An edge grafting theorem on the energy of unicyclic and bipartite graphs

The energy of a graph is the sum of the absolute values of the eigenvalues of its adjacency matrix. The edge grafting operation on a graph is certain kind of edge moving between two pendant paths starting from the same vertex. In this paper we show how the graph energy changes under the edge grafting operations on unicyclic and bipartite graphs. We also give some applications of this result on the comparison of graph energies between unicyclic or bipartite graphs.     

Effective graph resistance

This paper studies an interesting graph measure that we call the effective graph resistance. The notion of effective graph resistance is derived from the field of electric circuit analysis where it is defined as the accumulated effective resistance between all pairs of vertices. The objective of the paper is twofold. First, we survey known formulae of the effective graph resistance and derive other representations as well. The derivation of new expressions is based on the analysis of the associated random walk on the graph and applies tools from Markov chain theory. This approach results in a new method to approximate the effective graph resistance. A second objective of this paper concerns the optimisation of the effective graph resistance for graphs with given number of vertices and diameter, and for optimal edge addition. A set of analytical results is described, as well as results obtained by exhaustive search. One of the foremost applications of the effective graph resistance we have in mind, is the analysis of robustness-related problems. However, with our discussion of this informative graph measure we hope to open up a wealth of possibilities of applying the effective graph resistance to all kinds of networks problems.     

The vertex (edge) independence number, vertex (edge) cover number and the least eigenvalue of a graph

In this paper we characterize the unique graph whose least eigenvalue attains the minimum among all graphs of a fixed order and a given vertex (edge) independence number or vertex (edge) cover number, and get some bounds for the vertex (edge) independence number, vertex (edge) cover number of a graph in terms of the least eigenvalue of the graph.     

Cycles through ten vertices in 3-connected cubic graphs

It is known that there exists a cycle through any nine vertices of a 3-connected cubic graphG. Here we show that if an edge is removed from such a graph, then there is still a cycle through any five vertices. Furthermore, we characterise the circumstances in which there fails to be a cycle through six. As corollaries we are able to prove that a 3-connected cubic graph has a cycle through any specified five vertices and one edge, and to classify the conditions under which it has a cycle through four chosen vertices and two edges. We are able to use the five and six vertex results to show that a 3-connected cubic graph has a cycle which passes through any ten given vertices if and only if the graph is not contractible to the Petersen graph in such a way that the ten vertices each map to a distinct vertex of the Petersen graph.     

Minimal non-1-planar graphs

A graph is 1-planar if it can be drawn on the plane so that each edge is crossed by no more than one other edge. A non-1-planar graph G is minimal if the graph G-e is 1-planar for every edge e of G. We prove that there are infinitely many minimal non-1-planar graphs (MN-graphs). It is known that every 6-vertex graph is 1-planar. We show that the graph K₇-K₃ is the unique 7-vertex MN-graph.     

Joint extension of two theorems of Kotzig on 3-polytopes

The weight of an edge in a graph is the sum of the degrees of its end-vertices. It is proved that in each 3-polytope there exists either an edge of weight at most 13 for which both incident faces are triangles, or an edge of weight at most 10 which is incident with a triangle, or else an edge of weight at most 8. All the bounds 13, 10, and 8 are sharp and attained independently of each other.     

Equiarboreal graphs

A graphX is said to beequiarboreal if the number of spanning trees containing a specified edge inX is independent of the choice of edge. We prove that any graph which is a colour class in an association scheme (and thus any distance regular graph) is equiarboreal. We note that a connected equiarboreal graph withM edges andn vertices has edge-connectivity at leastM/(n−1).     

New proofs for Levine’s theorems

Recently, Levine [9] expressed the vertex weighted complexity on spanning trees (with a fixed root) of the directed line graph of a digraph D in terms of the edge weighted complexity on spanning trees (with a fixed root) of D. We present new proofs for two Levine’s Theorems. Furthermore, we express the number of unicycles of the directed line graph of a digraph D in terms of the number of unicycles of D.     

Directed cut transversal packing for source-sink connected graphs

Concerning the conjecture that in every directed graph, a maximum packing of directed cut transversals is equal in cardinality to a minimum directed cut, a proof is given for the side coboundaries of a graph. This case includes, and is essentially equivalent to, all source-sink connected graphs, for which Schrijver has given a proof. The method used here first reduces the assertion to a packing theorem for bi-transversals. A packing of bi-transversals of the required size is constructed one edge at a time, by maintaining a Hall-like feasibility condition as each edge is added.     

Density Conditions For Triangles In Multipartite Graphs

We consider the problem of finding a large or dense triangle-free subgraph in a given graph G. In response to a question of P. Erdős, we prove that, if the minimum degree of G is at least 9|V (G)|/10, the largest triangle-free subgraphs are precisely the largest bipartite subgraphs in G. We investigate in particular the case where G is a complete multipartite graph. We prove that a finite tripartite graph with all edge densities greater than the golden ratio has a triangle and that this bound is best possible. Also we show that an infinite-partite graph with finite parts has a triangle, provided that the edge density between any two parts is greater than 1/2.     

