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.

Zhang Zhong-fu1,2, Yao Bing 2, Li Jing-wen 1, Liu Lin-zhong1, Wang Jian-fang3, Xu Bao-gen4
1Institute of Applied Mathematics, Lanzhou JiaoTong University, Lanzhou, 730070, P.R.China
2College of Mathematics and Information Science, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou, 730070, P.R.China
3Institute of Applied Mathematics, Chinese Academy of Science, Beijing, 100080, P.R.China
4 Department of Mathematics, East China Jiaotong University, Nanchang 330013, P.R. China
Abstract:

An incidence graph of a given graph \(G\), denoted by \(I(G)\), has its own vertex set \(V(I(G)) = \{(ve) | v \in V(G), e \in E(G) \text{ and } v \text{ is incident to } e \text{ in } G\}\) such that the pair \(((ue)(vf))\) of vertices \((ue) (vf) \in V(I(G))\) is an edge of \(I(G)\) if and only if there exists at least one case of \(u = v, e = f, uv = e\) or \(uv = f\). In this paper, we carry out a constructive definition on incidence graphs, and investigate some properties of incidence graphs and some edge-colorings on several classes of them.

Lynne L.Doty1, Kevin K.Ferland2
1Marist College, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601
2Bloomsburg University, Bloomsburg, PA 17815
Abstract:

The maximum possible toughness among graphs with \(n\) vertices and \(m\) edges is considered for \(m \geq \lceil n^2/4 \rceil\). We thus extend results known for \(m \geq n\lfloor n/3 \rfloor\). When \(n\) is even, all of the values are determined. When \(n\) is odd, some values are determined, and the difficulties are discussed, leaving open questions.

Hui Cheng1, Bing Yao2, Xiang-en Chen, Zhong-fu Zhang
1 College of Mathematics and Information Science, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou, 730070, China
2Institute of Applied Mathematic, Lanzhou Jiaotong University, Lanzhou 730070, P.R.China
Abstract:

In this paper, we, by means of Rosa’s \(\alpha\)-labelling and \(k\)-graceful labelling, prove that generalized spiders, generalized caterpillars, and generalized path-block chains are graceful under some conditions. Some of the results are stronger than that obtained in \([4]\).

K.Reji Kumar1, S. Arumugam2, G. Macgillivray3
1Department of Mathematics, N.S. $ College, Pandalam, India .
2Senior Professor (Research), Arutmigu Kalasalingam College of Engineering, Anand Nagar, Krishnankoil, India .
3Department. of Mathematies and Statistics. University of Victoria, Canada. Research sup- ported by NSERC .
Abstract:

We study convexity with respect to a definition of fractional independence in a graph \(G\) that is quantified over neighbourhoods rather than edges. The graphs that admit a so-called universal maximal fractional independent set are characterized, as are all such sets. A characterization is given of the maximal fractional independent sets which cannot be obtained as a proper convex combination of two other such sets.

Qiuju Bian1
1School of Mathematics and Information Science Shandong University of Technology, Zibo 255049, P. R. China
Abstract:

In this paper, we consider the relationship between the toughness and the existence of fractional \(f\)-factors. It is proved that a graph $G$ has a fractional \(f\)-factor if \(t(G) \geq \frac{b^2+b}{a}-\frac{b+1}{b}\). Furthermore, we show that the result is best possible in some sense.

Haci Civciv1, Ramazan Turkmen1
1Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Art and Science, Selcuk University, 42031 Konya, Turkey
Abstract:

It is always fascinating to see what results when seemingly different areas of mathematics overlap. This article reveals one such result; number theory and linear algebra are intertwined to yield complex factorizations of the classic Fibonacci, Pell, Jacobsthal, and Mersenne numbers. Also, in this paper we define a new matrix generalization of the Fibonacci numbers, and using essentially a matrix approach we show some properties of this matrix sequence.

A. Panayotopoulos1, P. Vlamos2
1University of Piraeus, 80 Karaoli & Dimitriou Str, 18534 Piraeus, Greece
2Department of Informatics, Ionian University, Plateia Tsirigoti 7, 49100 Corfu, Greece,
Abstract:

The notion of meandric polygons is introduced in this paper. A bijection exists between the set of meandric polygons and that of closed meanders. We use these polygons to enumerate the set of meanders which have a fixed number of arcs of the meandric curves lying above and below the horizontal line at a given point.

Zan-Bo Zhang1,2, Dingjun Lou2, Xiaoyan Zhang3
1Department of Computer Engineering, Guangdong Industry Technical College, Guangzhou 510300, China
2Department of Computer Science, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
3School of Mathematics and Computer Science & Institute of Mathematics, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210097, China
Abstract:

In this paper, we give a sufficient and necessary condition for a \(k\)-extendable graph to be \(2k\)-factor-critical when \(k = \frac{v}{4}\), and prove some results on independence numbers in \(n\)-factor-critical graphs and \(k\frac{1}{2}\)-extendable graphs.

M.A. Seoud1, E.A.El Sakhawi1
1Faculty of Science, Ain Shams University Abbassia, Cairo, Egypt
Abstract:

In this paper, we show that some families of graphs are arbitrarily graceful or almost graceful.