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.

Rodolfo Salvi1, Norma Zagaglia Salvi1
1Dipartimento di Matematica Politecnico di Milano P.zza Leonardo da Vinci, 32 20133 Milano, Italy
Abstract:

We consider the lattice of order ideals of the union of an \(n\)-element fence and an antichain of size \(i\), whose Hasse diagram turns out to be isomorphic to the \(i\)-th extended Fibonacci cube. We prove that the Whitney numbers of these lattices form a unimodal sequence satisfying a particular property, called \({alternating}\), we find the maximum level of the game sequence and determine the exact values of these numbers.

Juan Liu1, Jixiang Meng1
1College of Mathematics and System Sciences, Xinjiang University Urumai, Xinjiang, 830046, P.R.China
Abstract:

Let \(D\) be a strongly connected digraph with order at least two. Let \(T(D)\) denote the total digraph of \(D\), and let \(\kappa(D)\) and \(\lambda(D)\) denote the connectivity and arc-connectivity of \(D\), respectively. In this paper, we study super-arc-connected and super-connected total digraphs. The following results are obtained:

  1. \(T(D)\) is super-arc-connected if and only if \(D \ncong \overrightarrow{K_2}\).
  2. If \(\kappa(D) + \lambda(D) > \delta(D) + 1\), then \(T(D)\) is super-connected.
John P.McSorley1, Philip Feinsilver1, René Schott2
1Department of Mathematics Southern Illinois University Carbondale, IL 62901-4408 USA
2IECN and LORIA Université Henri Poincaré 54506 Vandoeuvre-lés-Nancy France
Abstract:

A vertex\(|\)matching-partition \((V|M)\) of a simple graph \(G\) is a spanning collection of vertices and independent edges of \(G\). Let vertex \(v \in V\) have weight \(w_v\) and edge \(e \in M\) have weight \(w_e\). Then the weight of \(V|M\) is \(w(V|M) = \prod_{v \in V} w_v + \prod_{e \in M} w_e\). Define the vertex|matching-partition function of \(G\) as \(W(G) = \sum_{V|M} w(V|M)\).

In this paper, we study this function when \(G\) is a path and a cycle. We generate all orthogonal polynomials as vertex|matching-partition functions of suitably labelled paths, and indicate how to find their derivatives in some cases. Here Taylor’s Expansion is used, and an application to associated polynomials is given. We also give a combinatorial interpretation of coefficients in the case of multiplicative and additive weights. Results are extended to the weighted cycle.

Moo Young Sohn1, Yuan Xudong2
1Department of Applied Mathematics Changwon National University, 641-773, Changwon, South Korea
2Department of Mathematics Guangxi Normal University, 541004, Guilin, P.R.China
Abstract:

Let \(k\) be a nonnegative integer, and let \(\gamma(G)\) and \(i(G)\) denote the domination number and the independent domination number of a graph \(G\), respectively. The so-called \(i_k\)-perfect graphs consist of all such graphs \(G\) in which \(i(H) – \gamma(H) \leq k\) holds for every induced subgraph \(H\) of \(G\). This concept, introduced by I. Zverovich in \([5]\), generalizes the well-known domination perfect graphs. He conjectured that \(i\gamma (k)\)-perfect graphs also have a finite forbidden induced subgraphs characterization, as is the case for domination perfect graphs. Recently, Dohmen, Rautenbach, and Volkmann obtained such a characterization for all \(i\gamma(1)\)-perfect forests. In this paper, we characterize the \(i\gamma(1)\)-perfect graphs with girth at least six.

Zhongfu Zhang1,1, Pengxiang Qiu1, Baogen Xu2, Jingwen Li3, Xiangen Chen4, Bing Yao4
1Institute of Applied Mathematics, Lanzhou Jiaotong University, Lanzhou 730070,P.R.China
2Department of Mathematics, East China Jiaotong University,Nanchang 330013, P.R.China
3 College of Information and Electrical Engineering, Lanzhou JieoTong University, Lanzhou 730070, P.R.China
4College of Mathematics and Information Science, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou 730070, P.R.China
Abstract:

Let \(G\) be a simple and connected graph of order \(p \geq 2\). A \({proper k-total-coloring}\) of a graph \(G\) is a mapping \(f\) from \(V(G) \bigcup E(G)\) into \(\{1, 2, \ldots, k\}\) such that every two adjacent or incident elements of \(V(G) \bigcup E(G)\) are assigned different colors. Let \(C_f(u) = f(u) \bigcup \{f(uv) | uv \in E(G)\}\) be the \({neighbor \;color-set}\) of \(u\). If \(C_f(u) \neq C_f(v)\) for any two vertices \(u\) and \(v\) of \(V(G)\), we say \(f\) is a \({vertex-distinguishing \;proper\; k-total-coloring}\) of \(G\), or a \({k-VDT-coloring}\) of \(G\) for short. The minimal number of all \(k\)-VDT-colorings of \(G\) is denoted by \(\chi_{vt}(G)\), and it is called the \({VDTC \;chromatic \;number}\) of \(G\). For some special families of graphs, such as the complete graph \(K_n\), complete bipartite graph \(K_{m,n}\), path \(P_m\), and circle \(C_m\), etc., we determine their VDTC chromatic numbers and propose a conjecture in this article.

