bipartite graphs

Computing a maximum weighted stable set in a bipartite graph is considered well-solved and usually approached with preflow-push, Ford-Fulkerson or network simplex algorithms. We present a combinatorial algorithm for the problem that is not based on flows. Numerical tests suggest that this algorithm performs quite well in practice and is competitive with flow based algorithms especially in the case of dense graphs.     

Dominating sets and domatic number of circular arc graphs

A dominating set of a graph G = (N,E) is a subset S of nodes such that every node is either in S or adjacent to a node which is in S. The domatic number of G is the size of a maximum cardinality partition of N into dominating sets. The problems of finding a minimum cardinality dominating set and the domatic number are both NP-complete even for special classes of graphs. In the present paper we give an O(n∣E∣) time algorithm that finds a minimum cardinality dominating set when G is a circular arc graph (intersection graph of arcs on a circle). The domatic number problem is solved in O(n² log n) time when G is a proper circular arc graph, and it is shown NP-complete for general circular arc graphs.     

Subgroup regular sets in Cayley graphs

Let Γ be a graph with vertex set V, and let a and b be nonnegative integers. A subset C of V is called an $(a,b)$-regular set in Γ if every vertex in C has exactly a neighbors in C and every vertex in $V?C$ has exactly b neighbors in C. In particular, $(0,1)$-regular sets and $(1,1)$-regular sets in Γ are called perfect codes and total perfect codes in Γ, respectively. A subset C of a group G is said to be an $(a,b)$-regular set of G if there exists a Cayley graph of G which admits C as an $(a,b)$-regular set. In this paper we prove that, for any generalized dihedral group G or any group G of order 4p or pq for some primes p and q, if a nontrivial subgroup H of G is a $(0,1)$-regular set of G, then it must also be an $(a,b)$-regular set of G for any $0?a?|H|?1$ and $0?b?|H|$ such that a is even when $|H|$ is odd. A similar result involving $(1,1)$-regular sets of such groups is also obtained in the paper.     

On strong metric dimension of graphs and their complements

A vertex x in a graph G strongly resolves a pair of vertices v, w if there exists a shortest x-w path containing v or a shortest x-v path containing w in G. A set of vertices S■V(G) is a strong resolving set of G if every pair of distinct vertices of G is strongly resolved by some vertex in S. The strong metric dimension of G, denoted by sdim(G), is the minimum cardinality over all strong resolving sets of G. For a connected graph G of order n≥2, we characterize G such that sdim(G) equals 1, n-1, or n-2, respectively. We give a Nordhaus-Gaddum-type result for the strong metric dimension of a graph and its complement: for a graph G and its complement G, each of order n≥4 and connected, we show that 2≤sdim(G)+sdim(G)≤2( n-2). It is readily seen that sdim(G)+sdim(G)=2 if and only if n=4; we show that, when G is a tree or a unicyclic graph, sdim(G)+sdim(G)=2(n 2) if and only if n=5 and G ～=G ～=C5, the cycle on five vertices. For connected graphs G and G of order n≥5, we show that 3≤sdim(G)+sdim(G)≤2(n-3) if G is a tree; we also show that 4≤sdim(G)+sdim(G)≤2(n-3) if G is a unicyclic graph of order n≥6. Furthermore, we characterize graphs G satisfying sdim(G)+sdim(G)=2(n-3) when G is a tree or a unicyclic graph.