On the modular sumset partition problem

A sequence m₁≥m₂≥?≥m_k of k positive integers isn-realizable if there is a partition X₁,X₂,…,X_k of the integer interval [1,n] such that the sum of the elements in X_i is m_i for each i=1,2,…,k. We consider the modular version of the problem and, by using the polynomial method by Alon (1999) [2], we prove that all sequences in Z/pZ of length k≤(p−1)/2 are realizable for any prime p≥3. The bound on k is best possible. An extension of this result is applied to give two results of p-realizable sequences in the integers. The first one is an extension, for n a prime, of the best known sufficient condition for n-realizability. The second one shows that, for n≥(4k)³, an n-feasible sequence of length k isn-realizable if and only if it does not contain forbidden subsequences of elements smaller than n, a natural obstruction forn-realizability.     

Unextendible product bases and 1-factorization of complete graphs

Let f(k₁,…,k_m) be the minimal value of size of all possible unextendible product bases in the tensor product space . We have trivial lower bounds and upper bound k₁?k_m. Alon and Lovász determined all cases such that f(k₁,…,k_m)=n(k₁,…,k_m). In this paper we determine all cases such that f(k₁,…,k_m)=k₁?k_m by presenting a sharper upper bound. We also determine several cases such that f(k₁,…,k_m)=n(k₁,…,k_m)+1 by using a result on 1-factorization of complete graphs.     

Blocker sets, orthogonal arrays and their application to combination locks

Let A denote a set of order m and let X be a subset of A^k+1. Then X will be called a blocker (of A^k+1) if for any element say (a₁,a₂,…,a_k,a_k+1) of A^k+1, there is some element (x₁,x₂,…,x_k,x_k+1) of X such that x_i equals a_i for at least two i. The smallest size of a blocker set X will be denoted by α(m,k)and the corresponding blocker set will be called a minimal blocker. Honsberger (who credits Schellenberg for the result) essentially proved that α(2n,2) equals 2n² for all n. Using orthogonal arrays, we obtain precise numbers α(m,k) (and lower bounds in other cases) for a large number of values of both k and m. The case k=2 that is three coordinate places (and small m) corresponds to the usual combination lock. Supposing that we have a defective combination lock with k+1 coordinate places that would open if any two coordinates are correct, the numbers α(m,k) obtained here give the smallest number of attempts that will have to be made to ensure that the lock can be opened. It is quite obvious that a trivial upper bound for α(m,k) is m² since allowing the first two coordinates to take all the possible values in A will certainly obtain a blocker set. The results in this paper essentially prove that α(m,k) is no more than about m²/k in many cases and that the upper bound cannot be improved. The paper also obtains precise values of α(m,k) whenever suitable orthogonal arrays of strength two (that is, mutually orthogonal Latin squares) exist.     

Two equivalent measures on weighted hypergraphs

Let H=(N,E,w) be a hypergraph with a node set N={0,1,…,n-1}, a hyperedge set E⊆2^N, and real edge-weights w(e) for e∈E. Given a convex n-gon P in the plane with vertices x₀,x₁,…,x_n-1 which are arranged in this order clockwisely, let each node i∈N correspond to the vertex x_i and define the area A_P(H) of H on P by the sum of the weighted areas of convex hulls for all hyperedges in H. For 0?i<j<k?n-1, a convex three-cut C(i,j,k) of N is {{i,…,j-1}, {j,…,k-1}, {k,…,n-1,0,…,i-1}} and its size c_H(i,j,k) in H is defined as the sum of weights of edges e∈E such that e contains at least one node from each of {i,…,j-1}, {j,…,k-1} and {k,…,n-1,0,…,i-1}. We show that the following two conditions are equivalent:

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A_P(H)?A_P(H^′) for all convex n-gons P.

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c_H(i,j,k)?c_H^′(i,j,k) for all convex three-cuts C(i,j,k).

From this property, a polynomial time algorithm for determining whether or not given weighted hypergraphs H and H^′ satisfy “A_P(H)?A_P(H^′) for all convex n-gons P” is immediately obtained.     

The asymptotic number of spanning trees in circulant graphs

Let T(G) be the number of spanning trees in graph G. In this note, we explore the asymptotics of T(G) when G is a circulant graph with given jumps.The circulant graph is the 2k-regular graph with n vertices labeled 0,1,2,…,n−1, where node i has the 2k neighbors i±s₁,i±s₂,…,i±s_k where all the operations are . We give a closed formula for the asymptotic limit as a function of s₁,s₂,…,s_k. We then extend this by permitting some of the jumps to be linear functions of n, i.e., letting s_i, d_i and e_i be arbitrary integers, and examining

     

Nontrivial lower bounds for the least common multiple of some finite sequences of integers

We present here a method which allows to derive a nontrivial lower bounds for the least common multiple of some finite sequences of integers. We obtain efficient lower bounds (which in a way are optimal) for the arithmetic progressions and lower bounds less efficient (but nontrivial) for quadratic sequences whose general term has the form un=an(n+t)+b with (a,t,b)∈Z³, a?5, t?0, gcd(a,b)=1. From this, we deduce for instance the lower bound: lcm{¹²+1,²²+1,…,n²+1}?0,32n(1,442) (for all n?1). In the last part of this article, we study the integer lcm(n,n+1,…,n+k) (k∈N, n∈N^∗). We show that it has a divisor dn,k simple in its dependence on n and k, and a multiple mn,k also simple in its dependence on n. In addition, we prove that both equalities: lcm(n,n+1,…,n+k)=dn,k and lcm(n,n+1,…,n+k)=mn,k hold for an infinitely many pairs (n,k).     

