Independence number,connectivity, and r-factors

We show that if r ? 1 is an odd integer and G is a graph with |V(G)| even such that k(G) ? (r + 1)²/2 and (r + 1)²α(G) ? 4rk(G), then G has an r-factor; if r ? 2 is even and G is a graph with k(G) ? r(r + 2)/2 and (r + 2)α(G) ? 4k(G), then G has an r-factor (where k(G) and α(G) denote the connectivity and the independence number of G, respectively).     

Color Chain of a Graph

For a simple connected undirected graph G, c(G), c_f(G), Y_f(G), f(G), ?G(G){\chi(G), \chi_f(G), \Psi_f(G), \phi(G), \partial \Gamma (G)} and Ψ(G) denote respectively the chromatic number, fall chromatic number (assuming that it exists for G), fall achromatic number, b-chromatic number, partial Grundy number and achromatic number of G. It is shown in Dunbar et al. (J Combin Math & Combin Comput 33:257–273, 2000) that for any graph G for which fall coloring exists, c(G) ￡ c_f(G) ￡ Y_f (G) ￡ f(G) ￡ ?G(G) ￡ Y(G){\chi (G)\leq \chi_f(G) \leq \Psi_f (G) \leq \phi(G) \leq \partial \Gamma (G)\leq \Psi (G)} . In this paper, we exhibit an infinite family of graphs G with a strictly increasing color chain: c(G) < c_f(G) < Y_f (G) < f(G) < ?G(G) < Y(G){\chi (G) < \chi_f(G) < \Psi_f (G) < \phi(G) < \partial \Gamma (G) < \Psi (G)} . The existence of such a chain was raised by Dunbar et al.     

[a,b]-factorization of a graph

Let a and b be integers such that 0 ? a ? b. Then a graph G is called an [a, b]-graph if a ? d_G(x) ? b for every x ? V(G), and an [a, b]-factor of a graph is defined to be its spanning subgraph F such that a ? d_F(x) ? b for every vertex x, where d_G(x) and d_F(x) denote the degrees of x in G and F, respectively. If the edges of a graph can be decomposed into [a.b]-factors then we say that the graph is [2a, 2a]-factorable. We prove the following two theorems: (i) a graph G is [2a, 2b)-factorable if and only if G is a [2am,2bm]-graph for some integer m, and (ii) every [8m + 2k, 10m + 2k]-graph is [1,2]-factorable.     

Linear and 2-Frugal Choosability of Graphs of Small Maximum Average Degree

A proper vertex colouring of a graph G is 2-frugal (resp. linear) if the graph induced by the vertices of any two colour classes is of maximum degree 2 (resp. is a forest of paths). A graph G is 2-frugally (resp. linearly) L-colourable if for a given list assignment L:V(G)? 2^{\mathbb N}{L:V(G)\mapsto 2^{\mathbb N}} , there exists a 2-frugal (resp. linear) colouring c of G such that c(v) ? L(v){c(v) \in L(v)} for all v ? V(G){v\in V(G)} . If G is 2-frugally (resp. linearly) L-list colourable for any list assignment such that |L(v)| ≥ k for all v ? V(G){v\in V(G)}, then G is 2-frugally (resp. linearly) k-choosable. In this paper, we improve some bounds on the 2-frugal choosability and linear choosability of graphs with small maximum average degree.     

On the toughness index of planar graphs

The toughness indexτ(G) of a graph G is defined to be the largest integer t such that for any S ? V(G) with |S| > t, c(G - S) < |S| - t, where c(G - S) denotes the number of components of G - S. In particular, 1-tough graphs are exactly those graphs for which τ(G) ≥ 0. In this paper, it is shown that if G is a planar graph, then τ(G) ≥ 2 if and only if G is 4-connected. This result suggests that there may be a polynomial-time algorithm for determining whether a planar graph is 1-tough, even though the problem for general graphs is NP-hard. The result can be restated as follows: a planar graph is 4-connected if and only if it remains 1-tough whenever two vertices are removed. Hence it establishes a weakened version of a conjecture, due to M. D. Plummer, that removing 2 vertices from a 4-connected planar graph yields a Hamiltonian graph.     

Toughness and the existence of k-factors

A connected graph G is called t-tough if t · w(G - S) ? |S| for any subset S of V(G) with w(G - S) > 1, where w(G - S) is the number of connected components of G - S. We prove that every k-tough graph has a k-factor if k|G| is even and |G| ? k + 1. This result, first conjectured by Chvátal, is sharp in the following sense: For any positive integer k and for any positive real number ε, there exists a (k - ε)-tough graph G with k|G| even and |G| ? k + 1 which has no k-factor.     

Toughness,minimum degree,and the existence of 2-factors

Degree conditions on the vertices of a t-tough graph G(1 ≦ t ≦ 2) that ensure the existence of a 2-factor in G are presented. These conditions are asymptotically best possible for every t ? [1, 3/2] and for infinitely many t ? [3/2, 2].     

