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.

J.D. Key1, J. Moori2, B.G. Rodrigues2
1Department of Mathematical Sciences Clemson University Clemson SC 29634, U.S.A.
2School of Mathematics, Statistics and Information Technology University of Natal-Pietermaritzburg Pietermaritzburg 3209, South Africa
Abstract:

We show that permutation decoding can be used, and give explicit PD-sets in the symmetric group, for some of the binary codes obtained from the adjacency matrices of the graphs on \(\binom{n}{3}\) vertices, for \(n \geq 7\), with adjacency defined by the vertices as \(3\)-sets being adjacent if they have zero, one or two elements in common, respectively.

Xianyong Meng1, Lianying Miao2, Bentang Su1, Rensuo Li1
1College of Information Science and| Engineering, Shandong Agriculture University, Taian, Shandong, 27100, China
2College of Science, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221008, China
Abstract:

In this paper, we have discussed the dynamic coloring of a kind of planar graph. Let \(G\) be a Pseudo-Halin graph, we prove that the dynamic chromatic number of \(G\) is at most \(4\). Examples are given to show the bounds can be attained.

Igor’ Zverovich1, Olga Zverovich1
1The State University of New Jersey, 640 Bartholomew Rd, Piscat- away, NJ 08854-8003, USA;
Abstract:

Let \(\gamma(G)\) be the domination number of a graph \(G\). A class \(\mathcal{P}\) of graphs is called \(\gamma\)-complete if the problem of determining \(\gamma(G)\), \(G \in \mathcal{P}\), is NP-complete. A class \(\mathcal{P}\) of graphs is called \(\gamma\)-polynomial if there is a polynomial-time algorithm for calculating \(\gamma(G)\) for all graphs \(G \in \mathcal{P}\).

We denote \(\Gamma = \{P_k\cap nK_1 : k \leq 4 \text{ and } n \geq 0\}\). Korobitsin \([4]\) proved that if \(\mathcal{P}\) is a hereditary class defined by a unique forbidden induced subgraph \(H\), then

  1. when \(H \in \Gamma\), \(\mathcal{P}\) is a \(\gamma\)-polynomial class,
  2. when \(H \notin \Gamma\), \(\mathcal{P}\) is a \(\gamma\)-complete class.

We extend a positive result (i) in the following way. The class \(\Gamma\) is hereditary, and it is characterized by the set

\[Z(\Gamma) = \{2K_2, K_{1,3},C_3,C_4,C_5\}\]

of minimal forbidden induced subgraphs.

For each \(Z \subseteq Z(\Gamma)\) we consider a hereditary class \({FIS}(Z)\) defined by the set \(Z\) of minimal forbidden induced subgraphs. We prove that \(\mathcal{FIS}(Z)\) is \(\gamma\)-complete in 16 cases, and it is \(\gamma\)-polynomial in the other 16 cases. We also prove that \(2K_2\)-free graphs with bounded clique number constitute a \(\gamma\)-polynomial class.

Zhao Zhang1,2, Jixiang Meng1
1 College of Mathematics and System Sciences, Xinjiang University, Urumdai, Xinjiang, 830046, People’s Republic of China
2Department of Mathematics, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450052, People’s Republic of China
Abstract:

Let \(G = (V, E)\) be a connected graph and \(S \subseteq E\). \(S\) is said to be an \(r\)-restricted edge cut if \(G – S\) is disconnected and each component in \(G – S\) contains at least \(r\) vertices. Define \(\lambda^{(r)}(G)\) to be the minimum size of all \(r\)-restricted edge cuts and \(\xi_r(G) = \min\{w(U): U \subseteq V, |U| = r\) and the subgraph of \(G\) induced by \(U\) is connected, where \(w(U)\) denotes the number of edges with one end in \(U\) and the other end in \(V\setminus U\). A graph \(G\) with \(\lambda^{(r)} = \xi_r(G)\) (\(r = 1,2,3\)) is called an \(\lambda^{(3)}\)-optimal graph. In this paper, we show that the only edge-transitive graphs which are not \(\lambda^{(3)}\)-optimal are the star graphs \(K_{1, n-1}\), the cycles \(C_n\), and the cube \(Q_3\). Based on this, we determine the expressions of \(N_i(G)\) (\(i = 0,1,\ldots,\xi_3(G) – 1\)) for edge transitive graph \(G\), where \(N_i(G)\) denotes the number of edge cuts of size \(i\) in \(G\).

