Ars Combinatoria

ISSN 0381-7032 (print), 2817-5204 (online)

Ars Combinatoria is the oldest Canadian journal of combinatorics, established in 1976, dedicated to advancing combinatorial mathematics through the publication of high-quality, peer-reviewed research papers. Over the decades, it has built a strong international reputation and continues to serve as a leading platform for significant contributions to the field.
Open Access:  The journal follows the Diamond Open Access model—completely free for both authors and readers, with no article processing charges (APCs)
Publication Frequency: From 2024 onward, Ars Combinatoria publishes four issues annually—in March, June, September, and December.
Scope: Publishes research in all areas of combinatorics, including graph theory, design theory, enumeration, algebraic combinatorics, combinatorial optimization and related fields.
Indexing & Abstracting:  Indexed in MathSciNet, Zentralblatt MATH, and EBSCO, ensuring wide visibility and scholarly reach.
Rapid Publication: Submissions are processed efficiently, with accepted papers published promptly in the next available issue.
Print & Online Editions: Issues are available in both print and online formats to serve a broad readership.

Xiujuan Zhang1,2, Juan Liu1,3, Yan Long1,4, Jixiang Meng3
1College of Mathematics Sciences, Xinjiang Normal University, Urumgi, Xinjiang, 820054, P.R. China
2Urumgi Vocational University, Urumgi, Xinjiang, 830002, P.R.China
3College of Mathematics and System Sciences, Xinjiang University Urumgi, Xinjiang, 830046, P.R.China
4Kui tun Campus of Yili normal University. kui tun, Xinjiang, 838200, P.R.China
Abstract:

In this paper, we investigate some basic properties of these eight kinds of transformation digraphs.

Aijun Dong1, Xiang Tan1, Xin Zhang1, Guojun Li1
1 School of Mathematics, Shandong University, Jinan 250100, P. R. China
Abstract:

For any given \(k\)-uniform list assignment \(L\), a graph \(G\) is equitably \(k\)-choosable if and only if \(G\) is \(\ell\)-colorable and each color appears on at most \(\lceil \frac{|V(G)|}{k} \rceil\) vertices. A graph \(G\) is equitably \(\ell\)-colorable if \(G\) has a proper vertex coloring with \(k\) colors such that the size of the color classes differ by at most \(1\). In this paper, we prove that every planar graph \(G\) without \(6\)- and \(7\)-cycles is equitably \(k\)-colorable and equitably \(k\)-choosable where \(k \geq \max\{\Delta(G), 6\}\).

Napoleon A.Gaquing,Jr.1, Sergio R.Canoy,Jr.1
1Department of Mathematics College of Science and Mathematics Mindanao State University – Iligan Institute of Technology 9200 Higan City, Philippines
Abstract:

This paper introduces the concepts of forcing \(m\)-convexity number and forcing clique number of a graph. We show that the forcing \(m\)-convexity numbers of some Cartesian product and composition of graphs are related to the forcing clique numbers of the graphs. We also show that the forcing \(m\)-convexity number of the composition \(G[K_n]\), where \(G\) is a connected graph with no extreme vertex, is equal to the forcing \(m\)-convexity number of \(G\).

Xi Li1, Yanling Shao 1, Yubin Gao1
1Department of Mathematics, North University of China Taiyuan, Shanxi 030051, P.R. China
Abstract:

A spectrally arbitrary pattern \({A}\) is a sign pattern of order \(n\) such that every monic real polynomial of degree \(n\) can be achieved as the characteristic polynomial of a matrix with sign pattern \({A}\). A sign pattern \({A}\) is minimally spectrally arbitrary if it is spectrally arbitrary but is not spectrally arbitrary if any nonzero entry (or entries) of \({A}\) is replaced by zero. In this paper, we introduce some new sign patterns which are minimally spectrally arbitrary for all orders \(n\geq 7\).

