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.

H. Cao1, Y. Wu1
1Department of Mathematics, Nanjing Normal University Nanjing 210097, China
Abstract:

A simple Kirkman packing design \(SKPD(\{w, w+1\}, v)\) with index \(\lambda\) is a resolvable packing with distinct blocks and maximum possible number of parallel classes, each containing \(u =v-w \lfloor \frac{v}{w} \rfloor\) blocks of size \(w+1\) and \(\frac{v-u(w+1)}{w}\) blocks of size \(w\), such that each pair of distinct elements occurs in at most \(\lambda\) blocks. In this paper, we solve the spectrum of simple Kirkman packing designs \(SKPD(\{3, 4\}, v)\) with index \(2\) completely.

Weiping Wang1, Tianming Wang1,2
1Department of Applied Mathematics, Dalian University of Technology Dalian 116024, P.R.China
2Department of Mathematics, Hainan Normal University Haikou 571158, P.R.China
Abstract:

In this paper, we study the matrices related to the idempotent number and the number of planted forests with \(k\) components on the vertex set \([n]\). As a result, the factorizations of these two matrices are obtained. Furthermore, the discussion goes to the generalized case. Some identities and recurrences involving these two special sequences are also derived from the corresponding matrix representations.

Xiaoxin Song1,2, Weiping Shang3
1College of Mathematics and Information Science, Henan University, Kaifeng 475001, P.R. China
2Department of Mathematics, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, P. R. China
3 Institute of Applied Maths Academy of Maths and System Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, P.O.Box 2734, Beijing 100080, P. R. China
Abstract:

A Roman dominating function on a graph \(G = (V, E)\) is a function \(f : V \rightarrow \{0, 1, 2\}\) satisfying the condition that every vertex \(u\) for which \(f(u) = 0\) is adjacent to at least one vertex \(v\) for which \(f(v) = 2\). The weight of a Roman dominating function is the value \(f(V) = \sum_{u \in V} f(u)\). The minimum weight of a Roman dominating function on a graph \(G\), denoted by \(\gamma_R(G)\), is called the Roman domination number of \(G\). In [E.J. Cockayne, P.A. Dreyer, Jr.,S.M. Hedetniemi, S.T. Hedetniemi, Roman domination in graphs,Discrete Math. \(278(2004) 11-22.]\), the authors stated a proposition which characterized trees which satisfy \(\gamma_R(T) = \gamma(T) + 2\), where \(\gamma(T)\) is the domination number of \(T\). The authors thought the proof of the proposition was rather technical and chose to omit its proof; however, the proposition is actually incorrect. In this paper, we will give a counterexample of this proposition and introduce the correct characterization of a tree \(T\) with \(\gamma_R(T) = \gamma(T) + 2\).

Mingjing Gao1,2, Erfang Shan3,2
1Department of Mathematics and physics, Hebei Normal University of science and Technology, Hebei 066004
2Department of Mathematics, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China
3Department of Logistics, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong
Abstract:

Let \(G\) be a graph on \(2n\) vertices with minimum degree \(r\). We show that there exists a two-coloring of the vertices of \(G\) with colors \(-1\) and \(+1\), such that all open neighborhoods contain more \(+1\)’s than \(-1\)’s, and altogether the number of \(+1\)’s does not exceed the number of \(-1\)’s by more than \(O(\frac{n}{\sqrt{n}})\).

Ahmad Mahmood Qureshi1
1Abdus Salam School of Mathematical Sciences GC University Lahore, Pakistan
Abstract:

The \(Problème \;des \;Ménages\) \((Married \;Couples \;Problem)\), introduced by E. Lucas in 1891, is a classical problem that asks for the number of ways to arrange \(n\) couples around a circular table, such that husbands and wives are in alternate places and no couple is seated together. In this paper, we present a new version of the Menage Problem that carries constraints consistent with Muslim culture.

