Applying a proof of tverberg to complete bipartite decompositions of digraphs and multigraphs

Graham and Pollak [2] proved that n – 1 is the minimum number of edge-disjoint complete bipartite subgraphs into which the edges of K_n decompose. Tverberg [6], using a linear algebraic technique, was the first to give a simple proof of this result. We apply Tverberg's technique to obtain results for two related decomposition problems, in which we wish to partition the arcs/edges of complete digraphs/multigraphs into a minimum number of arc/edge-disjoint complete bipartite subgraphs of appropriate natures. We obtain exact results for the digraph problem, which was posed by Lundgren and Maybee [4]. We also obtain exact results for the decomposition of complete multigraphs with exactly two edges connecting every pair of distinct vertices.     

Star-factors of tournaments

Let S_m denote the m-vertex simple digraph formed by m − 1 edges with a common tail. Let f(m) denote the minimum n such that every n-vertex tournament has a spanning subgraph consisting of n/m disjoint copies of S_m. We prove that m lg m − m lg lg m ≤ f(m) ≤ 4m² − 6m for sufficiently large m. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J. Graph Theory 28: 141–145, 1998     

On the decomposition of Kn into complete m-partite graphs

Graham and Pollak [3] proved that n ?1 is the minimum number of edge-disjoint complete bipartite subgraphs into which the edges of K_n can be decomposed. Using a linear algebraic technique, Tverberg [2] gives a different proof of that result. We apply his technique to show that for “almost all n,” ? (n + m ?3)/(m ?1) ? is the minimum number of edge-disjoint complete m-partite subgraphs in a decomposition of K_n.     

The Crossing Number of Cartesian Products of Complete Bipartite Graphs K 2, m with Paths P n

Most results on the crossing number of a graph focus on the special graphs, such as Cartesian products of small graphs with paths P_n, cycles C_n or stars S_n. In this paper, we extend the results to Cartesian products of complete bipartite graphs K_2,m with paths P_n for arbitrary m ≥ 2 and n ≥ 1. Supported by the NSFC (No. 10771062) and the program for New Century Excellent Talents in University.     

Edge‐decompositions of Kn,n into isomorphic copies of a given tree

We construct an incidence structure using certain points and lines in finite projective spaces. The structural properties of the associated bipartite incidence graphs are analyzed. These n × n bipartite graphs provide constructions of C₆‐free graphs with Ω(n^4/3 edges, C₁₀‐free graphs with Ω(n^6/5) edges, and Θ(7,7,7)‐free graphs with Ω(n^8/7) edges. Each of these bounds is sharp in order of magnitude. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Graph Theory 49: 1–10, 2005     

Multicolored trees in complete graphs

A multicolored tree is a tree whose edges have different colors. Brualdi and Hollingsworth 5 proved in any proper edge coloring of the complete graph K_2n(n > 2) with 2n ? 1 colors, there are two edge‐disjoint multicolored spanning trees. In this paper we generalize this result showing that if (a₁,…, a_k) is a color distribution for the complete graph K_n, n ≥ 5, such that , then there exist two edge‐disjoint multicolored spanning trees. Moreover, we prove that for any edge coloring of the complete graph K_n with the above distribution if T is a non‐star multicolored spanning tree of K_n, then there exists a multicolored spanning tree T' of K_n such that T and T' are edge‐disjoint. Also it is shown that if K_n, n ≥ 6, is edge colored with k colors and , then there exist two edge‐disjoint multicolored spanning trees. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Graph Theory 54: 221–232, 2007     

P<Subscript>4k-1</Subscript>-factorization of complete bipartite graphs

Let K_m,n be a complete bipartite graph with two partite sets having m and n vertices, respectively. A P_v-factorization of K_m,n is a set of edge-disjoint P_v-factors of K_m,n which partition the set of edges of K_m,n. When v is an even number, Wang and Ushio gave a necessary and sufficient condition for the existence of P_v-factorization of K_m,n. When v is an odd number, Ushio in 1993 proposed a conjecture. However, up to now we only know that Ushio Conjecture is true for v = 3. In this paper we will show that Ushio Conjecture is true when v = 4k - 1. That is, we shall prove that a necessary and sufficient condition for the existence of a P_4k-1-factorization of K_m,n is (1) (2k - 1)m ⩽ 2kn, (2) (2k - 1)n ⩽ 2km, (3) m + n ≡ 0 (mod 4k - 1), (4) (4k - 1)mn/[2(2k - 1)(m + n)] is an integer.     