Disjoint triangles and quadrilaterals in a graph

Let G be a simple graph of order n and s and k be two positive integers. Brandt et al. obtained the following result: If s?k, n?3s+4(k-s) and σ₂(G)?n+s, then G contains k disjoint cycles C₁,…,C_k satisfying |C_i|=3 for 1?i?s and |C_i|?4 for s<i?k. In the above result, the length of C_i is not specified for s<i?k. We get a result specifying the length of C_i for each s<i?k if n?3s+4(k-s)+3.     

Dirichlet series associated with polynomials and applications

We consider the possibility of the analytic continuation of the Dirichlet series SP;Z(s) associated with a polynomial P(x) and auxiliary series Z(s). In fact, we derive a certain criterion for the analytic continuation for some class of polynomials and give examples such that SP;Z(s) cannot be continued meromorphically to the whole plane C. We also study the asymptotic behaviors of the sum MP(x)=_∑P(n₁,…,nk)?xΛ(n₁)?Λ(nk) considered first by M. Peter. Generalizations of this sum are also considered.     

Non-simultaneous blow-up of n components for nonlinear parabolic systems

This paper deals with non-simultaneous and simultaneous blow-up for radially symmetric solution (u₁,u₂,…,un) to heat equations coupled via nonlinear boundary (i=1,2,…,n). It is proved that there exist suitable initial data such that ui(i∈{1,2,…,n}) blows up alone if and only if qi+1<pi. All of the classifications on the existence of only two components blowing up simultaneously are obtained. We find that different positions (different values of k, i, n) of ui−k and ui leads to quite different blow-up rates. It is interesting that different initial data lead to different blow-up phenomena even with the same requirements on exponent parameters. We also propose that ui−k,ui−k+1,…,ui blow up simultaneously while the other ones remain bounded in different exponent regions. Moreover, the blow-up rates and blow-up sets are obtained.     

On separating systems whose elements are sets of at most k elements

A system A₁,…,A_m of subsets of X?{1,…,n} is called a separating system if for any two distinct elements of X there is a set A_i (1?i?m) that contains exactly one of the two elements. We investigate separating systems where each set A_i has at most k elements and we are looking for minimal separating systems, that means separating systems with the least number of subsets. We call this least number m(n,k). Katona has proved good bounds on m(n,k) but his proof is very complicated. We give a shorter and easier proof. In doing so we slightly improve the upper bound of Katona.     

Simultaneous solutions of Sylvester equations and idempotent matrices separating the joint spectrum

We investigate simultaneous solutions of the matrix Sylvester equations A_iX-XB_i=C_i,i=1,2,…,k, where {A₁,…,A_k} and {B₁,…,B_k} are k-tuples of commuting matrices of order m×m and p×p, respectively. We show that the matrix Sylvester equations have a unique solution X for every compatible k-tuple of m×p matrices {C₁,…,C_k} if and only if the joint spectra σ(A₁,…,A_k) and σ(B₁,…,B_k) are disjoint. We discuss the connection between the simultaneous solutions of Sylvester equations and related questions about idempotent matrices separating disjoint subsets of the joint spectrum, spectral mapping for the differences of commuting k-tuples, and a characterization of the joint spectrum via simultaneous solutions of systems of linear equations.     

GENERALISED MAXIMAL INDEPENDENCE AND CLIQUE NUMBERS OF GRAPHS

Abstract

A set B of vertices of a graph G = (V,E) is a k-maximal independent set (kMIS) if B is independent but for all ?-subsets X of B, where ? ? k—1, and all (? + 1)-subsets Y of V—B, the set (B—X) u Y is dependent. A set S of vertices of C is a k-maximal clique (kMc) of G iff S is a kMIS of [Gbar]. Let β_k, (G) (w_k(G) respectively) denote the smallest cardinality of a kMIS (kMC) of G—obviously β_k(G) = w_k([Gbar]). For the sequence m₁ ? m₂ ?…? m_n = r of positive integers, necessary and sufficient conditions are found for a graph G to exist such that w_k(G) = m_k for k = 1,2,…,n and w(G) = r (equivalently, β_k(G) = m_k for k = 1,2,…,n and β(G) = r). Define s_k(?,m) to be the largest integer such that for every graph G with at most s_k(?,m) vertices, β_k(G) ? ? or w_k(G) ? m. Exact values for s_k(?,m) if k ≥ 2 and upper and lower bounds for s₁(?,m) are de termined.     