Shengxiang Lv1, Yanpei Liu2
1Department of Mathematics, Hunan University of Science and Technology, Hunan Xiangtan 411201, China
2Department of Mathematics, BeiJing Jiaotong University, Beijing 100044, China
Abstract:

Let \(G\) be a connected simple graph with girth \(g\) and minimal degree \(\delta \geq 3\). If \(G\) is not up-embeddable, then, when \(G\) is 1-edge connected,

\[\gamma_M(G) \geq \frac{D_1(\delta,g)-2}{2D_1(\delta,g)-1}\beta(G)+ \frac{D_1(\delta,g)+1}{2D_1(\delta,g)-1}.\]

When \(G\) is \(k\)(\(k = 2, 3\))-edge connected ,

\[\gamma_M(G) \geq \frac{D_k(\delta,g)-1}{2D_k(\delta,g)}\beta(G)+ \frac{D_k(\delta,g)+1}{2D_k(\delta,g)}.\]

The functions \(D_k(\delta, g)\) (\(k = 1, 2, 3\)) are increasing functions on \(\delta\) and \(g\).

Jin-Hua Yang1, Feng-Zhen Zhao1
1Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China
Abstract:

In this paper, the authors discuss the values of a class of generalized Euler numbers and generalized Bernoulli numbers at rational points.

A.P. Santhakumaran1, S. Athisayanathan1
1P. G. and Research Department of Mathematics St. Xavier’s College (Autonomous) Palayamkottai – 627 002, India.
Abstract:

For two vertices \(u\) and \(v\) in a graph \(G = (V,E)\), the detour distance \(D(u,v)\) is the length of a longest \(u-v\) path in \(G\). A \(u-v\) path of length \(D(u,v)\) is called a \(u-v\) detour. A set \(S \subseteq V\) is called a weak edge detour set if every edge in \(G\) has both its ends in \(S\) or it lies on a detour joining a pair of vertices of \(S\). The weak edge detour number \(dn_w(G)\) of \(G\) is the minimum order of its weak edge detour sets and any weak edge detour set of order \(dn_w(G)\) is a weak edge detour basis of \(G\). Certain general properties of these concepts are studied. The weak edge detour numbers of certain classes of graphs are determined. Its relationship with the detour diameter is discussed and it is proved that for each triple \(D, k, p\) of integers with \(8 \leq k \leq p-D+1\) and \(D \geq 3\) there is a connected graph \(G\) of order \(p\) with detour diameter \(D\) and \(dn_w(G) = k\). It is also proved that for any three positive integers \(a, b, k\) with \(k \geq 3\) and \(a \leq b \leq 2a\), there is a connected graph \(G\) with detour radius \(a\), detour diameter \(b\) and \(dn_w(G) = k\). Graphs \(G\) with detour diameter \(D \leq 4\) are characterized for \(dn_w(G) = p-1\) and \(dn_w^+(G) = p-2\) and trees with these numbers are characterized. A weak edge detour set \(S\), no proper subset of which is a weak edge detour set, is a minimal weak edge detour set. The upper weak edge detour number \(dn_w^+(G)\) of a graph \(G\) is the maximum cardinality of a minimal weak edge detour set of \(G\). It is shown that for every pair \(a, b\) of integers with \(2 \leq a \leq b\), there is a connected graph \(G\) with \(dn_w(G) = a\) and \(dn_w^+(G) = b\).

Shuhua Li1, Hong Bian1, Guoping Wang1, Haizheng Yu1
1School of Mathematical Sciences, Xinjiang Normal University, Urumai, Xinjiang 830054, P.R.China
Abstract:

The vertex Padmakar-Ivan \((PI_v)\) index of a graph \(G\) is defined as the summation of the sums of \([m_{eu}(e|G) + m_{eu}(e|G)]\) over all edges \(e = uv\) of a connected graph \(G\), where \(m_{eu}(e|G)\) is the number of vertices of \(G\) lying closer to \(u\) than to \(v\), and \(m_{eu}(e|G)\) is the number of vertices of \(G\) lying closer to \(v\) than to \(u\). In this paper, we give the explicit expressions of the vertex PI indices of some sums of graphs.

Yuqin Zhang1, Liandi Zhang1
1Department of Mathematics Tianjin University, 300072, Tianjin, China
Abstract:

A graph \(G\) is called \(H\)-equicoverable if every minimal \(H\)-covering in \(G\) is also a minimum \(H\)-covering in \(G\). In this paper, we give the characterization of connected \(M_2\)-equicoverable graphs with circumference at most \(5\).