On the number of maximal bipartite subgraphs of a graph

We show new lower and upper bounds on the maximum number of maximal induced bipartite subgraphs of graphs with n vertices. We present an infinite family of graphs having 105^n/10 ≈ 1.5926ⁿ; such subgraphs show an upper bound of O(12^n/4) = O(1.8613ⁿ) and give an algorithm that finds all maximal induced bipartite subgraphs in time within a polynomial factor of this bound. This algorithm is used in the construction of algorithms for checking k‐colorability of a graph. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Graph Theory 48: 127–132, 2005     

Regular orientable embeddings of complete bipartite graphs

In this paper, it will be shown that the isomorphism classes of regular orientable embeddings of the complete bipartite graph K_n,n are in one‐to‐one correspondence with the permutations on n elements satisfying a given criterion, and the isomorphism classes of them are completely classified when n is a product of any two (not necessarily distinct) prime numbers. For other n, a lower bound of the number of those isomorphism classes of K_n,n is obtained. As a result, many new regular orientable embeddings of the complete bipartite graph are constructed giving an answer of Nedela‐?koviera's question raised in 12 . © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Graph Theory     

On quadrilaterals in layers of the cube and extremal problems for directed and oriented graphs

Erdős has conjectured that every subgraph of the n‐cube Q_n having more than (1/2 + o(1))e(Q_n) edges will contain a 4‐cycle. In this note we consider ‘layer’ graphs, namely, subgraphs of the cube spanned by the subsets of sizes k − 1, k and k + 1, where we are thinking of the vertices of Q_n as being the power set of {1,…, n}. Observe that every 4‐cycle in Q_n lies in some layer graph. We investigate the maximum density of 4‐cycle free subgraphs of layer graphs, principally the case k = 2. The questions that arise in this case are equivalent to natural questions in the extremal theory of directed and undirected graphs. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Graph Theory 33: 66–82, 2000     

The proof of Ushio’s conjecture concerning path factorization of complete bipartite graphs

Let K _m,n be a complete bipartite graph with two partite sets having m and n vertices, respectively. A P _v -factorization of K _m,n is a set of edge-disjoint P _v -factors of K _m,n which partition the set of edges of K _m,n . When v is an even number, Wang and Ushio gave a necessary and sufficient condition for existence of P _v -factorization of K _m,n . When k is an odd number, Ushio in 1993 proposed a conjecture. Very recently, we have proved that Ushio’s conjecture is true when v = 4k − 1. In this paper we shall show that Ushio Conjecture is true when v = 4k − 1, and then Ushio’s conjecture is true. That is, we will prove that a necessary and sufficient condition for the existence of a P _4k+1-factorization of K _m,n is (i) 2km≤(2k+1)n, (ii) 2kn≤(2k+1)m, (iii) m+n≡0 (mod 4k+1), (iv) (4k+1)mn/[4k(m+n)] is an integer.     

Partitioning complete multipartite graphs by monochromatic trees

The tree partition number of an r‐edge‐colored graph G, denoted by t_r(G), is the minimum number k such that whenever the edges of G are colored with r colors, the vertices of G can be covered by at most k vertex‐disjoint monochromatic trees. We determine t₂(K(n₁, n₂,…, n_k)) of the complete k‐partite graph K(n₁, n₂,…, n_k). In particular, we prove that t₂(K(n, m)) = ? (m‐2)/2ⁿ? + 2, where 1 ≤ n ≤ m. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Graph Theory 48: 133–141, 2005     

Bipartite anti‐Ramsey numbers of cycles

We determine the maximum number of colors in a coloring of the edges of K_m,n such that every cycle of length 2k contains at least two edges of the same color. One of our main tools is a result on generalized path covers in balanced bipartite graphs. For positive integers q≤ a, let g(a,q) be the maximum number of edges in a spanning subgraph G of K_a,a such that the minimum number of vertex‐disjoint even paths and pairs of vertices from distinct partite sets needed to cover V(G) is q. We prove that g(a,q) = a² ? aq + max {a, 2q ? 2}. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Graph Theory 47: 9–28, 2004     

Generating 3-vertex connected spanning subgraphs

In this paper we present an algorithm to generate all minimal 3-vertex connected spanning subgraphs of an undirected graph with n vertices and m edges in incremental polynomial time, i.e., for every K we can generate K (or all) minimal 3-vertex connected spanning subgraphs of a given graph in O(K²log(K)m²+K²m³) time, where n and m are the number of vertices and edges of the input graph, respectively. This is an improvement over what was previously available and is the same as the best known running time for generating 2-vertex connected spanning subgraphs. Our result is obtained by applying the decomposition theory of 2-vertex connected graphs to the graphs obtained from minimal 3-vertex connected graphs by removing a single edge.     

