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.

Hong Lin1, Lin Yu1
1School of Sciences, Jimei University, Xiamen 361021, P. R. China
Abstract:

Let \(G\) be a connected graph with a perfect matching on \(2n\) vertices (\(n \geq 2\)). A graph \(G’\) is a contraction of \(G\) if it can be obtained from \(G\) by a sequence of edge contractions. Then \(G\) is said to be edge contractible if for any contraction \(G’\) of \(G\) with \(|V(G’)|\) even, \(G’\) has a perfect matching. In this note, we obtain a sufficient and necessary condition for a graph to be an edge contractible graph.

A. Azimi1, M. Farrokhi D. G.2
1Department of Pure Mathematics, Ferpowsi University of Mashhad, Mash-Had, Iran.
2Department of Pure Mathematics, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mash-Had, Iran.
Abstract:

All finite Jacobson graphs with a Hamiltonian cycle or path, or Eulerian tour or trail are determined, and it is shown that a finite Jacobson graph is Hamiltonian if and only if it is pancyclic. Also, the length of the longest induced cycles and paths in finite Jacobson graphs are obtained.

Guoliang Hao1
1College of Science, East China University of Technology, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330013, P.R. China
Abstract:

A vertex subset \(S\) of a digraph \(D\) is called a dominating set of \(D\) if every vertex not in \(S\) is adjacent from at least one vertex in \(S\). The domination number of \(D\), denoted by \(\gamma(D)\), is the minimum cardinality of a dominating set of \(D\). We characterize the rooted trees and connected contrafunctional digraphs \(D\) of order \(n\) satisfying \(\gamma(D) = \left\lceil \frac{n}{2}\right\rceil\). Moreover, we show that for every digraph \(D\) of order \(n\) with minimum in-degree at least one, \(\gamma(D) \leq \frac{(k+1)n}{2k+1}\), where \(2k+1\) is the length of a shortest odd directed cycle in \(D\), and we characterize the corresponding digraphs achieving this upper bound. In particular, if \(D\) contains no odd directed cycles, then \(\gamma(D) \leq \frac{n}{2}\).

Tao WANG1, Deming LI2
1Depart. of Foundation, North China Institute of Science and Technology 065201, P. R. China
2Depart. of Math., Capital Normal University, 100048, P. A. China
Abstract:

A graph is called degree-magic if it admits a labelling of the edges by integers \(\{1, 2, \ldots, |E(G)|\}\) such that the sum of the labels of the edges incident with any vertex \(v\) is equal to \(\left(1 + |E(G)|\right)/2 \deg(v)\). In this paper, we show that a class of join graphs are degree-magic.

P. Anusha Devi1, S. Monikandan1
1Department of Mathematics Manonmaniam Sundaranar University Tirunelveli – 627 012 Tamil Nadu, INDIA
Abstract:

A vertex-deleted unlabeled subgraph of a graph \(G\) is called a card of \(G\). A card of \(G\) with which the degree of the deleted vertex is also given is called a degree-associated card or dacard of \(G\). The degree-associated reconstruction number, \(\mathrm{drn}(G)\), of a graph \(G\) is the size of the smallest collection of dacards of \(G\) that uniquely determines \(G\). The maximal subgraph without end vertices of a graph \(G\) that is not a tree is called the pruned graph of \(G\). It is shown that \(\mathrm{drn}\) of some connected graphs with regular pruned graph is \(2\) or \(3\).

Shang-wang Tan1, Dong-fang Wang1
1Department of Mathematics China University of Petroleum Qingdao 266580, China
Abstract:

The Wiener index of a connected graph is the sum of distances between all pairs of vertices in the graph. Feng et al. in [The hyper-Wiener index of bicyclic graphs, Utilitas Math., \(84(2011) 97-104\)] determined the bicyclic graphs having the largest Wiener index. In this article, we determine the graphs having the second up to seventh largest Wiener indices among all bicyclic graphs with \(n\) vertices.

Gang Ma1, Shengjin Ji1,2, Qiuju Bian1, Xia Li1
1School of Science, Shandong University of Technology, Zibo, Shandong, China
2School of Mathematics, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
Abstract:

The matching energy of a graph was introduced by Gutman and Wagner in \(2012\) and defined as the sum of the absolute values of zeros of its matching polynomial. In this paper, we completely determine the graph with minimum matching energy in tricyclic graphs with given girth and without \(K_4\)-subdivision.

Mustafa Asci1, Esref Gurel2
1PAMUKKALE UNIVERSITY SCIENCE AND ARTS FACULTY DEPARTMENT OF MATHEMATICS KINIKLI DENIZLI TURKEY
2PAMUKKALE UNIVERSITY SCIENCE AND ARTS FACULTY DEPARTMENT OF MATHEMATICS Kinki! DENIZLI TURKEY
Abstract:

In this paper, we define and study the Gaussian Fibonacci and Gaussian Lucas \(p\)-numbers. We give generating functions, Binet formulas, explicit formulas, matrix representations, and sums of Gaussian Fibonacci \(p\)-numbers by matrix methods. For \(p = 1\), these Gaussian Fibonacci and Gaussian Lucas \(p\)-numbers reduce to the Gaussian Fibonacci and the Gaussian Lucas numbers.

Maryam Mirzakhan1, Dariush Kiani2
1DEPARTMENT OF PURE MATHEMATICS, FACULTY OF MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTER SCIENCE, AMIRKABIR UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY (TEHRAN POLYTECH- nic}, P.O. Box 15875 — 4413, TEHRAN, IRAN.
2DEPARTMENT OF PuRE Matuematics, Facuury oF MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTER SCIENCE, AMIRKABIR UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY (TEHRAN POLYTECHNIC), P.O. Box 15875 – 4413, TEHRAN, IRAN.
Abstract:

Let \(G\) be a graph of order \(n\) and let \(Q(G, x) = \det(xI – Q(G)) = \sum_{i=0}^{n}(-1)^i\zeta_i(G)x^{n-i}\) be the characteristic polynomial of the signless Laplacian matrix of \(G\). We show that the Lollipop graph, \(L_{n,3}\), has the maximal \(Q\)-coefficients, among all unicyclic graphs of order \(n\) except \(C_n\). Moreover, we determine graphs with minimal \(Q\)-coefficients, among all unicyclic graphs of order \(n\).

Pengli Lu1, Yumo Wu1
1School of Computer and Communication Lanzhou University of Technology Lanzhou, 730050, Gansu, P.R. China
Abstract:

Let \(G\) be a graph with \(n\) vertices, \(\mathcal{G}(G)\) the subdivision graph of \(G\). \(V(G)\) denotes the set of original vertices of \(G\). The generalized subdivision corona vertex graph of \(G\) and \(H_1, H_2, \ldots, H_n\) is the graph obtained from \(\mathcal{G}(G)\) and \(H_1, H_2, \ldots, H_n\) by joining the \(i\)th vertex of \(V(G)\) to every vertex of \(H_i\). In this paper, we determine the Laplacian (respectively, the signless Laplacian) characteristic polynomial of the generalized subdivision corona vertex graph. As an application, we construct infinitely many pairs of cospectral graphs.