On the nullity of tricyclic graphs

The nullity of a graph G, denoted by η(G), is the multiplicity of the eigenvalue zero in its spectrum. It is known that η(G)?n-2 if G is a simple graph on n vertices and G is not isomorphic to nK₁. The extremal graphs attaining the upper bound n-2 and the second upper bound n-3 have been obtained. In this paper, the graphs with nullity n-4 are characterized. Furthermore the tricyclic graphs with maximum nullity are discussed.     

On the nullity and the matching number of unicyclic graphs

Let G be a graph with n vertices and ν(G) be the matching number of G. Let η(G) denote the nullity of G (the multiplicity of the eigenvalue zero of G). It is well known that if G is a tree, then η(G)=n-2ν(G). Tan and Liu [X. Tan, B. Liu, On the nullity of unicyclic graphs, Linear Alg. Appl. 408 (2005) 212-220] proved that the nullity set of all unicyclic graphs with n vertices is {0,1,…,n-4} and characterized the unicyclic graphs with η(G)=n-4. In this paper, we characterize the unicyclic graphs with η(G)=n-5, and we prove that if G is a unicyclic graph, then η(G) equals , or n-2ν(G)+2. We also give a characterization of these three types of graphs. Furthermore, we determine the unicyclic graphs G with η(G)=0, which answers affirmatively an open problem by Tan and Liu.     

Tricyclic graphs with maximum Merrifield-Simmons index

It is well known that the graph invariant, ‘the Merrifield-Simmons index’ is important one in structural chemistry. The connected acyclic graphs with maximal and minimal Merrifield-Simmons indices are determined by Prodinger and Tichy [H. Prodinger, R.F. Tichy, Fibonacci numbers of graphs, Fibonacci Quart. 20 (1982) 16-21]. The sharp upper and lower bounds for the Merrifield-Simmons indices of unicyclic graphs are characterized by Pedersen and Vestergaard [A.S. Pedersen, P.D. Vestergaard, The number of independent sets in unicyclic graphs, Discrete Appl. Math. 152 (2005) 246-256]. The sharp upper bound for the Merrifield-Simmons index of bicyclic graphs is obtained by Deng, Chen and Zhang [H. Deng, S. Chen, J. Zhang, The Merrifield-Simmons index in (n,n+1)-graphs, J. Math. Chem. 43 (1) (2008) 75-91]. The sharp lower bound for the Merrifield-Simmons index of bicyclic graphs is determined by Jing and Li [W. Jing, S. Li, The number of independent sets in bicyclic graphs, Ars Combin, 2008 (in press)]. In this paper, we will consider the tricyclic graph, i.e., a connected graph with cyclomatic number 3. The tricyclic graph with n vertices having maximum Merrifield-Simmons index is determined.     

三圈图的极小广义和连通指数

图的广义和连通指数作为新提出的一类分子拓扑指数, 在QSPR/QSAR 中有很大的应用价值. 树图、单圈图和双圈图的极值问题已取得很多结果, 而三圈图相关问题的研究较为复杂. 限制 - 1\leqslant \alpha < 0, 对三圈图的广义和连通指数进行了研究. 通过对三圈图的分析, 构造了一种图的变换, 指出在三圈图中广义和连通指 数的极小值必由其中的七种类型图取得. 然后通过悬挂边的变换, 最终得到三圈图广义和连通指 数的极小值并刻画了唯一的极图.     

Note on unicyclic graphs with given number of pendent vertices and minimal energy

For a simple graph G, the energy E(G) is defined as the sum of the absolute values of all eigenvalues of its adjacency matrix. Let G(n,p) denote the set of unicyclic graphs with n vertices and p pendent vertices. In [H. Hua, M. Wang, Unicyclic graphs with given number of pendent vertices and minimal energy, Linear Algebra Appl. 426 (2007) 478-489], Hua and Wang discussed the graphs that have minimal energy in G(n,p), and determined the minimal-energy graphs among almost all different cases of n and p. In their work, certain case of the values was left as an open problem in which the minimal-energy species have to be chosen in two candidate graphs, but cannot be determined by comparing of the corresponding coefficients of their characteristic polynomials. This paper aims at solving the problem completely, by using the well-known Coulson integral formula.     