Unbalanced Star-Factorizations of Complete Bipartite Graphs II

There are simple arithmetic conditions necessary for the complete bipartite graph K_m,n to have a complete factorization by subgraphs which are made up of disjoint copies of K_p,q. It is conjectured that these conditions are also sufficient. In any factor the copies of K_p,q have two orientations depending which side of the bipartition the p-set lies. The balance ratio is the relative proportion, x:y of these where gcd(x,y)=1. In this paper, we continue the study of the unbalanced case (y > x) where p = 1, to show that the conjecture is true whenever y is sufficiently large. We also prove the conjecture for K_1,4-factorizations.     

Ramsey‐type results for Gallai colorings

A Gallai‐coloring of a complete graph is an edge coloring such that no triangle is colored with three distinct colors. Gallai‐colorings occur in various contexts such as the theory of partially ordered sets (in Gallai's original paper) or information theory. Gallai‐colorings extend 2‐colorings of the edges of complete graphs. They actually turn out to be close to 2‐colorings—without being trivial extensions. Here, we give a method to extend some results on 2‐colorings to Gallai‐colorings, among them known and new, easy and difficult results. The method works for Gallai‐extendible families that include, for example, double stars and graphs of diameter at most d for 2?d, or complete bipartite graphs. It follows that every Gallai‐colored K_n contains a monochromatic double star with at least 3n+ 1/4 vertices, a monochromatic complete bipartite graph on at least n/2 vertices, monochromatic subgraphs of diameter two with at least 3n/4 vertices, etc. The generalizations are not automatic though, for instance, a Gallai‐colored complete graph does not necessarily contain a monochromatic star on n/2 vertices. It turns out that the extension is possible for graph classes closed under a simple operation called equalization. We also investigate Ramsey numbers of graphs in Gallai‐colorings with a given number of colors. For any graph H let RG(r, H) be the minimum m such that in every Gallai‐coloring of K_m with r colors, there is a monochromatic copy of H. We show that for fixed H, RG (r, H) is exponential in r if H is not bipartite; linear in r if H is bipartite but not a star; constant (does not depend on r) if H is a star (and we determine its value). © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Graph Theory 64: 233–243, 2010     

Chaotic Numbers of Complete Bipartite Graphs and Tripartite Graphs

In this paper, we study the chaotic numbers of complete bipartite graphs and complete tripartite graphs. For the complete bipartite graphs, we find closed-form formulas of the chaotic numbers and characterize all chaotic mappings. For the complete tripartite graphs, we develop an algorithm running in O(n ⁴ ₃) time to find the chaotic numbers, with n ₃ the number of vertices in the largest partite set.Research supported by NSC 90-2115-M-036-003.The author thanks the authors of Ref. 6, since his work was motivated by their work. Also, the author thanks the referees for helpful comments which made the paper more readable.     

Subgraphs of colour-critical graphs

Some problems and results on the distribution of subgraphs in colour-critical graphs are discussed. In section 3 arbitrarily largek-critical graphs withn vertices are constructed such that, in order to reduce the chromatic number tok−2, at leastc _k n ² edges must be removed. In section 4 it is proved that a 4-critical graph withn vertices contains at mostn triangles. Further it is proved that ak-critical graph which is not a complete graph contains a (k−1)-critical graph which is not a complete graph.     

Symmetric Hamilton cycle decompositions of complete graphs minus a 1‐factor

Let n≥2 be an integer. The complete graph K_n with a 1‐factor F removed has a decomposition into Hamilton cycles if and only if n is even. We show that K_n−F has a decomposition into Hamilton cycles which are symmetric with respect to the 1‐factor F if and only if n≡2, 4 mod 8. We also show that the complete bipartite graph K_{n, n} has a symmetric Hamilton cycle decomposition if and only if n is even, and that if F is a 1‐factor of K_{n, n}, then K_{n, n}−F has a symmetric Hamilton cycle decomposition if and only if n is odd. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Combin Designs 19:1‐15, 2010     

Covering of graphs by complete bipartite subgraphs; Complexity of 0–1 matrices

We prove that the edge set of an arbitrary simple graphG onn vertices can be covered by at mostn−[log₂ n]+1 complete bipartite subgraphs ofG. If the weight of a subgraph is the number of its vertices, then there always exists a cover with total weightc(n ²/logn) and this bound is sharp apart from a constant factor. Our result answers a problem of T. G. Tarján. Dedicated to Paul Erdős on his seventieth birthday