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.

Teresa W.Haynes1, Michael A.Henning2, Lucas C.van der Merwe3
1Department of Mathematics East Tennessee State University Johnson City, TN 37614 USA
2School of Mathematics, Statistics & Information Technology University of Natal Private Bag X01 Pietermaritzburg, 3209 South Africa
3Division of Mathematics and Science Northeast State Technical Community College Blountville, TN 37617 USA
Abstract:

A set \(S\) of vertices of a graph \(G\) is a total dominating set if every vertex of \(V(G)\) is adjacent to some vertex in \(S\). The total domination number \(\gamma_t(G)\) is the minimum cardinality of a total dominating set of \(G\). Let \(G\) be a spanning subgraph of \(K_{s,s}\), and let \(H\) be the complement of \(G\) relative to \(K_{s,s}\); that is, \(K_{s,s} = G \oplus H\) is a factorization of \(K_{s,s}\). The graph \(G\) is \(k\)-critical relative to \(K_{s,s}\) if \(\gamma_t(G) = k\) and \(\gamma_t(G + e) < k\) for all \(e \in E(H)\). We study \(k_t\)-critical graphs relative to \(K_{s,s}\) for small values of \(k\). In particular, we characterize the \(3\)-critical and \(4_t\)-critical graphs.

W.S. Ng1
1Institute of Mathematical Sciences Faculty of Science University of Malaya 50603 Kuala Lumpur Malaysia
Abstract:

Let \(S\) be a nonempty subset of the cyclic group \(\mathbb{Z}_p\), where \(p\) is an odd prime. Denote the \(n\)-fold sum of \(S\) as \(n..S\). That is,\(n..S = \{s_1 + \cdots + s_n \mid s_1, \ldots, s_n \in S\}.\) We say that \(S\) is an \((n, 0)\)-set if \(0 \notin n..S\). Let \(k, s\) be integers with \(k \geq 2\) such that \(p-1 = ks\). In this paper, we determine the number of \((k, 0)\)-sets of \(\mathbb{Z}_p\) which are in arithmetic progression and show explicitly the forms taken by those \((k, 0)\)-sets which achieve the maximum cardinality.

Michael E.Raines1
1Western Michigan University Department of Mathematics and Statistics Kalamazoo, Michigan USA 49008-5152
Abstract:

In this paper, necessary and sufficient conditions are given for the existence of extended \(5\)-cycle systems of order \(n\) which have \(r\) idempotent elements.

Louis V.Quintas1, Jerzy Szymanski2
1Louis V. QUINTAS, MATHEMATICS DEPARTMENT, Pace UNIVERSITY, NEW York, NY 10038, U.S.A.
2JERZY SZYMANSKI, FACULTY OF MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTER SCIENCE, ADAM MICK- IewIcz UNIVERSITY, 61-614 PozNaN, PoLAND
Abstract:

An \((f,2)\)-graph is a multigraph \(G\) such that each vertex of \(G\) has degree either \(f\) or \(2\). Let \(S(n, f)\) denote the simple graph whose vertex set is the set of unlabeled \((f,2)\)-graphs of order no greater than \(n\) and such that \(\{G, H\}\) is an edge in \(S(n, f)\) if and only if \(H\) can be obtained from \(G\) by either an insertion or a suppression of a vertex of degree \(2\). We also consider digraphs whose nodes are labeled or unlabeled \((f, 2)\)-multigraphs and with arcs \((G, H)\) defined as for \(\{G, H\}\).

We study the structure of these graphs and digraphs. In particular, the diameter of a given component is determined. We conclude by defining a random process on these digraphs and derive some properties. Chemistry applications are suggested.

Jaroslaw Grytczuk1
1INSTITUTE OF MATHEMATICS, TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY OF ZIELONA GORA, 65-246 ZIELONA GORA, POLAND
Abstract:

Given a coloring \(f\) of Euclidean space \(\mathbb{R}^n\) and some group \(G\) of its transformations, its subsets \(A\) and \(B\) are said to be colored similarly, if there exists \(g \in G\), such that \(B = g(A)\) and \(f(a) = f(g(a))\), for all \(a \in A\). From our earlier result [12] it follows that there are \(2\)-colorings of \(\mathbb{R}^n\), in which no two different line segments are colored similarly with respect to isometries. The main purpose of this paper is to investigate other types of such pattern avoiding colorings. In particular, we consider topological as well as measure theoretic aspects of the above scene. Our motivation for studying this topic is twofold. One is that it extends square-free colorings of \(\mathbb{R}\), introduced in [2] as a continuous version of the famous non-repetitive sequences of Thue. The other is its relationship to some exciting problems and results of Euclidean Ramsey Theory, especially those concerning avoiding distances.