The Laplacian spectral radius for unicyclic graphs with given independence number

In this paper, we give a complete characterization of the extremal graphs with maximal Laplacian spectral radius among all unicyclic graphs with given order and given number of pendent vertices. Then we study the Laplacian spectral radius of unicyclic graphs with given independence number and characterize the extremal graphs completely.     

A short and unified proof of Yu et al.?s two results on the eccentric distance sum

The eccentric distance sum (EDS) is a novel topological index that offers a vast potential for structure activity/property relationships. For a connected graph G, the eccentric distance sum is defined as ξd(G)=_∑v∈V(G)ecG(v)DG(v), where ecG(v) is the eccentricity of a vertex v in G and DG(v) is the sum of distances of all vertices in G from v. More recently, Yu et al. [G. Yu, L. Feng, A. Ili?, On the eccentric distance sum of trees and unicyclic graphs, J. Math. Anal. Appl. 375 (2011) 99-107] proved that for an n-vertex tree T, ξd(T)?4n²−9n+5, with equality holding if and only if T is the n-vertex star Sn, and for an n-vertex unicyclic graph G, ξd(G)?4n²−9n+1, with equality holding if and only if G is the graph obtained by adding an edge between two pendent vertices of n-vertex star. In this note, we give a short and unified proof of the above two results.     

Enumeration of labeled outerplanar bicyclic and tricyclic graphs

The class of outerplanar graphs is used for testing the average complexity of algorithms on graphs. A random labeled outerplanar graph can be generated by a polynomial algorithm based on the results of an enumeration of such graphs. By a bicyclic (tricyclic) graph we mean a connected graph with cyclomatic number 2 (respectively, 3). We find explicit formulas for the number of labeled connected outerplanar bicyclic and tricyclic graphs with n vertices and also obtain asymptotics for the number of these graphs for large n. Moreover, we obtain explicit formulas for the number of labeled outerplanar bicyclic and tricyclic n-vertex blocks and deduce the corresponding asymptotics for large n.     

Minimizing the least eigenvalue of unicyclic graphs with fixed diameter

Let U(n,d) be the set of unicyclic graphs on n vertices with diameter d. In this article, we determine the unique graph with minimal least eigenvalue among all graphs in U(n,d). It is found that the extremal graph is different from that for the corresponding problem on maximal eigenvalue as done by Liu et al. [H.Q. Liu, M. Lu, F. Tian, On the spectral radius of unicyclic graphs with fixed diameter, Linear Algebra Appl. 420 (2007) 449-457].     

Laplacian coefficients of trees with given number of leaves or vertices of degree two

Let G be a simple undirected n-vertex graph with the characteristic polynomial of its Laplacian matrix . It is well known that for trees the Laplacian coefficient c_n-2 is equal to the Wiener index of G, while c_n-3 is equal to the modified hyper-Wiener index of graph. Using a result of Zhou and Gutman on the relation between the Laplacian coefficients and the matching numbers in subdivided bipartite graphs, we characterize the trees with k leaves (pendent vertices) which simultaneously minimize all Laplacian coefficients. In particular, this extremal balanced starlike tree S(n,k) minimizes the Wiener index, the modified hyper-Wiener index and recently introduced Laplacian-like energy. We prove that graph S(n,n-1-p) has minimal Laplacian coefficients among n-vertex trees with p vertices of degree two. In conclusion, we illustrate on examples of these spectrum-based invariants that the opposite problem of simultaneously maximizing all Laplacian coefficients has no solution, and pose a conjecture on extremal unicyclic graphs with k leaves.     

