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.

Omer Berkman1, Michal Parnas1, Yehuda Roditty1
1The Academic College of Tel-Aviv-Yaffo Tel-Aviv, Israel.
Abstract:

We prove that all cycles are edge-magic, thus solving a problem presented by [2]. In [3] it was shown that all cycles of odd length are edge-magic. We give explicit constructions that show that all cycles of even length are edge-magic. Our constructions differ for the case of cycles of length \(n \equiv 0 \pmod{4}\) and \(n \equiv 2 \pmod{4}\).

J. A. Dias da Silva1, Rosario Fernandes2
1Centro de Algebra da Universidade de Lisboa Av Gama. Pinto 2 1699 Lisboa Codex Portugal
2Departamento de Matematica Centro de Algebra da Universidade de Lisboa Av Gama Pinto 2 1699 Lisboa Codex Portugal
Abstract:

We present results that characterize the covering number and the rank partition of the dual of a matroid \(M\) using properties of \(M\). We prove, in particular, that the elements of covering number \(2\) in \(M^*\) are the elements of the closure of the maximal \(2\)-transversals of \(M\).

From the results presented it can be seen that every matroid \(M\) is a weak map image of a transversal matroid with the same rank partition.

Teresa W. Haynes1, Michael A. Henning2, Lucas C. van der Merwe3
1Department of Mathematics East Tennessee State University Johnson City, TN 37614-0002 USA
2Department of Mathematics University of Natal Private Bag X01 Pietermaritzburg 3209 South Africa
3University of South Africa Pretoria, South Africa
Abstract:

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 \(K_{s,s}\). For a graphical parameter \(\mu(G)\), a graph \(G\) is \(\mu(G)\)-critical if \(\mu(G + e) < \mu(G)\) for every \(e\) in the ordinary complement \(\bar{G}\) of \(G\), while \(G\) is \(\mu(G)\)-critical relative to \(K_{s,s}\) if \(\mu(G + e) < \mu(G)\) for all \(e \in E(H)\). We show that no tree \(T\) is \(\mu(T)\)-critical and characterize the trees \(T\) that are \(\mu(T)\)-critical relative to \(K_{s,s}\), where \(\mu(T)\) is the domination number and the total domination number of \(T\).

Eddie Cheng1, Marc J. Lipman1, Hyungju Park1
1DEPARTMENT OF MATHEMATICS AND STATISTICS, OAKLAND UNIVERSITY, ROCHESTER, MICHIGAN 48309 USA
Abstract:

The star graph \(S_n\) and the alternating group graph \(A_n\) are two popular interconnection graph topologies. \(A_n\) has a higher connectivity while \(S_n\) has a lower degree, and the choice between the two graphs depends on the specific requirement of an application. The degree of \(S_n\) can be even or odd, but the degree of \(A_n\) is always even. We present a new interconnection graph topology, split-star graph \(S^2_{n}\), whose degree is always odd. \(S^2_{n}\) contains two copies of \(A_n\) and can be viewed as a companion graph for \(A_n\). We demonstrate that this graph satisfies all the basic properties required for a good interconnection graph topology. In this paper, we also evaluate \(S_n\), \(A_n\), and \(S^2_{n}\) with respect to the notion of super connectivity and super edge-connectivity.

Charles F. Laywine1, Gary L. Mullen2
1Department of Mathematics, Brock University, St. Catharines, Ontario, L2S 3A1, Canada
2Department of Mathematics, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
Abstract:

We construct a small table of lower bounds for the maximum number of mutually orthogonal frequency squares of types \(F(n; \lambda)\) with \(n \leq 100\).

Makiko Watanabe1
1Graduate school of mathematics, Kyushu University, Hakozaki 6-10-1, Higashi-ku, Hukuoka.
Allen G. Fuller1
1DIVISION OF NATURAL SCIENCES AND NURSING, GORDON COLLEGE, BARNESVILLE, GA 30204
Abstract:

A graph \(G\) is \(\{R, S\}\)-free if \(G\) contains no induced subgraphs isomorphic to \(R\) or \(S\). The graph \(Z_1\) is a triangle with a path of length \(1\) off one vertex; the graph \(Z_2\) is a triangle with a path of length \(2\) off one vertex. A graph that is \(\{K_{1,3}, Z_1\}\)-free is known to be either a cycle or a complete graph minus a matching. In this paper, we investigate the structure of \(\{K_{1,3}, Z_2\}\)-free graphs. In particular, we characterize \(\{K_{1,3}, Z_2\}\)-free graphs of connectivity \(1\) and connectivity \(2\).

Shannon L. Fitzpatrick1, Richard J. Nowakowski2
1Acadia University Wolfville, Nova Scotia
2Dathouste University Halifax, Nova Scotia
Abstract:

The problem is to determine the number of `cops’ needed to capture a `robber’ where the game is played with perfect information with the cops and the robber alternating moves. The `cops’ capture the `robber’ if one of them occupies the same vertex as the robber at any time in the game. Here we show that a graph with strong isometric dimension two requires no more than two cops.

Sandi Klavzar1, Uros Milutinovic2, Ciril Petr3
1Department of Mathematics, PEF, Unversity of Maribor Korodka cesta 160, 2000 Maribor, Slovenia
2Department of Mathematics, PEF, University of Maribor Korogka cesta 160, 2000 Maribor, Slovenia
3Institute of Information Sciences PreSernova 17, 2000 Maribor, Slovenia
Abstract:

Combinatorial properties of the multi-peg Tower of Hanoi problem on \(n\) discs and \(p\) pegs are studied. Top-maps are introduced as maps which reflect topmost discs of regular states. We study these maps from several points of view. We also count the number of edges
in graphs of the multi-peg Tower of Hanoi problem and in this way obtain some combinatorial identities.

Zhang Cheng-heng1
1Hebei Langfang Teachers’ College Hebei Langfang 065000, China