M.Tariq Rahim1, Slamin 2
1 School of Mathematical Sciences Government College University 68-B New Muslim Town, Lahore, Pakistan
2Mathematics Education Study Program, Universitas Jember, JLKatimantan 37 Jember, Indonesia
Abstract:

Let \(G\) be a graph with vertex-set \(V = V(G)\) and edge-set \(E = E(G)\), and let \(e = |E(G)|\) and \(v = |V(G)|\). A one-to-one map \(\lambda\) from \(V \cup E\) onto the integers \(\{1, 2, \ldots, v+e\}\) is called a vertex-magic total labeling if there is a constant \(k\) so that for every vertex \(x\),

\[\lambda(x) + \sum \lambda(xy) = k\]

where the sum is over all edges \(xy\) where \(y\) is adjacent to \(x\). Let us call the sum of labels at vertex \(x\) the weight \(w_\lambda\) of the vertex under labeling \(\lambda\); we require \(w_\lambda(x) = k\) for all \(x\). The constant \(k\) is called the magic constant for \(\lambda\).

A sun \(S_n\) is a cycle on \(n\) vertices \(C_n\), for \(n \geq 3\), with an edge terminating in a vertex of degree \(1\) attached to each vertex.

In this paper, we present the vertex-magic total labeling of the union of suns, including the union of $m$ non-isomorphic suns for any positive integer $m \geq 3$, proving the conjecture given in [6].

Xiaoxia Wu1, Lian-zhu Zhang2
1School of Mathematical Sciences, Xiamen University, Fujian 861005, China
2Department of Mathematical Sciences, Zhangzhou Normal University, Fujian 363000, China
Abstract:

The Randić index of an organic molecule whose molecular graph is \(G\) is the sum of the weights \((d(u)d(v))^{1/2}\) of all edges \(uv\) of \(G\), where \(d(u)\) denotes the degree of the vertex \(u\) of the molecular graph \(G\). Among all trees with \(n\) vertices and \(k\) pendant vertices, the extremal trees with the minimum, the second minimum, and the third minimum Randić index were characterized by Hansen, Li, and Wu \(et al\)., respectively. In this paper, we further investigate some small Randić index properties and give other elements of small Randić index ordering of trees with \(k\) pendant vertices.

Brian Alspach1, Danny Dyer2, Kathy Heinrich3
1Dept. of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Regina
2 Dept. of Mathematics and Statistics, Memorial University of Newfoundland
3 Dept. of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Regina
Abstract:

Consider a complete graph of multiplicity \(2\), where between every pair of vertices there is one red and one blue edge. Can the edge set of such a graph be decomposed into isomorphic copies of a \(2\)-coloured path of length \(2k\) that contains \(k\) red and\(k\) blue edges? A necessary condition for this to be true is \(n(n-1) \equiv 0 \mod k\). We show that this is sufficient for \(k \leqq 3\).

Kejun Chen1, Ruizhong Weil2
1 Department of Mathematics, Yancheng Teachers University Jiangsu 224002, China
2Department of Computer Science, Lakehead University Thunder Bay, ON, P7B 5E1 Canada
Abstract:

In this paper, we investigate super-simple cyclic \((v, k, \lambda)\)-BIBDs (SCBIBs). Some general constructions for SCBIBs are given. The spectrum of super-simple cyclic \((v, 3, \lambda)\) is completely determined for \(\lambda = 2, 3\) and \(v – 2\). From that, some new optical orthogonal codes are obtained.

Faleén R.M.1
1Department of Geometry and Topology. Faculty of Mathematics. University of Seville. 41080 – Seville (Spain).
Abstract:

The cycle structure of a Latin square autotopism \(\Theta = (\alpha, \beta, \gamma)\) is the triple \((I_\alpha,I_\beta, I_\gamma)\), where \(I_\delta\) is the cycle structure of \(\delta\), for all \(\delta \in \{\alpha, \beta, \gamma\}\). In this paper, we study some properties of these cycle structures and, as a consequence, we give a classification of all autotopisms of the Latin squares of order up to \(11\).

Yingying Qin1, Jianping Ou1, Zhiping Xiong1
1Department of Mathematics, Wuyi University, Jiangmen 529020, China
Abstract:

This work presents explicit expressions of the \(3\)-restricted edge connectivity of Cartesian product graphs, which yields some sufficient conditions for the product graphs to be maximally \(3\)-restricted edge connected.