Polynomial interpolation and sums of powers of integers

In this note, we revisit the problem of polynomial interpolation and explicitly construct two polynomials in n of degree k + 1, P_k(n) and Q_k(n), such that P_k(n) = Q_k(n) = f_k(n) for n = 1, 2,…?, k, where f_k(1), f_k(2),…?, f_k(k) are k arbitrarily chosen (real or complex) values. Then, we focus on the case that f_k(n) is given by the sum of powers of the first n positive integers S_k(n) = 1^k + 2^k + ??? + n^k, and show that S_k(n) admits the polynomial representations S_k(n) = P_k(n) and S_k(n) = Q_k(n) for all n = 1, 2,…?, and k ≥ 1, where the first representation involves the Eulerian numbers, and the second one the Stirling numbers of the second kind. Finally, we consider yet another polynomial formula for S_k(n) alternative to the well-known formula of Bernoulli.     

Multi-latin squares

A multi-latin square of order n and index k is an n×n array of multisets, each of cardinality k, such that each symbol from a fixed set of size n occurs k times in each row and k times in each column. A multi-latin square of index k is also referred to as a k-latin square. A 1-latin square is equivalent to a latin square, so a multi-latin square can be thought of as a generalization of a latin square.In this note we show that any partially filled-in k-latin square of order m embeds in a k-latin square of order n, for each n≥2m, thus generalizing Evans’ Theorem. Exploiting this result, we show that there exist non-separable k-latin squares of order n for each n≥k+2. We also show that for each n≥1, there exists some finite value g(n) such that for all k≥g(n), every k-latin square of order n is separable.We discuss the connection between k-latin squares and related combinatorial objects such as orthogonal arrays, latin parallelepipeds, semi-latin squares and k-latin trades. We also enumerate and classify k-latin squares of small orders.     

A note on a conjecture about cycles with many incident chords

Given positive integers n and k, let g_k(n) denote the maximum number of edges of a graph on n vertices that does not contain a cycle with k chords incident to a vertex on the cycle. Bollobás conjectured as an exercise in [2, p. 398, Problem 13] that there exists a function n(k) such that g_k(n) = (k + 1)n ? (k + 1)² for all n ≥ n(k). Using an old result of Bondy [ 3 ], we prove the conjecture, showing that n(k) ≤ 3 k + 3. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Graph Theory 46: 180–182, 2004     

Minimal Convex k-Gons Containing a Given Convex Polygon

There is a k-gon of minimal area containing a given convex n-gon (k<n) such that k-1 sides of the n-gon lie on the sides of the k-gon. All midpoints of the sides of the k-gon belong to the n-gon. Bibliography: 3 titles.     

A faster polynomial algorithm for the unbalanced Hitchcock transportation problem

We present a new algorithm for the Hitchcock transportation problem. On instances with n sources and k sinks, our algorithm has a worst-case running time of O(nk²(logn+klogk)). It closes a gap between algorithms with running time linear in n but exponential in k and a polynomial-time algorithm with running time O(nk²log²n).     

Covering a graph with cycles

Let k and n be two integers such that k ≥ 0 and n ≥ 3(k + 1). Let G be a graph of order n with minimum degree at least ?(n + k)/2?. Then G contains k + 1 independent cycles covering all the vertices of G such that k of them are triangles. © 1995, John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Path numbers of tournaments

A family of simple (that is, cycle-free) paths is a path decomposition of a tournament T if and only if partitions the acrs of T. The path number of T, denoted pn(T), is the minimum value of | | over all path decompositions of T. In this paper it is shown that if n is even, then there is a tournament on n vertices with path number k if and only if n/2 k n²/4, k an integer. It is also shown that if n is odd and T is a tournament on n vertices, then (n + 1)/2 pn(T) (n² − 1)/4. Moreover, if k is an integer satisfying (i) (n + 1)/2 k n − 1 or (ii) n < k (n² − 1)/4 and k is even, then a tournament on n vertices having path number k is constructed. It is conjectured that there are no tournaments of odd order n with odd path number k for n k < (n² − 1)/4.     

