On the minimum number of edge-disjoint complete m-partite subgraphs into which Kn can be decomposed

Let α_m(n) denote the minimum number of edge-disjoint complete m-partite subgraphs into which K_n can be decomposed. In 2] the author proved that when m ≥ 3, if (i) n ≡ m and n ≡ m (mod m ?1), or (ii) b ∈ 2, m ?1], n ≥ b(m ?1) + m ? (b ?1), and n ≡ b(m ?1) + m ? (b ?1) (mod m? 1), then α_m(n) = ?(n + m ?3)/(m ?1)? (= ?(n ?1)/(m ?1)?), and that for every integer n, if K_n has an edge-disjoint complete m-partite subgraph decomposition, then α_m(n) ≥ ?(n? 1)/(m? 1)?. In this paper we generally discuss the question as to which integers n's satisfy (or do not) α_m(n) = ?(n ?1)/(m ?1)?. Here we also study the methods to find these integers; the methods are themselves interesting. Our main results are Theorem 2.11, 2.12, and 2.16. Besides, Theorem 2.4 and 2.6 are interesting results too. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.