Graphic sequences with a realization containing a generalized friendship graph

Gould, Jacobson and Lehel [R.J. Gould, M.S. Jacobson, J. Lehel, Potentially G-graphical degree sequences, in: Y. Alavi, et al. (Eds.), Combinatorics, Graph Theory and Algorithms, vol. I, New Issues Press, Kalamazoo, MI, 1999, pp. 451-460] considered a variation of the classical Turán-type extremal problems as follows: for any simple graph H, determine the smallest even integer σ(H,n) such that every n-term graphic sequence π=(d₁,d₂,…,d_n) with term sum σ(π)=d₁+d₂+?+d_n≥σ(H,n) has a realization G containing H as a subgraph. Let F_t,r,k denote the generalized friendship graph on kt−kr+r vertices, that is, the graph of k copies of K_t meeting in a common r set, where K_t is the complete graph on t vertices and 0≤r≤t. In this paper, we determine σ(F_t,r,k,n) for k≥2, t≥3, 1≤r≤t−2 and n sufficiently large.     

Spanning trails containing given edges

A graph G is Eulerian-connected if for any u and v in V(G), G has a spanning (u,v)-trail. A graph G is edge-Eulerian-connected if for any e^′ and e^″ in E(G), G has a spanning (e^′,e^″)-trail. For an integer r?0, a graph is called r-Eulerian-connected if for any X⊆E(G) with |X|?r, and for any , G has a spanning (u,v)-trail T such that X⊆E(T). The r-edge-Eulerian-connectivity of a graph can be defined similarly. Let θ(r) be the minimum value of k such that every k-edge-connected graph is r-Eulerian-connected. Catlin proved that θ(0)=4. We shall show that θ(r)=4 for 0?r?2, and θ(r)=r+1 for r?3. Results on r-edge-Eulerian connectivity are also discussed.     

Degree conditions for group connectivity

Let G be a 2-edge-connected simple graph on n≥13 vertices and A an (additive) abelian group with |A|≥4. In this paper, we prove that if for every uv∉E(G), max{d(u),d(v)}≥n/4, then either G is A-connected or G can be reduced to one of K_2,3,C₄ and C₅ by repeatedly contracting proper A-connected subgraphs, where C_k is a cycle of length k. We also show that the bound n≥13 is the best possible.     

A sufficient condition for pancyclability of graphs

Let G be a graph of order n and S be a vertex set of q vertices. We call G,S-pancyclable, if for every integer i with 3≤i≤q there exists a cycle C in G such that |V(C)∩S|=i. For any two nonadjacent vertices u,v of S, we say that u,v are of distance two in S, denoted by d_S(u,v)=2, if there is a path P in G connecting u and v such that |V(P)∩S|≤3. In this paper, we will prove that if G is 2-connected and for all pairs of vertices u,v of S with d_S(u,v)=2, , then there is a cycle in G containing all the vertices of S. Furthermore, if for all pairs of vertices u,v of S with d_S(u,v)=2, , then G is S-pancyclable unless the subgraph induced by S is in a class of special graphs. This generalizes a result of Fan [G. Fan, New sufficient conditions for cycles in graphs, J. Combin. Theory B 37 (1984) 221-227] for the case when S=V(G).     

On distance-3 matchings and induced matchings

For a finite undirected graph G=(V,E) and positive integer k≥1, an edge set M⊆E is a distance-k matching if the pairwise distance of edges in M is at least k in G. For k=1, this gives the usual notion of matching in graphs, and for general k≥1, distance-k matchings were called k-separated matchings by Stockmeyer and Vazirani. The special case k=2 has been studied under the names induced matching (i.e., a matching which forms an induced subgraph in G) by Cameron and strong matching by Golumbic and Laskar in various papers.Finding a maximum induced matching is NP-complete even on very restricted bipartite graphs and on claw-free graphs but it can be done efficiently on various classes of graphs such as chordal graphs, based on the fact that an induced matching in G corresponds to an independent vertex set in the square L(G)² of the line graph L(G) of G which, by a result of Cameron, is chordal for any chordal graph G.We show that, unlike for k=2, for a chordal graph G, L(G)³ is not necessarily chordal, and finding a maximum distance-3 matching, and more generally, finding a maximum distance-(2k+1) matching for k≥1, remains NP-complete on chordal graphs. For strongly chordal graphs and interval graphs, however, the maximum distance-k matching problem can be solved in polynomial time for every k≥1. Moreover, we obtain various new results for maximum induced matchings on subclasses of claw-free graphs.     