定向图的斜秩

定向图Gσ是一个不含有环(loop)和重边的有向图,其中G称作它的基图.S(Gσ)是Gσ的斜邻接矩阵.S(Gσ)的秩称为Gσ的斜秩,记为sr(Gσ).定向图的斜邻接矩阵是斜对称的,因而,它的斜秩是偶数.本文主要考虑简单定向图的斜秩,首先给出斜秩的一些简单基本知识,紧接着分别刻画斜秩是2的定向图和斜秩是4的带有悬挂点的定向图;其次利用匹配数给出具有n个顶点、围长是k的单圈图的斜秩表达式;作为推论,列出斜秩是4的所有单圈图和带有悬挂点的双圈图;另外研究具有n个顶点、围长是k的单圈图的图类中斜秩的最小值,并刻画了极图;最后研究斜邻接矩阵是非奇异的定向单圈图.     

Variable neighborhood search for extremal graphs. 16. Some conjectures related to the largest eigenvalue of a graph

We consider four conjectures related to the largest eigenvalue of (the adjacency matrix of) a graph (i.e., to the index of the graph). Three of them have been formulated after some experiments with the programming system AutoGraphiX, designed for finding extremal graphs with respect to given properties by the use of variable neighborhood search. The conjectures are related to the maximal value of the irregularity and spectral spread in n-vertex graphs, to a Nordhaus–Gaddum type upper bound for the index, and to the maximal value of the index for graphs with given numbers of vertices and edges. None of the conjectures has been resolved so far. We present partial results and provide some indications that the conjectures are very hard.     

The Laplacian spectral radii of unicyclic and bicyclic graphs with n vertices and k pendant vertices

In this paper, we determine graphs with the largest Laplacian spectral radius among the unicyclic and the bicyclic graphs on n vertices with k pendant vertices, respectively.     

On the extremal Merrifield-Simmons index and Hosoya index of quasi-tree graphs

It is well known that the two graph invariants, “the Merrifield-Simmons index” and “the Hosoya index” are important in structural chemistry. A graph G is called a quasi-tree graph, if there exists u₀ in V(G) such that G−u₀ is a tree. In this paper, at first we characterize the n-vertex quasi-tree graphs with the largest, the second-largest, the smallest and the second-smallest Merrifield-Simmons indices. Then we characterize the n-vertex quasi-tree graphs with the largest, the second-largest, the smallest and the second-smallest Hosoya indices, as well as those n-vertex quasi-tree graphs with k pendent vertices having the smallest Hosoya index.     

On the Reverse Wiener Indices of Unicyclic Graphs

We determine the maximum values of the reverse Wiener indices of the unicyclic graphs with given cycle length, number of pendent vertices and maximum degree, respectively, and characterize the extremal graphs. We also determine the unicyclic graphs of given cycle length and diameter with minimum Wiener index.      

On the Maximum Zagreb Indices of Graphs with <Emphasis Type="Italic">k</Emphasis> Cut Vertices

For a (molecular) graph, the first Zagreb index M ₁ is equal to the sum of squares of the vertex degrees, and the second Zagreb index M ₂ is equal to the sum of products of degrees of pairs of adjacent vertices. In this paper, we study the Zagreb indices of n-vertex connected graphs with k cut vertices, the upper bound for M ₁- and M ₂-values of n-vertex connected graphs with k cut vertices are determined, respectively. The corresponding extremal graphs are characterized.     

Further results on the expected hitting time,the cover cost and the related invariants of graphs

A close relation between hitting times of the simple random walk on a graph, the Kirchhoff index, the resistance-centrality, and related invariants of unicyclic graphs is displayed. Combining graph transformations and some other techniques, sharp upper and lower bounds on the cover cost (resp. reverse cover cost) of a vertex in an $n$-vertex unicyclic graph are determined. All the corresponding extremal graphs are identified.     

On the Laplacian coefficients of bicyclic graphs

Let G be a graph of order n and let be the characteristic polynomial of its Laplacian matrix. Generalizing the approach in [D. Stevanovi?, A. Ili?, On the Laplacian coefficients of unicyclic graphs, Linear Algebra and its Applications 430 (2009) 2290-2300.] on graph transformations, we show that among all bicyclic graphs of order n, the kth coefficient c_k is smallest when the graph is B_n (obtained from C₄ by adding one edge connecting two non-adjacent vertices and adding n−4 pendent vertices attached to the vertex of degree 3).