Improved dynamic programming algorithms for bandwidth minimization and the MinCut Linear Arrangement problem

The dynamic programming algorithm of [12.] for the bandwidth minimization problem is improved. It is shown that, for all k > 1, BANDWIDTH(k) can be solved in O(n^k) steps and simultaneous O(n^k) space, where n is the number of vertices in the graph, and that each such problem is in NSPACE(log n). The same improved dynamic programming algorithm approach works to show that the MINCUT LINEAR ARRANGEMENT problem restricted to the fixed value k, denoted by MINCUT(k), is solvable in O(n^k) steps and simultaneous O(n^k) space and is in the class NSPACE(log n).     

Perfect matchings in uniform hypergraphs with large minimum degree

A perfect matching in a k-uniform hypergraph on n vertices, n divisible by k, is a set of n/k disjoint edges. In this paper we give a sufficient condition for the existence of a perfect matching in terms of a variant of the minimum degree. We prove that for every k≥3 and sufficiently large n, a perfect matching exists in every n-vertex k-uniform hypergraph in which each set of k−1 vertices is contained in n/2+Ω(logn) edges. Owing to a construction in [D. Kühn, D. Osthus, Matchings in hypergraphs of large minimum degree, J. Graph Theory 51 (1) (2006) 269–280], this is nearly optimal. For almost perfect and fractional perfect matchings we show that analogous thresholds are close to n/k rather than n/2.     

On the fluctuations of independent copies of moving maxima

Let {X_n, n1} be a sequence of independent random variables (r.v.'s) with a common distribution function (d.f.) F. Define the moving maxima Y_k(n)=max(X_n−k(n)+1,X_n−k(n)+2,…,X_n), where {k(n), n1} is a sequence of positive integers. Let Y_k(n)¹ and Y_k(n)² be two independent copies of Y_k(n). Under certain conditions on F and k(n), the set of almost sure limit points of the vector consisting of properly normalised Y_k(n)¹ and Y_k(n)² is obtained.     

On free semilattice-ordered semigroups satisfying x n =x

Let B(k,0,n) denote the group with k generators which is free in the group variety defined by the identity x ⁿ =1. Let B _slo (k,1,n) denote the semilattice-ordered semigroup with k generators which is free in the semilattice-ordered semigroup variety defined by the identity x ⁿ =x. We prove a generalization of the Green-Rees theorem: B _slo (k,1,n) is finite for all k≥1 if and only if B(k,0,n−1) is finite for all k≥1. We find a formula for card(B _slo (1,1,n)). We construct B _slo (k,1,n) for some concrete values of k and n.     

Chromatic factorizations of a graph

Let n₁ ? n₂ ? …? ? n_k ? 2 be integers. We say that G has an (n₁, n₂, …?, n_k-chromatic factorization if G) can be edge-factored as G₁ ⊕ G₂ ⊕ …? ⊕ G_k with χ(G_i) = nA_i, for i = 1,2,…, k. The following results are proved:

• i If (n₁ ? 1)n₂ …? n_k < χ(G) ? n₁n₂ …? n_k, then G has an (n₁, n₂, …?, n_k)-chromatic factorization.
• ii If n₁ + n₂ + …? + n_k ? (k - 1) ? n ? n₁n₂ …? n_k, then K_n has an (n₁, n₂, …?, n_k)-chromatic factorization.

     

The smallest degree sum that yields potentially Pk-graphical sequences

A simple graph G is said to have property P_k if it contains a complete subgraph of order k + 1, and a sequence π is potentially P_k-graphical if it has a realization having property P_k. Let σ (k, n) denote the smallest degree sum such that every n-term graphical sequence π without zero terms and with degree sum σ(π) ≥ σ(k, n) is potentially P_k-graphical. Erdós, Jacobson, and Lehel [Graph Theory, 1991, 439–449] conjectured that σ(k, n) = (k − 1)(2n − k) + 2. In this article, we prove that the conjecture is true for k = 4 and n ≥ 10. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J. Graph Theory 29: 63–72, 1998     

N-extendability of symmetric graphs

It is proved that a cyclically (k ? 1)(2n ? 1)-edge-connected edge transitive k-regular graph with even order is n-extendable, where k ≥ 3 and k ? 1 ≥ n ≥ ?(k + 1)/2?. The bound of cyclic edge connectivity is sharp when k = 3. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Finding thek smallest spanning trees

We give improved solutions for the problem of generating thek smallest spanning trees in a graph and in the plane. Our algorithm for general graphs takes timeO(m log(m, n)=k ²); for planar graphs this bound can be improved toO(n+k ²). We also show that thek best spanning trees for a set of points in the plane can be computed in timeO(min(k ² n+n logn,k ²+kn log(n/k))). Thek best orthogonal spanning trees in the plane can be found in timeO(n logn+kn log log(n/k)+k ²).     