3-Factor-criticality in domination critical graphs

A graph G is said to be k-γ-critical if the size of any minimum dominating set of vertices is k, but if any edge is added to G the resulting graph can be dominated with k-1 vertices. The structure of k-γ-critical graphs remains far from completely understood when k?3.A graph G is factor-critical if G-v has a perfect matching for every vertex v∈V(G) and is bicritical if G-u-v has a perfect matching for every pair of distinct vertices u,v∈V(G). More generally, a graph is said to be k-factor-critical if G-S has a perfect matching for every set S of k vertices in G. In three previous papers [N. Ananchuen, M.D. Plummer, Some results related to the toughness of 3-domination-critical graphs, Discrete Math. 272 (2003) 5-15; N. Ananchuen, M.D. Plummer, Matching properties in domination critical graphs, Discrete Math. 277 (2004) 1-13; N. Ananchuen, M.D. Plummer, Some results related to the toughness of 3-domination-critical graphs. II. Utilitas Math. 70 (2006) 11-32], we explored the toughness of 3-γ-critical graphs and some of their matching properties. In particular, we obtained some properties which are sufficient for a 3-γ-critical graph to be factor-critical and, respectively, bicritical. In the present work, we obtain similar results for k-factor-critical graphs when k=3.     

Colouring games on outerplanar graphs and trees

Let f be a graph function which assigns to each graph H a non-negative integer f(H)≤|V(H)|. The f-game chromatic number of a graph G is defined through a two-person game. Let X be a set of colours. Two players, Alice and Bob, take turns colouring the vertices of G with colours from X. A partial colouring c of G is legal (with respect to graph function f) if for any subgraph H of G, the sum of the number of colours used in H and the number of uncoloured vertices of H is at least f(H). Both Alice and Bob must colour legally (i.e., the partial colouring produced needs to be legal). The game ends if either all the vertices are coloured or there are uncoloured vertices with no legal colour. In the former case, Alice wins the game. In the latter case, Bob wins the game. The f-game chromatic number of G, χ_g(f,G), is the least number of colours that the colour set X needs to contain so that Alice has a winning strategy. Let be the graph function defined as , for any n≥3 and otherwise. Then is called the acyclic game chromatic number of G. In this paper, we prove that any outerplanar graph G has acyclic game chromatic number at most 7. For any integer k, let ?_k be the graph function defined as ?_k(K₂)=2 and ?_k(P_k)=3 (P_k is the path on k vertices) and ?_k(H)=0 otherwise. This paper proves that if k≥8 then for any tree T, χ_g(?_k,T)≤9. On the other hand, if k≤6, then for any integer n, there is a tree T such that χ_g(?_k,T)≥n.     

Minimal rankings and the arank number of a path

Given a graph G, a function f:V(G)→{1,2,…,k} is a k-ranking of G if f(u)=f(v) implies every u-v path contains a vertex w such that f(w)>f(u). A k-ranking is minimal if the reduction of any label greater than 1 violates the described ranking property. The arank number of a graph, denoted ψ_r(G), is the largest k such that G has a minimal k-ranking. We present new results involving minimal k-rankings of paths. In particular, we determine ψ_r(P_n), a problem posed by Laskar and Pillone in 2000.     

Labeling trees with a condition at distance two

An L(h,k)-labeling of a graph G is an integer labeling of vertices of G, such that adjacent vertices have labels which differ by at least h, and vertices at distance two have labels which differ by at least k. The span of an L(h,k)-labeling is the difference between the largest and the smallest label. We investigate L(h,k)-labelings of trees of maximum degree Δ, seeking those with small span. Given Δ, h and k, span λ is optimal for the class of trees of maximum degree Δ, if λ is the smallest integer such that every tree of maximum degree Δ has an L(h,k)-labeling with span at most λ. For all parameters Δ,h,k, such that h<k, we construct L(h,k)-labelings with optimal span. We also establish optimal span of L(h,k)-labelings for stars of arbitrary degree and all values of h and k.     

Generalization of matching extensions in graphs (III)

Proposing them as a general framework, Liu and Yu (2001) [6] introduced (n,k,d)-graphs to unify the concepts of deficiency of matchings, n-factor-criticality and k-extendability. Let G be a graph and let n,k and d be non-negative integers such that n+2k+d+2?|V(G)| and |V(G)|−n−d is even. If on deleting any n vertices from G the remaining subgraph H of G contains a k-matching and each k-matching can be extended to a defect-d matching in H, then G is called an (n,k,d)-graph. In this paper, we obtain more properties of (n,k,d)-graphs, in particular the recursive relations of (n,k,d)-graphs for distinct parameters n,k and d. Moreover, we provide a characterization for maximal non-(n,k,d)-graphs.     