On the minimum number of completely 3-scrambling permutations

A family P={π₁,…,π_q} of permutations of [n]={1,…,n} is completely k-scrambling [Spencer, Acta Math Hungar 72; Füredi, Random Struct Algor 96] if for any distinct k points x₁,…,x_k∈[n], permutations π_i's in P produce all k! possible orders on π_i(x₁),…,π_i(x_k). Let N^*(n,k) be the minimum size of such a family. This paper focuses on the case k=3. By a simple explicit construction, we show the following upper bound, which we express together with the lower bound due to Füredi for comparison.

     

A note on the continuous mixing set

The continuous mixing set is , where w₁,…,w_n>0 and f₁,…,f_n∈ℜ. Let m=|{w₁,…,w_n}|. We show that when w₁|?|w_n, optimization over S can be performed in time O(n^m+1), and in time O(nlogn) when w₁=?=w_n=1.     

Regularity of patterns in the factorization of n!

Consider the multiplicities ep₁(n),ep₂(n),…,epk(n) in which the primes p₁,p₂,…,pk appear in the factorization of n!. We show that these multiplicities are jointly uniformly distributed modulo (m₁,m₂,…,mk) for any fixed integers m₁,m₂,…,mk, thus improving a result of Luca and St?nic? [F. Luca, P. St?nic?, On the prime power factorization of n!, J. Number Theory 102 (2003) 298-305]. To prove the theorem, we obtain a result regarding the joint distribution of several completely q-additive functions, which seems to be of independent interest.     

Oberwolfach rectangular table negotiation problem

We completely solve certain case of a “two delegation negotiation” version of the Oberwolfach problem, which can be stated as follows. Let H(k,3) be a bipartite graph with bipartition X={x₁,x₂,…,x_k},Y={y₁,y₂,…,y_k} and edges x₁y₁,x₁y₂,x_ky_k−1,x_ky_k, and x_iy_i−1,x_iy_i,x_iy_i+1 for i=2,3,…,k−1. We completely characterize all complete bipartite graphs K_n,n that can be factorized into factors isomorphic to G=mH(k,3), where k is odd and mH(k,3) is the graph consisting of m disjoint copies of H(k,3).     

Fine and Wilf words for any periods

Let w = w₁ … w_n be a word of maximal length n, and with a maximal number of distinct letters for this length, such that w has periods p₁, …, p_n but not period gcd(p₁,…,p_r). We provide a fast algorithm to compute n and w. We show that w is uniquely determined apart from isomorphism and that it is a palindrome. Furthermore we give lower and upper bounds for n as explicit functions of p₁, …p_r. For r = 2 the exact value of n is due to Fine and Wilf. In case the number of distinct letters in the extremal word equals r a formula for n had been given by Castelli, Mignosi and Restivo in case r = 3 and by Justin if r > 3.     

A bound on the generalized competition index of a primitive matrix using Boolean rank

For a positive integer m where 1?m?n, the m-competition index (generalized competition index) of a primitive digraph is the smallest positive integer k such that for every pair of vertices x and y, there exist m distinct vertices v₁,v₂,…,v_m such that there are directed walks of length k from x to v_i and from y to v_i for 1?i?m. The m-competition index is a generalization of the scrambling index and the exponent of a primitive digraph. In this study, we determine an upper bound on the m-competition index of a primitive digraph using Boolean rank and give examples of primitive Boolean matrices that attain the bound.     

Sloane's box stacking problem

Recently, Sloane suggested the following problem: We are given n boxes, labeled 1,2,…,n. For i=1,…,n, box i weighs (m-1)i grams (where m?2 is a fixed integer) and box i can support a total weight of i grams. What is the number of different ways to build a single stack of boxes in which no box will be squashed by the weight of the boxes above it? Prior to this generalized problem, Sloane and Sellers solved the case m=2. More recently, Andrews and Sellers solved the case m?3. In this note we give new and simple proofs of the results of Sloane and Sellers and of Andrews and Sellers, using a known connection with m-ary partitions.     

Perfect Skolem sets

A Skolem sequence is a sequence s₁,s₂,…,s_2n (where s_i∈A={1,…,n}), each s_i occurs exactly twice in the sequence and the two occurrences are exactly s_i positions apart. A set A that can be used to construct Skolem sequences is called a Skolem set. The problem of deciding which sets of the form A={1,…,n} are Skolem sets was solved by Thoralf Skolem in the late 1950s. We study the natural generalization where A is allowed to be any set of n positive integers. We give necessary conditions for the existence of Skolem sets of this generalized form. We conjecture these necessary conditions to be sufficient, and give computational evidence in favor of our conjecture. We investigate special cases of the conjecture and prove that the conjecture holds for some of them. We also study enumerative questions and show that this problem has strong connections with problems related to permutation displacements.