Ars Combinatoria

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

Ars Combinatoria is the oldest Canadian Journal of Combinatorics, established in 1976. The journal is dedicated to advancing the field of combinatorial mathematics through the publication of high-quality research papers. From 2024 onward, it publishes four volumes per year in March, June, September and December. Ars Combinatoria has gained recognition and visibility in the academic community and is indexed in renowned databases such as MathSciNet, Zentralblatt, and Scopus. The Scope of the journal includes Graph theory, Design theory, Extremal combinatorics, Enumeration, Algebraic combinatorics, Combinatorial optimization, Ramsey theory, Automorphism groups, Coding theory, Finite geometries, Chemical graph theory but not limited.

Fang Duan1, Baoyindureng Wu1
1College of Mathematic and System Sciences, Xinjiang University, Urumdi, Xinjiang 830046, P. R. China
Abstract:

Gyarfas conjectured that for a given forest F, there exists an integer function f(F,w(G)) such that χ(G)f(F,w(G)) for any F-free graph G, where χ(G) and w(G) are respectively, the chromatic number and the clique number of G. Let G be a C5-free graph and k be a positive integer. We show that if G is (kP1,+P2)-free for k2, then χ(G)2wk1w; if G is (kP1,+P3)-free for k1, then χ(G)wkw. A graph G is k-divisible if for each induced subgraph H of G with at least one edge, there is a partition of the vertex set of H into k sets V1,,Vk such that no Vi; contains a clique of size w(G). We show that a (2P1+P2)-free and C5-free graph is 2-divisible.

Haiying Wang1, Yang Ji1, Chuantao Li2,3
1The School of Information Engineering, China University of Geosciences(Beijing) Beijing 100083,P.R.China
2School of Geophysics and Information Technology, China University of Geosciences(Beijing) Beijing 100083,P.R.China
3Sport School,Shandong Sport University Jinan, Shandong,250014,P.R.China
Abstract:

The concept of the sum graph and integral sum graph were introduced by F. Harary. Let N denote the set of all positive integers. The sum graph G+(S) of a finite subset SN is the graph (S,E) with uvE if and only if u+vS. A simple graph G is said to be a sum graph if it is isomorphic to a sum graph of some SN. The sum number σ(G) of G is the smallest number of isolated vertices which when added to G result in a sum graph. Let Z denote the set of all integers. The integral sum graph G+(S) of a finite subset SZ is the graph (S,E) with uvE if and only if u+vS. A simple graph G is said to be an integral sum graph if it is isomorphic to an integral sum graph of some SZ. The integral sum number ζ(G) of G is the smallest number of isolated vertices which when added to G result in an integral sum graph. In this paper, we investigate and determine the sum number and the integral sum number of the graph KnE(Cn1). The results are presented as follows:ζ(Kn(Cn1))={0,n=4,5,6,72n7,n8
and
σ(KnE(Cn1))={1,n=42,n=55,n=57,n=72n7,n8

Marcin Krzywkowski1
1 Faculty of Applied Physics and Mathematics Gdansk University of Technology Narutowicza 11/12, 80-289 Gdazisk, Poland
Abstract:

The topic is the hat problem, in which each of n players is randomly fitted with a blue or red hat. Then, everybody can try to guess simultaneously their own hat color by looking at the hat colors of the other players. The team wins if at least one player guesses their hat color correctly, and no one guesses their hat color wrong; otherwise, the team loses. The aim is to maximize the probability of winning. In this version, every player can see everybody excluding themselves. We consider such a problem on a graph, where vertices correspond to players, and a player can see each player to whom they are connected by an edge. The solution of the hat problem on a graph is known for trees and for the cycle C4. We solve the problem on cycles with at least nine vertices.

Weidong Gao1, Yuanlin Li2
1CENTER FOR COMBINATORICS, NANKAI UNIVERSITY, TIANJIN 300071, P.R. CHina
2DEPARTMENT OF MATHEMATICS, BRocK UNIVERSITY, ST. CATHARINES, ONTARIO, CANADA L2S 3A1
Abstract:

Let D(G) be the Davenport constant of a finite abelian group G, defined as the smallest positive integer d such that every
sequence of d elements in G contains a nonempty subsequence with sum zero the identity of G. In this short note, we use group rings as a tool to characterize the Davenport constant.