An extremal problem on non-full colorable graphs

For a given graph G of order n, a k-L(2,1)-labelling is defined as a function f:V(G)→{0,1,2,…k} such that |f(u)-f(v)|?2 when d_G(u,v)=1 and |f(u)-f(v)|?1 when d_G(u,v)=2. The L(2,1)-labelling number of G, denoted by λ(G), is the smallest number k such that G has a k-L(2,1)-labelling. The hole index ρ(G) of G is the minimum number of integers not used in a λ(G)-L(2,1)-labelling of G. We say G is full-colorable if ρ(G)=0; otherwise, it will be called non-full colorable. In this paper, we consider the graphs with λ(G)=2m and ρ(G)=m, where m is a positive integer. Our main work generalized a result by Fishburn and Roberts [No-hole L(2,1)-colorings, Discrete Appl. Math. 130 (2003) 513-519].     

On the packing chromatic number of some lattices

For a positive integer k, a k-packing in a graph G is a subset A of vertices such that the distance between any two distinct vertices from A is more than k. The packing chromatic number of G is the smallest integer m such that the vertex set of G can be partitioned as V₁,V₂,…,V_m where V_i is an i-packing for each i. It is proved that the planar triangular lattice T and the three-dimensional integer lattice Z³ do not have finite packing chromatic numbers.     

A multiply intersecting Erd?s-Ko-Rado theorem — The principal case

Let m(n,k,r,t) be the maximum size of satisfying |F₁∩?∩F_r|≥t for all F₁,…,F_r∈F. We prove that for every p∈(0,1) there is some r₀ such that, for all r>r₀ and all t with 1≤t≤⌊(p^1−r−p)/(1−p)⌋−r, there exists n₀ so that if n>n₀ and p=k/n, then . The upper bound for t is tight for fixed p and r.     

On (s,t)-supereulerian graphs in locally highly connected graphs

Given two nonnegative integers s and t, a graph G is (s,t)-supereulerian if for any disjoint sets X,Y⊂E(G) with |X|≤s and |Y|≤t, there is a spanning eulerian subgraph H of G that contains X and avoids Y. We prove that if G is connected and locally k-edge-connected, then G is (s,t)-supereulerian, for any pair of nonnegative integers s and t with s+t≤k−1. We further show that if s+t≤k and G is a connected, locally k-edge-connected graph, then for any disjoint sets X,Y⊂E(G) with |X|≤s and |Y≤t, there is a spanning eulerian subgraph H that contains X and avoids Y, if and only if G−Y is not contractible to K₂ or to K_2,l with l odd.     

Removable edges in a 5-connected graph and a construction method of 5-connected graphs

An edge e of a k-connected graph G is said to be a removable edge if G?e is still k-connected. A k-connected graph G is said to be a quasi (k+1)-connected if G has no nontrivial k-separator. The existence of removable edges of 3-connected and 4-connected graphs and some properties of quasi k-connected graphs have been investigated [D.A. Holton, B. Jackson, A. Saito, N.C. Wormale, Removable edges in 3-connected graphs, J. Graph Theory 14(4) (1990) 465-473; H. Jiang, J. Su, Minimum degree of minimally quasi (k+1)-connected graphs, J. Math. Study 35 (2002) 187-193; T. Politof, A. Satyanarayana, Minors of quasi 4-connected graphs, Discrete Math. 126 (1994) 245-256; T. Politof, A. Satyanarayana, The structure of quasi 4-connected graphs, Discrete Math. 161 (1996) 217-228; J. Su, The number of removable edges in 3-connected graphs, J. Combin. Theory Ser. B 75(1) (1999) 74-87; J. Yin, Removable edges and constructions of 4-connected graphs, J. Systems Sci. Math. Sci. 19(4) (1999) 434-438]. In this paper, we first investigate the relation between quasi connectivity and removable edges. Based on the relation, the existence of removable edges in k-connected graphs (k?5) is investigated. It is proved that a 5-connected graph has no removable edge if and only if it is isomorphic to K₆. For a k-connected graph G such that end vertices of any edge of G have at most k-3 common adjacent vertices, it is also proved that G has a removable edge. Consequently, a recursive construction method of 5-connected graphs is established, that is, any 5-connected graph can be obtained from K₆ by a number of θ⁺-operations. We conjecture that, if k is even, a k-connected graph G without removable edge is isomorphic to either K_k+1 or the graph H_k/2+1 obtained from K_k+2 by removing k/2+1 disjoint edges, and, if k is odd, G is isomorphic to K_k+1.     