Lifeng Ou1,2
1School of Mathematics and Statistics, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, People’s Republic of China
2College of Computer Science and Information Engineering, Northwest University for Nationalities, Lanzhou, Gansu 730030, People’s Republic of China
Abstract:

The cochromatic number of a graph \(G\), denoted by \(z(G)\), is the fewest number of parts we need to partition \(V(G)\) so that each part induces in \(G\) an empty or a complete graph. A graph \(G\) with \(z(G) = n\) is called \({critically n-cochromatic}\) if \(z(G – v) = n – 1\) for each vertex \(v\) of \(G\), and \({minimally n-cochromatic}\) if \(z(G – e) = n – 1\) for each edge \(e\) of \(G\).

We show that for a graph \(G\), \(K_{1} \cup G \cup K_{2} \cup \cdots \cup K_{n-1} \cup G\) is a critically \(n\)-cochromatic graph if and only if \(G\) is \(K_{n}\), \((n \geq 2)\). We consider general minimally cochromatic graphs and obtain a result that a minimally cochromatic graph is either a critically cochromatic graph or a critically cochromatic graph plus some isolated vertices. We also prove that given a graph \(G\), then \(K_{1} \cup G \cup K_{2} \cup \cdots \cup K_{n-1} \cup G\) \((n \geq 2)\) is minimally \(n\)-cochromatic if and only if \(G\) is \(K_{n}\) or \(\overline{K_{n-1}} \cup \overline{K_{p}}\) for \(p \geq 1\). We close by giving some properties of minimally \(n\)-cochromatic graphs.

P.D. Johnson Jr.1, M. Walsh2
1Department of Mathematics and Statistics Auburn University, AL 36849
2Department of Mathematical Sciences Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne, IN 46805
Abstract:

We examine the inverse domination number of a graph, as well as two reasonable candidates for the fractional analogue of this parameter. We also examine the relations among these and other graph parameters. In particular, we show that both proposed fractional analogues of the inverse domination number are no greater than the fractional independence number. These results establish the fractional analogue of a well-known conjecture about the inverse domination and vertex independence numbers of a graph.

Sanc-Gu Lee1, Han-Guk Seol2, Jeong-Mo Yang3
1DEPARTMENT OF MATHEMATICS, SUNGKYUNKWAN UNIVERSITY, Su- won, 440-746, REPUBLIC OF KOREA
2DEPARTMENT OF MATHEMATICS, DAEJIN UNIVERSITY, POCHEON 487- 711, REPUBLIC OF Korea
3OFFICE OF INNOVATION STRATEGY, KOREA RESEARH FOUNDATION, SEOUL, 137-748, REPUBLIC OF KOREA
Abstract:

We consider a \(2\)-coloring of arcs on the primitive extremal tournament with the largest exponent on \(n\) vertices and \(m\) arcs. This \(2\)-colored digraph is a \(2\)-primitive tournament. Then we consider the \(2\)-exponent of a \(2\)-primitive tournament. In this paper, we give an upper bound for the \(2\)-exponent of the primitive extremal tournament.

Xiaoping Liu1, Xinhui An 1, Baoyindureng Wu1
1School of Mathematics and System Sciences, Xinjiang University, Urumqi, Xinjiang 830046, P.R. China
Abstract:

Let \(G = (V(G), E(G))\) be a nonempty graph (may have parallel edges). The line graph \(L(G)\) of \(G\) is the graph with \(V(L(G)) = E(G)\), and in which two vertices \(e\) and \(e’\) are joined by an edge if and only if they have a common vertex in \(G\). We call the complement of \(L(G)\) as the jump graph. In this note, we give a simple sufficient and necessary condition for a jump graph to have a perfect matching.

A. Abdollahi1, H.R. Maimani2
1Department of Mathematics, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, and Institute for Studies in Theoretical Physics and Mathematics (IPM), Tehran, Iran.
2Center of Excellence in Biomathematics, School of Mathematics, Statistics, and Computer Science, University of Tehran, and Institute for Studies in Theoretical Physics and Mathematics (IPM), Tehran, Iran.
Abstract:

We introduce a new technique for constructing pairwise balanced designs and group divisible designs from finite groups. These constructed designs do not yield designs with new parameters, but our construction gives rise to designs having a transitive automorphism group that also preserves the resolution classes.