On the Range of Possible Integrities of Graphs G(n, k)

We discuss the range of values for the integrity of a graphs G(n, k) where G(n, k) denotes a simple graph with n vertices and k edges. Let I _max(n, k) and I _min(n, k) be the maximal and minimal value for the integrity of all possible G(n, k) graphs and let the difference be D(n, k) = I _max(n, k) − I _min(n, k). In this paper we give some exact values and several lower bounds of D(n, k) for various values of n and k. For some special values of n and for s < n ^1/4 we construct examples of graphs G _n  = G _n (n, n + s) with a maximal integrity of I(G _n ) = I(C _n ) + s where C _n is the cycle with n vertices. We show that for k = n ²/6 the value of D(n, n ²/6) is at least \frac?6-13n{\frac{\sqrt{6}-1}{3}n} for large n.     

Digraphs that have at most one walk of a given length with the same endpoints

Let Θ(n,k) be the set of digraphs of order n that have at most one walk of length k with the same endpoints. Let θ(n,k) be the maximum number of arcs of a digraph in Θ(n,k). We prove that if n≥5 and k≥n−1 then θ(n,k)=n(n−1)/2 and this maximum number is attained at D if and only if D is a transitive tournament. θ(n,n−2) and θ(n,n−3) are also determined.     

Ideal einstein,conformally flat and semi-symmetric immersions

Recently, B. Y. Chen introduced a new intrinsic invariant of a manifold, and proved that everyn-dimensional submanifold of real space formsR ^m (ε) of constant sectional curvature ε satisfies a basic inequality δ(n ₁,…,n _k )≤c(n ₁,…,n _k )H ²+b(n ₁,…,n _k )ε, whereH is the mean curvature of the immersion, andc(n ₁,…,n _k ) andb(n ₁,…,n _k ) are constants depending only onn ₁,…,n _k ,n andk. The immersion is calledideal if it satisfies the equality case of the above inequality identically for somek-tuple (n ₁,…,n _k ). In this paper, we first prove that every ideal Einstein immersion satisfyingn≥n ₁+…+n _k +1 is totally geodesic, and that every ideal conformally flat immersion satisfyingn≥n ₁+…+n _k +2 andk≥2 is also totally geodesic. Secondly we completely classify all ideal semi-symmetric hypersurfaces in real space forms. The author was supported by the NSFC and RFDP.     

Representations of Integers as Sums of 32 Squares

In this paper, we derive a new explicit formula for r ₃₂(n), where r _k(n) is the number of representations of n as a sum of k squares. For a fixed integer k, our method can be used to derive explicit formulas for r _8k (n). We conclude the paper with various conjectures that lead to explicit formulas for r _2k (n), for any fixed positive integer k > 4.     

Resolvable Coverings of 2-Paths by Cycles

 Let K _n be the complete graph on n vertices. A C(n,k,λ) design is a multiset of k-cycles in K _n in which each 2-path (path of length 2) of K _n occurs exactly λ times. A C(lk,k,1) design is resolvable if its k-cycles can be partitioned into classes so that every vertex appears exactly once in each class. A C(n,n,1) design gives a solution of Dudeney's round table problem. It is known that there exists a C(n,n,1) design when n is even and there exists a C(n,n,2) design when n is odd. In general the problem of constructing a C(n,n,1) design is still open when n is odd. Necessary and sufficient conditions for the existence of C(n,k,λ) designs and resolvable C(lk,k,1) designs are known when k=3,4. In this paper, we construct a resolvable C(n,k,1) design when n=p ^e +1 ( p is a prime number and e≥1) and k is any divisor of n with k≠1,2. Received: October, 2001 Final version received: September 4, 2002 RID="*" ID="*" This research was supported in part by Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C) Japan