On 2-factors with given properties in claw-free graphs

Let G be a claw-free graph such that (i) k(G) 3 2k(G) \geq 2, (ii) $|V (G)| \geq 8$|V (G)| \geq 8 and (iii) d(G) 3 4\delta(G) \geq 4. For every pair of edges e₁, e₂ of G the graph G^* = G - {e₁, e₂}G^* = G - \{e_1, e_2\} has a 2-factor.     

Colorful monochromatic connectivity

An edge-coloring of a connected graph is monochromatically-connecting if there is a monochromatic path joining any two vertices. How “colorful” can a monochromatically-connecting coloring be? Let mc(G) denote the maximum number of colors used in a monochromatically-connecting coloring of a graph G. We prove some nontrivial upper and lower bounds for mc(G) and relate it to other graph parameters such as the chromatic number, the connectivity, the maximum degree, and the diameter.     

Vertex-Distinguishing Edge Colorings of Graphs with Degree Sum Conditions

An edge coloring is called vertex-distinguishing if every two distinct vertices are incident to different sets of colored edges. The minimum number of colors required for a vertex-distinguishing proper edge coloring of a simple graph G is denoted by c￠_vd(G){\chi'_{vd}(G)}. It is proved that c￠_vd(G) ￡ D(G)+5{\chi'_{vd}(G)\leq\Delta(G)+5} if G is a connected graph of order n ≥ 3 and s₂(G) 3 \frac2n3{\sigma_{2}(G)\geq\frac{2n}{3}}, where σ ₂(G) denotes the minimum degree sum of two nonadjacent vertices in G.     

Balloons,cut‐edges,matchings, and total domination in regular graphs of odd degree

A balloon in a graph G is a maximal 2‐edge‐connected subgraph incident to exactly one cut‐edge of G. Let b(G) be the number of balloons, let c(G) be the number of cut‐edges, and let α′(G) be the maximum size of a matching. Let ${\mathcal{F}}_{{{n}},{{r}}}A balloon in a graph G is a maximal 2‐edge‐connected subgraph incident to exactly one cut‐edge of G. Let b(G) be the number of balloons, let c(G) be the number of cut‐edges, and let α′(G) be the maximum size of a matching. Let ${\mathcal{F}}_{{{n}},{{r}}}$ be the family of connected (2r+1)‐regular graphs with n vertices, and let ${{b}}={{max}}\{{{b}}({{G}}): {{G}}\in {\mathcal{F}}_{{{n}},{{r}}}\}$. For ${{G}}\in{\mathcal{F}}_{{{n}},{{r}}}$, we prove the sharp inequalities c(G)?[r(n?2)?2]/(2r²+2r?1)?1 and α′(G)?n/2?rb/(2r+1). Using b?[(2r?1)n+2]/(4r²+4r?2), we obtain a simple proof of the bound proved by Henning and Yeo. For each of these bounds and each r, the approach using balloons allows us to determine the infinite family where equality holds. For the total domination number γ_t(G) of a cubic graph, we prove γ_t(G)?n/2?b(G)/2 (except that γ_t(G) may be n/2?1 when b(G)=3 and the balloons cover all but one vertex). With α′(G)?n/2?b(G)/3 for cubic graphs, this improves the known inequality γ_t(G)?α′(G). © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Graph Theory 64: 116–131, 2010     

Long cycles in subgraphs of (pseudo)random directed graphs

We study the resilience of random and pseudorandom directed graphs with respect to the property of having long directed cycles. For every 08γ81/2 we find a constant c = c(γ) such that the following holds. Let G = (V, E) be a (pseudo)random directed graph on n vertices and with at least a linear number of edges, and let G′ be a subgraph of G with (1/2 + γ)|E| edges. Then G′ contains a directed cycle of length at least (c ? o(1))n. Moreover, there is a subgraph G′′of G with (1/2 + γ ? o(1))|E| edges that does not contain a cycle of length at least cn. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Graph Theory 70: 284–296, 2012     

Circular perfect graphs

For 1 ≤ d ≤ k, let K_k/d be the graph with vertices 0, 1, …, k ? 1, in which i ～j if d ≤ |i ? j| ≤ k ? d. The circular chromatic number χ_c(G) of a graph G is the minimum of those k/d for which G admits a homomorphism to K_k/d. The circular clique number ω_c(G) of G is the maximum of those k/d for which K_k/d admits a homomorphism to G. A graph G is circular perfect if for every induced subgraph H of G, we have χ_c(H) = ω_c(H). In this paper, we prove that if G is circular perfect then for every vertex x of G, N_G[x] is a perfect graph. Conversely, we prove that if for every vertex x of G, N_G[x] is a perfect graph and G ? N[x] is a bipartite graph with no induced P₅ (the path with five vertices), then G is a circular perfect graph. In a companion paper, we apply the main result of this paper to prove an analog of Haj?os theorem for circular chromatic number for k/d ≥ 3. Namely, we shall design a few graph operations and prove that for any k/d ≥ 3, starting from the graph K_k/d, one can construct all graphs of circular chromatic number at least k/d by repeatedly applying these graph operations. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Graph Theory 48: 186–209, 2005     

Edge covering coloring of nearly bipartite graphs

LetG be a simple graph with vertex setV(G) and edge setE(G). A subsetS ofE(G) is called an edge cover ofG if the subgraph induced byS is a spanning subgraph ofG. The maximum number of edge covers which form a partition ofE(G) is called edge covering chromatic number ofG, denoted by χ′_c(G). It known that for any graphG with minimum degreeδ,δ -1 ≤χ′_c(G) ≤δ. If χ′_c(G) =δ, thenG is called a graph of CI class, otherwiseG is called a graph of CII class. It is easy to prove that the problem of deciding whether a given graph is of CI class or CII class is NP-complete. In this paper, we consider the classification of nearly bipartite graph and give some sufficient conditions for a nearly bipartite graph to be of CI class.     