Allan D.Mills1
1MATHEMATICS DEPARTMENT, TENNESSEE TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY, COOKEVILLE, ‘TENNESSEE
Abstract:

In this paper, a definition of perfect binary matroids is considered and it is shown that, analogous to the Perfect Graph Theorem of Lovász and Fulkerson, the complement of a perfect matroid is also a perfect matroid. In addition, the classes of critically imperfect graphic matroids and critically imperfect graphs are compared.

R.M. Figueroa-Centeno1, R. Ichishima2, F.A. Muntaner-Batle3
1MatHematics DEPARTMENT, UNiversiTY OF Hawari-HiLo, 200 W. Kawizi St., HiLo, HI 96720, USA.
2COLLEGE OF HUMANITIES AND SCIENCES, NIHON UNIVERSITY, 3-25-40 SAKURAJOSUI SETAGAYA-KU, TOKYO 156-8550, JAPAN.
3DEPARTAMENT DE MATEMATICA APLICADA | TELEMATICA, UNIVERSITAT POLITEGNICA DE CATULUNYA, 08071 BARCELONA, SPAIN.
Abstract:

A \((p,q)\) graph \(G\) is edge-magic if there exists a bijective function \(f : V(G) \cup E(G) \to \{1,2,\ldots,p+q\}\) such that \(f(u) + f(v) + f(uv) = k\) is a constant, called the valence of \(f\), for any edge \(uv\) of \(G\). Moreover, \(G\) is said to be super edge-magic if \(f(V(G)) = \{1,2,\ldots,p\}\). Every super edge-magic \((p,q)\) graph is cordial, and it is harmonious and sequential whenever it is a tree or \(q \geq p\). In this paper, it is shown to be edge-antimagic as well. The super edge-magic properties of several classes of connected and disconnected graphs are studied. Furthermore, we prove that there can be arbitrarily large gaps among the possible valences for certain super edge-magic graphs. We also establish that the disjoint union of multiple copies of a super edge-magic linear forest is super edge-magic if the number of copies is odd.

Elizabeth J.Billington1, Gaetano Quattrocchit2
1Centre for Discrete Mathematics and Computing, Department of Mathematics, The University of Queensland, Queensland 4072 AUSTRALIA
2Department of Mathematics, University of Catania, viale A. Doria, 95125 Catania, ITALY
Abstract:

In this paper, necessary and sufficient conditions are given for the metamorphosis of a \(\lambda\)-fold \(K_{3,3}\)-design of order \(n\) into a \(\lambda\)-fold \(6\)-cycle system of order \(n\), by retaining one \(6\)-cycle subgraph from each copy of \(K_{3,3}\), and then rearranging the set of all the remaining edges, three from each \(K_{3,3}\), into further \(6\)-cycles so that the result is a \(\lambda\)-fold \(6\)-cycle system.

Kuey Chung Choi1, Sudhir Gupta2, Young Nam Son3
1Department of Computer Science and Statistics, Chosun University, Kwangju, Republic of Korea
2Division of Statistics, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL 60115, U.S.A.
3The Research Institute of Statistics, Chosun University, Kwangju, Republic of Korea
Abstract:

Partially balanced diallel cross block designs with \(m\) associate classes are defined and two general methods of construction are presented. Two-associate class designs based upon group divisible, triangular, and extended group divisible association schemes obtained using the general methods are also given. Tables of designs for no more than \(24\) parental lines are provided.

Andrei Gagarin 1, William Kocay1
1Computer Science Department University of Manitoba Winnipeg, Manitoba, CANADA, R3T 2N2
Abstract:

Given a non-planar graph \(G\) with a subdivision of \(K_5\) as a subgraph, we can either transform the \(K_5\)-subdivision into a \(K_{3,3}\)-subdivision if it is possible, or else we obtain a partition of the vertices of \(G\backslash K_5\) into equivalence classes. As a result, we can reduce a projective planarity or toroidality algorithm to a small constant number of simple planarity checks [6] or to a \(K_{3,3}\)-subdivision in the graph \(G\). It significantly simplifies algorithms presented in [7], [10], and [12]. We then need to consider only the embeddings on the given surface of a \(K_{3,3}\)-subdivision, which are much less numerous than those of \(K_5\).