Using Lagrangians of hypergraphs to find non-jumping numbers(II)

Let r?2 be an integer. A real number α∈[0,1) is a jump for r if for any ε>0 and any integer m?r, any r-uniform graph with n>n₀(ε,m) vertices and density at least α+ε contains a subgraph with m vertices and density at least α+c, where c=c(α)>0 does not depend on ε and m. A result of Erd?s, Stone and Simonovits implies that every α∈[0,1) is a jump for r=2. Erd?s asked whether the same is true for r?3. Frankl and Rödl gave a negative answer by showing an infinite sequence of non-jumping numbers for every r?3. However, there are a lot of unknowns on determining whether or not a number is a jump for r?3. In this paper, we find two infinite sequences of non-jumping numbers for r=4, and extend one of the results to every r?4. Our approach is still based on the approach developed by Frankl and Rödl.     

The hardness of approximating the boxicity, cubicity and threshold dimension of a graph

A k-dimensional box is the Cartesian product R₁×R₂×?×R_k where each R_i is a closed interval on the real line. The boxicity of a graph G, denoted as , is the minimum integer k such that G can be represented as the intersection graph of a collection of k-dimensional boxes. A unit cube in k-dimensional space or a k-cube is defined as the Cartesian product R₁×R₂×?×R_k where each R_i is a closed interval on the real line of the form [a_i,a_i+1]. The cubicity of G, denoted as , is the minimum integer k such that G can be represented as the intersection graph of a collection of k-cubes. The threshold dimension of a graph G(V,E) is the smallest integer k such that E can be covered by k threshold spanning subgraphs of G. In this paper we will show that there exists no polynomial-time algorithm for approximating the threshold dimension of a graph on n vertices with a factor of O(n^0.5−?) for any ?>0 unless NP=ZPP. From this result we will show that there exists no polynomial-time algorithm for approximating the boxicity and the cubicity of a graph on n vertices with factor O(n^0.5−?) for any ?>0 unless NP=ZPP. In fact all these hardness results hold even for a highly structured class of graphs, namely the split graphs. We will also show that it is NP-complete to determine whether a given split graph has boxicity at most 3.     

Multicoloring and Mycielski construction

The generalized Mycielskians of graphs (also known as cones over graphs) are the natural generalization of the Mycielskians of graphs (which were first introduced by Mycielski in 1955). Given a graph G and any integer p?0, one can transform G into a new graph μ_p(G), the p-Mycielskian of G. In this paper, we study the kth chromatic numbers χ_k of Mycielskians and generalized Mycielskians of graphs. We show that χ_k(G)+1?χ_k(μ(G))?χ_k(G)+k, where both upper and lower bounds are attainable. We then investigate the kth chromatic number of Mycielskians of cycles and determine the kth chromatic number of p-Mycielskian of a complete graph K_n for any integers k?1, p?0 and n?2. Finally, we prove that if a graph G is a/b-colorable then the p-Mycielskian of G, μ_p(G), is (at+b^p+1)/bt-colorable, where . And thus obtain graphs G with m(G) grows exponentially with the order of G, where m(G) is the minimal denominator of a a/b-coloring of G with χ_f(G)=a/b.     

Edge-connectivity and edge-disjoint spanning trees

Given a graph G, for an integer c∈{2,…,|V(G)|}, define λ_c(G)=min{|X|:X⊆E(G),ω(G−X)≥c}. For a graph G and for an integer c=1,2,…,|V(G)|−1, define,

     

A survey of stratified domination in graphs

A graph G is 2-stratified if its vertex set is partitioned into two nonempty classes (each of which is a stratum or a color class). We color the vertices in one color class red and the other color class blue. Let F be a 2-stratified graph with one fixed blue vertex v specified. We say that F is rooted at v. The F-domination number of a graph G is the minimum number of red vertices of G in a red-blue coloring of the vertices of G such that for every blue vertex v of G, there is a copy of F in G rooted at v. In this paper, we survey recent results on the F-domination number for various 2-stratified graphs F.