Timothy J.Hetherington1, Douglas R.Woodall1
1School of Mathematical Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK
Abstract:

It is proved that if G is a K2,3-minor-free graph with maximum degree Δ, then Δ+1χ(G2)ch(G2)Δ+2 if Δ3, and ch(G2)=χ(G2)=Δ+1 if Δ6. All inequalities here are sharp,even for outerplanar graphs.

M. A.Seoud1, E.F. Helmi2
1 Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science , Ain Shams University, Abbassia , Cairo, Egypt.
2 Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science , Ain Shams University, Abbassia , Cairo, Egypt.
Abstract:

Here, we determine all graphs of order less than 7 which are not product cordial.Also, we give some families of graphs which are product cordial.

Xueliang Li1, Yuefang Sun1
1Center for Combinatorics and LPMC-TJKLC Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, P.R. China
Abstract:

A path in an edge-colored graph G, where adjacent edges may be colored the same, is called a rainbow path if no two edges of the path are colored the same. For a k-connected graph G and an integer k with 1kκ, the rainbow k-connectivity rck(G) of G is defined as the minimum integer j for which there exists a j-edge-coloring of G such that any two distinct vertices of G are connected by k internally disjoint rainbow paths. Denote by Kr,r an r-regular complete bipartite graph. Chartrand et al. in in “G. Chartrand, G.L. Johns, K.A.McKeon, P. Zhang, The rainbow connectivity of a graph, Networks 54(2009),7581 left an open question of determining an integer g(k) for which the rainbow k-connectivity of Kr,r is 3 for every integer rg(k). This short note is to solve this question by showing that rck(Kr,r)=3 for every integer r2kk2, where k2 is a positive integer.

Shuxian Li1, Bo Zhou1
1Department of Mathematics, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510631, P. R. China
Abstract:

Let G be a connected graph with edge set E(G). The Balaban index of G is defined as J(G)=mμ+1uvE(G)(DuDv)12 where m=|E(G)|, and μ is the cyclomatic number of G, Du is the sum of distances between vertex u and all other vertices of G. We determine n-vertex trees with the first several largest and smallest Balaban indices.

Ronald D.Dutton1
1Computer Science University of Central Florida Orlando, FL 32816
Abstract:

For a graph G=(V,E), XV is a global dominating set if X dominates both G and the complement graph G¯. A set XV is a packing if its pairwise members are distance at least 3 apart. The minimum number of vertices in any global dominating set is γg(G), and the maximum number in any packing is ρ(G). We establish relationships between these and other graphical invariants, and characterize graphs for which ρ(G)=ρ(G¯). Except for the two self-complementary graphs on 5 vertices and when G or G¯ has isolated vertices, we show γg(G)n/2, where n=|V|.

Xueliang Li1, Yongtang Shi 1
1Center for Combinatorics and LPMC-TJKLC Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
Abstract:

The inverse degree r(G) of a finite graph G=(V,E) is defined by r(G)=vV1deg(v) where deg(v) is the degree of v in G. Erdős et al. proved that, if G is a connected graph of order n, then the diameter of G is less than (6r(G)+σ(1))lognloglogn. Dankelmann et al. improved this bound by a factor of approximately 2. We give the sharp upper bounds for trees and unicyclic graphs, which improves the above upper bounds.

E-mail Alert

Add your e-mail address to receive upcoming issues of Ars Combinatoria.

Call for papers

Special issue: Proceedings of International Conference on Discrete Mathematics (ICDM 2025)

Guest editors: Peter J Cameron, Ambat Vijayakumar, Aparna Lakshmanan S

Special Issues

The Combinatorial Press Editorial Office routinely extends invitations to scholars for the guest editing of Special Issues, focusing on topics of interest to the scientific community.