S. Ramachandran1
1Vivekananda College Agasteeswaram-629701 Kanyakumari. T.N. India.
Abstract:

A vertex-deleted subgraph (subdigraph) of a graph (digraph) \(G\) is called a card of \(G\). A card of \(G\) with which the degree (degree triple) of the deleted vertex is also given is called a degree associated card or dacard of \(G\). To investigate the failure of digraph reconstruction conjecture and its effect on Ulam’s conjecture, we study the parameter \(\textbf{degree associated reconstruction number}\) \(drm(G)\) of a graph (digraph) \(G\) defined as the minimum number of dacards required in order to uniquely identify \(G\). We find \(drm\) for some classes of graphs and prove that for \(t\geq 2\), \(drm(tG)\leq 1+drm(G)\) when \(G\) is connected nonregular and \(drm(tG)\leq m+2-r\) when \(G\) is connected \(r\)-regular of order \(m>2\) and these bounds are tight. \(drm \leq 3\) for other disconnected graphs. Corresponding results for digraphs are also proved.

Julie Haviland1
1Exeter College, Hele Road, Exeter EX4 4JS, U.K.
Abstract:

Two parameters for measuring irregularity in graphs are the degree variance and the discrepancy. We establish best possible upper bounds for the discrepancy in terms of the order and average degree of the graph, and describe some extremal graphs, thereby providing analogues of results of [1], [4] and [5] for the degree variance.

Yuliya Gryshko1
1School OF MATHEMATICS, UNIVERSITY OF TIE WITWATERSRAND, PRIVATE BaG 3, Wits 2050, SouriL AFRICA
Abstract:

It is calculated the number of symmetric \(r\)-colorings of vertices of a regular \(n\)-gon and the number of equivalence classes of symmetric \(r\)-colorings. A coloring is symmetric if it is invariant with respect to some mirror symmetry with an axis crossing the center of polygon and one of its vertices. Colorings are equivalent if we can get one from another by rotating about the polygon center.

N. Sridharan1, M. Yamuna1
1Department of Mathematics Alagappa University, Karaikudi, India – 630 003
Abstract:

A graph \(G\) is said to be excellent if, given any vertex \(x\) of \(G\), there is a \(\gamma\)-set of \(G\) containing \(x\). It is known that any non-excellent graph can be imbedded in an excellent graph. For example, for every graph \(G\), its corona \(G \circ K\) is excellent, but the difference \(\gamma(G \circ K) – \gamma(G)\) may be high. In this paper, we give a construction to imbed a non-excellent graph \(G\) in an excellent graph \(H\) such that \(\gamma(H) \leq \gamma(G) + 2\). We also show that, given a non-excellent graph \(G\), there is a subdivision of \(G\) which is excellent. The excellent subdivision number of a graph \(G\), \(ESdn{G}\), is the minimum number of edges of \(G\) to be subdivided to get an excellent subdivision graph \(H\). We obtain upper bounds for \(ESdn{G}\). If any one of these upper bounds for \(ESdn{G}\) is attained, then the set of all vertices of \(G\) which are not in any \(\gamma\)-set of \(G\) is an independent set.

Zhizheng Zhang1
1Department of Mathematics, Luoyang Teachers College, Luoyang 471022, P.R.China
Abstract:

In this paper, using the \(q\)-exponential operator technique to Bailey’s \(\mathop{_2\psi_2}\) transformation, we obtain some interesting \(\mathop{_3\psi_3}\)
transformation formulae and summation theorems.

Michael Dorfling1, Wayne Goddard2, Michael A.Henning1
1School of Mathematics, Statistics, & Information Technology University of Kwazulu-Natal Pietermaritzburg, 3209 South Africa
2Department of Computer Science University of Kwazulu-Natal Durban, 4041 South Africa
Abstract:

MacGillivray and Seyffarth (J. Graph Theory \(22 (1996),213-229)\) proved that planar graphs of diameter three have domination number at most ten. Recently it was shown (J. Graph Theory \(40 (2002), 1-25)\) that a planar graph of diameter three and of radius two has domination number at most six while every sufficiently large planer graph of diameter three has domination number at most seven. In this paper we improve on these results. We prove that every planar graph of diameter three and of radius two has total domination number (and therefore domination number) at most five. We show then that every sufficiently large planar graph of diameter three has domination number at most six and this result is sharp, while a planar graph of diameter three has domination number at most nine.