Cycles in graphs of uncountable chromatic number

We answer a question of Erdős [1], [2] by showing that any graph of uncountable chromatic number contains an edge through which there are cycles of all (but finitely many) lengths.     

Contractible edges in triangle-free graphs

An edge of a graph is calledk-contractible if the contraction of the edge results in ak-connected graph. Thomassen [5] proved that everyk-connected graph of girth at least four has ak-contractible edge. In this paper, we study the distribution ofk-contractible edges in triangle-free graphs and show the following: Whenk≧2, everyk-connected graph of girth at least four and ordern≧3k, hasn+(3/2)k ²-3k or morek-contractible edges.     

A lower bound for algebraic connectivity based on the connection-graph-stability method

This paper introduces the connection-graph-stability method and uses it to establish a new lower bound on the algebraic connectivity of graphs (the second smallest eigenvalue of the Laplacian matrix of the graph) that is sharper than the previously published bounds. The connection-graph-stability score for each edge is defined as the sum of the lengths of the shortest paths making use of that edge. We prove that the algebraic connectivity of the graph is bounded below by the size of the graph divided by the maximum connection-graph-stability score assigned to the edges.     

On the Estrada and Laplacian Estrada indices of graphs

The Estrada index of a graph G is defined as , where λ₁,λ₂,…,λ_n are the eigenvalues of G. The Laplacian Estrada index of a graph G is defined as , where μ₁,μ₂,…,μ_n are the Laplacian eigenvalues of G. An edge grafting operation on a graph moves a pendent edge between two pendent paths. We study the change of Estrada index of graph under edge grafting operation between two pendent paths at two adjacent vertices. As the application, we give the result on the change of Laplacian Estrada index of bipartite graph under edge grafting operation between two pendent paths at the same vertex. We also determine the unique tree with minimum Laplacian Estrada index among the set of trees with given maximum degree, and the unique trees with maximum Laplacian Estrada indices among the set of trees with given diameter, number of pendent vertices, matching number, independence number and domination number, respectively.     

Some properties of graphs determined by edge zeta functions

In 1989, Hashimoto introduced an edge zeta function of a finite graph, which is a generalization of the Ihara zeta function. The edge zeta function is the reciprocal of a polynomial in twice as many indeterminants as edges in the graph and can be computed via a determinant expression. We look at graph properties which we can determine using the edge zeta function. In particular, the edge zeta function is enough to deduce the clique number, the number of Hamiltonian cycles, and whether a graph is perfect or chordal. Finally, we present a new example illustrating that the Ihara zeta function cannot necessarily do the same.     

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.     

An adjacency lemma for critical multigraphs

In edge colouring it is often useful to have information about the degree distribution of the neighbours of a given vertex. For example, the well-known Vizing's Adjacency Lemma provides a useful lower bound on the number of vertices of maximum degree adjacent to a given one in a critical graph. We consider an extension of this problem, where we seek information on vertices at distance two from a given vertex in a critical graph. We extend and, simultaneously, generalize to multigraphs two results proved, respectively, by Zhang [Every planar graph with maximum degree seven is Class 1, Graphs Combin. 16 (2000) 467-495] and Sanders and Zhao [Planar graphs of maximum degree seven are Class 1, J. Combin. Theory Ser. B 83 (2001) 201-212].     

The bondage numbers of graphs with small crossing numbers

The bondage number b(G) of a nonempty graph G is the cardinality of a smallest edge set whose removal from G results in a graph with domination number greater than the domination number γ(G) of G. Kang and Yuan proved b(G)?8 for every connected planar graph G. Fischermann, Rautenbach and Volkmann obtained some further results for connected planar graphs. In this paper, we generalize their results to connected graphs with small crossing numbers.     

Contractible edges in non-separating cycles

An edge of ak-connected graph is said to bek-contractible if the contraction of the edge results in ak-connected graph. We prove that every triangle-freek-connected graphG has an induced cycleC such that all edges ofC arek-contractible and such thatG–V(C) is (k–3)-connected (k4). This result unifies two theorems by Thomassen [5] and Egawa et. al. [3].Dedicated to Professor Toshiro Tsuzuku on his sixtieth birthday     

Small cycle double covers of 4-connected planar graphs

Acycle double cover of a graph,G, is a collection of cycles,C, such that every edge ofG lies in precisely two cycles ofC. TheSmall Cycle Double Cover Conjecture, proposed by J. A. Bondy, asserts that every simple bridgeless graph onn vertices has a cycle double cover with at mostn–1 cycles, and is a strengthening of the well-knownCycle Double Cover Conjecture. In this paper, we prove Bondy's conjecture for 4-connected planar graphs.