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.

Shung-Liang Wu1
1National Lien-Ho Institute of Technology Miaoli, Taiwan, R.O.C.
Abstract:

Let \(m_1, m_2, \ldots, m_r\) be positive integers with \(m_i \geq 3\) for all \(i\). An \((m_1, m_2, \ldots, m_r)\)-cycle is defined as the edge-disjoint union of \(r\) cycles of lengths \(2m_1, 2m_2, \ldots, 2m_r\). An \((m_1, m_2, \ldots, m_r)\)-cycle system of the complete graph \(K_n\) is a decomposition of \(K_n\) into \((m_1, m_2, \ldots, m_r)\)-cycles.

In this paper, the necessary and sufficient conditions for the existence of an \((m_1, m_2, \ldots, m_r)\)-cycle system of \(K_n\) are given, where \(m_i\) \((1 \leq i \leq r)\) are odd integers with \(3 \leq m_i \leq n\) and \(\sum_{i=1}^r m_i = 2^k\) for \(k \geq 3\). Moreover, the complete graph with a \(1\)-factor removed \(K_n – F\) has a similar result.

Yuqing Lin1, Slamin 2, Martin Baca3, Mirka Miller4
1Departinent of Computer Science and Software Engineering he University of Newcastle, Australia
2Department of Mathematics and Natural Science Education niversity of Jember, Indonesia
3Department of Applied Mathematics Technical University, Kosice, Slovak Republic
4Department of Computer Science and Software Engineering he University of Newcastle, Australia
Abstract:

We refer to a labeling of a plane graph as a d-antimagic labeling if the vertices, edges and faces of the graph are labeled in such a way that the label of a face and the labels of vertices and edges surrounding that face add up to a weight of the face and the weights
of faces constitute an arithmetical progression of difference \(d\). In this paper we deal with \(d\)-antimagic labeling of prisms.

Susan E.Fettes1, Richard L.Kramer2, Stanislaw P.Radziszowski3
1Department of Mathematics SUNY College at Oswego
2Department of Mathematics Iowa State University
3Department of Computer Science Rochester Institute of Technology
Abstract:

We show that the classical Ramsey number \(R(3,3,3,3)\) is no greater than \(62\). That is, any edge coloring with four colors of a complete graph on \(62\) vertices must contain a monochromatic triangle. Basic notions and a historical overview are given along with the theoretical framework underlying the main result. The algorithms for the computational verification of the result are presented along with a brief discussion of the software tools that were utilized.

Massimo Giulietti1, Fernando Torres2,3
1DIPARTIMENTO Dt MATEMATICA E INFORMATICA, UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI PERUGIA, 06123 PeRuciA, ITALY
2IMECC-UNICAMP, Cx. P. 6065, CAMPINAS, 13083-970-SP, BRAZIL
3CURRENT ADDRESS: DEPARTAMENTO DE ALGEBRA, GEOMETRIA Y ToPOLoGia, FACUL- TAD DE CIENCIAS – UNIVERSIDAD DE VALLADOLID, C/ PRADO DE LA MAGDALENA S/N 47005, VALLADOLID (SPAIN)
Abstract:

We show that certain subsets of \(\mathbf{F}_q\)-rational points of the curve \(XZ^{n-1} = Y^n\) are dense sets in \(\mathbf{P}^2(\mathbf{F}_q)\).

Christos Koukouvinos1, Jennifer Seberry2
1Department of Mathematics National Technical University of Athens Zografou 15773, Athens Greece
2School of IT and Computer Science University of Wollongong Wollongong, NSW, 2522 Australia
Abstract:

H. Kharaghani, in “Arrays for orthogonal designs” \((2000)\), \(\textit{J. Combin. Designs}\), \(8 (2000), 166-173\), showed how to use amicable sets of matrices to construct orthogonal designs in orders divisible by eight. We show how amicable orthogonal designs can be used to make amicable sets and so obtain infinite families of orthogonal designs in six variables in orders divisible by eight.

Atif A.Abueida1, Mike Daven 2
1Department of Mathematics University of Dayton 300 College Park, Dayton, OH 45469-2316
2Division of Mathematics & Computer Science Mount Saint Mary College 330 Powell Avenue, Newburgh, NY 12550
Abstract:

Let \(G\) and \(H\) be a pair of non-isomorphic graphs on fewer than \(m\) vertices. In this paper, we introduce several new problems about decomposing the complete graph \(K_m\) into copies of \(G\) and \(H\). We will assume that at least one of \(G\) or \(H\) is not a cycle. We also begin to examine variations to the problems of subgraph packing, covering, and factorization.