Path factors of bipartite graphs

A path on n vertices is denoted by P_n. For any graph H, the number of isolated vertices of H is denoted by i(H). Let G be a graph. A spanning subgraph F of G is called a {P₃, P₄, P₅}-factor of G if every component of F is one of P₃, P₄, and P₅. In this paper, we prove that a bipartite graph G has a {P₃, P₄, P₅}-factor if and only if i(G ? S ? M) ≦ 2|S| + |M| for all S ? V(G) and independent M ? E(G).     

Closure, 2-factors,and cycle coverings in claw-free graphs

In this article, we study cycle coverings and 2-factors of a claw-free graph and those of its closure, which has been defined by the first author (On a closure concept in claw-free graphs, J Combin Theory Ser B 70 (1997), 217–224). For a claw-free graph G and its closure cl(G), we prove: (1) V(G) is covered by k cycles in G if and only if V(cl(G)) is covered by k cycles of cl(G); and (2) G has a 2-factor with at most k components if and only if cl(G) has a 2-factor with at most k components. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Graph Theory 32: 109–117, 1999     

A Remark on Hamiltonian Cycles

Let G be an undirected and simple graph on n vertices. Let ω, α and χ denote the number of components, the independence number and the connectivity number of G. G is called a 1-tough graph if ω(G – S) ? |S| for any subset S of V(G) such that ω(G ? S) > 1. Let σ₂ = min {d(v) + d(w)|v and w are nonadjacent}. Note that the difference α - χ in 1-tough graph may be made arbitrary large. In this paper we prove that any 1-tough graph with σ₂ > n + χ - α is hamiltonian.     

Toughness and longest cycles in 2-connected planar graphs

Let G be a planar graph on n vertices, let c(G) denote the length of a longest cycle of G, and let w(G) denote the number of components of G. By a well-known theorem of Tutte, c(G) = n (i.e., G is hamiltonian) if G is 4-connected. Recently, Jackson and Wormald showed that c(G) ≥ βn^α for some positive constants β and α ≅ 0.2 if G is 3-connected. Now let G have connectivity 2. Then c(G) may be as small as 4, as with K_2,n-2, unless we bound w(G − S) for every subset S of V(G) with |S| = 2. Define ξ(G) as the maximum of w(G − S) taken over all 2-element subsets S ⊆ V(G). We give an asymptotically sharp lower bound for the toughness of G in terms of ξ(G), and we show that c(G) ≥ θ ln n for some positive constant θ depending only on ξ(G). In the proof we use a recent result of Gao and Yu improving Jackson and Wormald's result. Examples show that the lower bound on c(G) is essentially best-possible. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Circular flow numbers of regular multigraphs

The circular flow number F_c(G) of a graph G = (V, E) is the minimum r ϵ ℚ such that G admits a flow ϕ with 1 ≤ ϕ (e) ≤ r − 1, for each e ϵ E. We determine the circular flow number of some regular multigraphs. In particular, we characterize the bipartite (2t+1)‐regular graphs (t ≥ 1). Our results imply that there are gaps for possible circular flow numbers for (2t+1)‐regular graphs, e.g., there is no cubic graph G with 3 < F_c(G) < 4. We further show that there are snarks with circular flow number arbitrarily close to 4, answering a question of X. Zhu. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Graph Theory 36: 24–34, 2001     

Roman domination subdivision number of graphs

A Roman dominating function on a graph G = (V, E) is a function f : V ? {0, 1, 2}f : V \rightarrow \{0, 1, 2\} satisfying the condition that every vertex v for which f(v) = 0 is adjacent to at least one vertex u for which f(u) = 2. The weight of a Roman dominating function is the value w(f) = ?_{v ? V} f(v)w(f) = \sum_{v\in V} f(v). The Roman domination number of a graph G, denoted by _gR(G)_{\gamma R}(G), equals the minimum weight of a Roman dominating function on G. The Roman domination subdivision number sd_gR(G)sd_{\gamma R}(G) is the minimum number of edges that must be subdivided (each edge in G can be subdivided at most once) in order to increase the Roman domination number. In this paper, first we establish upper bounds on the Roman domination subdivision number for arbitrary graphs in terms of vertex degree. Then we present several different conditions on G which are sufficient to imply that $1 \leq sd_{\gamma R}(G) \leq 3$1 \leq sd_{\gamma R}(G) \leq 3. Finally, we show that the Roman domination subdivision number of a graph can be arbitrarily large.