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.

Viadimir D.Tonchev1
1 Department of Mathematical Sciences Michigan Technological University Houghton, MI U.S.A. 49931
Abstract:

Sixteen non-isomorphic symmetric \(2\)-\((31, 10, 3)\) designs with trivial full automorphism group are constructed.

Steven H.Weintraub1
1 Louisiana State University Baton Rouge LA 70803-4918
Abstract:

We define a sequence of positive integers \({A} = (a_1, \ldots, a_n)\) to be a count-wheel of length \(n\) and weight \(w = a_1 + \cdots + a_n\) if it has the following property:
Let \(\overline{A}\) be the infinite sequence \((\overline{a_i})=(a_1, \ldots, a_n, a_1, \ldots, a_n, \ldots)\). Then there is a sequence \(0 = i(0) < i(1) < i(2) < \cdots\) such that for every positive integer \(k\), \(\overline{a}_{i(k-1)+1} + \cdots + \overline{a}_{i(k)} = k\). There are obvious notions of when a count-wheel is reduced or primitive. We show that for every positive integer \(w\), there is a unique reduced count-wheel of weight \(w\), denoted \([w]\). Also, \([w]\) is primitive if and only if \(w\) is odd. Further, we give several algorithms for constructing \([w]\), and a formula for its length. (Remark: The count-wheel \([15] = (1, 2, 3, 4, 3, 2)\) was discovered by medieval clock-makers.)

Chester J.Salwach1
1Department of Mathematics Lafayette College Easton, Pennsylvania 18042
Abstract:

We present 3 connections between the two nonisomorphic \(C(6, 6, 1)\) designs and the exterior lines of an oval in the projective plane of order four. This connection demonstrates the existence of precisely four nonisomorphic large sets of \(C(6, 6, 1)\) designs.

Stanisfaw P.Radziszowski1
1 Department of Computer Science Rochester Institute of Technology Rochester, New York 14623
Abstract:

Using computer algorithms we found that there exists a unique, up to isomorphism, graph on \(21\) points and \(125\) graphs on \(20\) points for the Ramsey number \(R(K_5 – e, K_5 – e) = 22\). We also construct all graphs on \(n\) points for the Ramsey number \(R(K_4 – e, K_5 – e) = 13\) for all \(n \leq 12\).

Sanpei Kageyama1, D.V.S. Sastry2
1Department of Mathematics Hiroshima University Shinonome, Hiroshima 734, Japan
2Bombay 400025, India
Abstract:

Affine \((\mu_1,\ldots,\mu_t)\)-resolvable \((\tau,\lambda)\)-designs are introduced. Constructions of such designs are presented.

Yeow Meng Chee1, Donald L.Kreher2
1Information Technology Institute National Computer Board 71 Science Park Drive, $0511 Republic of Singapore
2Department of Mathematical Sciences Michigan Technological University Houghton, Michigan 49931-1295 U.S.A.
Abstract:

Using basis reduction, we settle the existence problem for \(4\)-\((21,5,\lambda)\) designs with \(\lambda \in \{3,5,6,8\}\). These designs each have as an automorphism group the Frobenius group \(G\) of order \(171\) fixing two points. We also show that a \(4\)-\((21,5,1)\) design cannot have the subgroup of order \(57\) of \(G\) as an automorphism group.

Jeanne Nielsen1
1 Department of Mathematics Duke University Durham, N.C. U.S.A. 27706
Abstract:

A finite group is called \(P_n\)-sequenceable if its nonidentity elements can be listed \(x_1, x_2, \ldots, x_{k}\) such that the product \(x_i x_{i+1} \cdots x_{i+n-1}\) can be rewritten in at least one nontrivial way for all \(i\). It is shown that \(S_n, A_n, D_n\) are \(P_3\)-sequenceable, that every finite simple group is \(P_4\)-sequenceable, and that every finite group is \(P_5\)-sequenceable. It is conjectured that every finite group is \(P_3\)-sequenceable.

A.O. Philips1
1 Department of Mathematics and Statistics Birkbeck College Malet Street London WCIE 7HX England
Graham Denham1, Ming-Guang Leu2, Andy Liu3
1Department of Mathematics The University of Alberta Edmonton, T6G 2G1 Canada
2Department of Mathematics National Central University Chung-Li, Taiwan 32054
3 Department of Mathematics The University of Alberta Edmonton, T6G 2G1 Canada
Abstract:

In this paper, we give two constructive proofs that all \(4\)-stars are Skolem-graceful. A \(4\)-star is a graph with 4 components, with at most one vertex of degree exceeding 1 per component. A graph \(G = (V, E)\) is Skolem-graceful if its vertices can be labelled \(1, 2, \ldots, |V|\) so that the edges are labelled \(1, 2, \ldots, |E|\), where each edge-label is the absolute difference of the labels of the two end-vertices. Skolem-gracefulness is related to the classic concept of gracefulness, and the methods we develop here may be useful there.

Josef Lauri1
1 (University of Malta)
Abstract:

We consider two seemingly related problems. The first concerns pairs of graphs \(G\) and \(H\) containing endvertices (vertices of degree \(1\)) and having the property that, although they are not isomorphic, they have the same collection of endvertex-deleted subgraphs.

The second question concerns graphs \(G\) containing endvertices and having the property that, although no two endvertices are similar, any two endvertex-deleted subgraphs of \(G\) are isomorphic.