Gary Chartrand1, Garry L.Johns2, Ping Zhang1
1Western Michigan University
2Saginaw Valley State University
Abstract:

For vertices \(u\) and \(v\) in a connected graph \(G\) with vertex set \(V\), the distance \(d(u,v)\) is the length of a shortest \(u – v\) path in \(G\). A \(u – v\) path of length \(d(u,v)\) is called a \(u – v\) geodesic. The closed interval \(I[u,v]\) consists of \(u\), \(v\), and all vertices that lie in some \(u – v\) geodesic of \(G\); while for \(S \subseteq V\), \(I[S]\) is the union of closed intervals \(I[u,v]\) for all \(u,v \in S\). A set \(S\) of vertices is a geodetic set if \(I[S] = V\), and the minimum cardinality of a geodetic set is the geodetic number \(g(G)\). For vertices \(x\) and \(y\) in \(G\), the detour distance \(D(x, y)\) is the length of a longest \(x – y\) path in \(G\). An \(x – y\) path of length \(D(x, y)\) is called an \(x – y\) detour. The closed detour interval \(I_D[x,y]\) consists of \(x\), \(y\), and all vertices in some \(x – y\) detour of \(G\). For \(S \subseteq V\), \(I_D[S]\) is the union of \(I_D[x,y]\) for all \(x,y \in S\). A set \(S\) of vertices is a detour set if \(I_D[S] = V\), and the minimum cardinality of a detour set is the detour number \(dn(G)\). We study relationships that can exist between minimum detour sets and minimum geodetic sets in a graph. A graph \(F\) is a minimum detour subgraph if there exists a graph \(G\) containing \(F\) as an induced subgraph such that \(V(F)\) is a minimum detour set in \(G\). It is shown that \(K_3\) and \(P_3\) are minimum detour subgraphs. It is also shown that for every pair \(a,b \geq 2\) of integers, there exists a connected graph \(G\) with \(dn(G) = a\) and \(g(G) = b\).

Varaporn Saenpholphat1, Ping Zhang1
1Department of Mathematics Western Michigan University Kalamazoo, MI 49008, USA
Abstract:

For a vertex \(v\) of a connected graph \(G\) and a subset \(S\) of \(V(G)\), the distance between \(v\) and \(S\) is \(d(v, S) = \min\{d(v,x) : x \in S\}\), where \(d(v,x)\) is the distance between \(v\) and \(x\). For an ordered \(k\)-partition \(\Pi = \{S_1, S_2, \ldots, S_k\}\) of \(V(G)\), the code of \(v\) with respect to \(\Pi\) is the \(k\)-vector \(c_\Pi(v) = (d(v,S_1), d(v,S_2), \ldots, d(v, S_k))\). The \(k\)-partition \(\Pi\) is a resolving partition if the codes \(c_\Pi(v)\), \(v \in V(G)\), are distinct. A resolving partition \(\Pi = \{S_1, S_2, \ldots, S_k\}\) is acyclic if each subgraph \(\langle S_i \rangle\) induced by \(S_i\) (\(1 \leq i \leq k\)) is acyclic in \(G\). The minimum \(k\) for which there is a resolving acyclic \(k\)-partition of \(V(G)\) is the resolving acyclic number \(a_r(G)\) of \(G\). We study connected graphs with prescribed order, diameter, vertex-arboricity, and resolving acyclic number. It is shown that, for each triple \(d,k,n\) of integers with \(2 \leq d \leq n-2\) and \(3 \leq (n-d+1)/2 \leq k \leq n-d+1\), there exists a connected graph of order \(n\) having diameter \(d\) and resolving acyclic number \(k\). Also, for each pair \(a, b\) of integers with \(2 \leq a \leq b-1\), there exists a connected graph with resolving acyclic number \(a\) and vertex-arboricity \(b\). We present a sharp lower bound for the resolving acyclic number of a connected graph in terms of its clique number. The resolving acyclic number of the Cartesian product \(H \times K_2\) of nontrivial connected graph \(H\) and \(K_2\) is studied.

Hung-Lin Fu1, Ming-Hway Huang1
1Department of Applied Mathematics National Chiao Tung University Hsinchu, Taiwan, R.O.C.
Abstract:

In this paper, we completely solve the problem of finding a maximum packing of any balanced complete multipartite graph \(K_{m}(n)\) with edge-disjoint \(6\)-cycles, and minimum leaves are explicitly given.

Subsequently, we also find a minimum covering of \(K_{m}(n)\).

S. Georgiou1, C. Koukouvinos1, Jennifer Seberry2
1Department of Mathematics National Technical University of Athens Zografou 15773, Athens, Greece
2School of IT and Computer Science University of Wollongong Wollongong, NSW, 2522, Australia
Abstract:

Orthogonal designs and their special cases, such as weighing matrices and Hadamard matrices, have many applications in combinatorics, statistics, and coding theory, as well as in signal processing. In this paper, we generalize the definition of orthogonal designs, give many constructions for these designs, and prove some multiplication theorems that, most of them, can also be applied in the special case of orthogonal designs. Some necessary conditions for the existence of generalized orthogonal designs are also given.