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.

M.N. Ellingham1
1Department of Mathematics Vanderbilt University Nashville, TN 37240, U. S. A.
Abstract:

A graph \(G\) is a sum graph if there is a labeling \(o\) of its vertices with distinct positive integers, so that for any two distinct vertices \(u\) and \(v\), \(uv\) is an edge of \(G\) if and only if \(\sigma(u) +\sigma(v) = \sigma(w)\) for some other vertex \(w\). Every sum graph has at least one isolated vertex (the vertex with the largest label). Harary has conjectured that any tree can be made into a sum graph with the addition of a single isolated vertex. We prove this conjecture.

Miri Priesler1, Michael Tarsi 1
1Computer Science Department School of Mathematical Sciences Tel-Aviv university 69978 Israel
Abstract:

An \(H\)-decomposition of a graph \(G\) is a representation of \(G\) as an edge disjoint union of subgraphs, all of which are isomorphic to another graph \(H\). We study the case where \(H\) is \(P_3 \cup tK_2\) – the vertex disjoint union of a simple path of length 2 (edges) and \(t\) isolated edges – and prove that a set of three obviously necessary conditions for \(G = (V, E)\) to admit an \(H\)-decomposition, is also sufficient if \(|E|\) exceeds a certain function of \(t\). A polynomial time algorithm to test \(H\)-decomposability of an input graph \(G\) immediately follows.

R. Wei 1
1Department of Mathematics Suzhou University Suzhou 215006 P.R. China
Abstract:

In this paper we consider group divisible designs with equal-sized holes \((HGDD)\) which is a generalization of modified group divisible designs \([1]\) and \(HMOLS\). We prove that the obvious necessary conditions for the existence of the \(HGDD\) is sufficient when the block size is three, which generalizes the result of Assaf[1].

Yin Jianxing1, Miao Ying2
1 Department of Mathematics Suzhou University Suzhou, 215006, PR. CHINA
2Mathematics Teaching-Research Section Suzhou Institute of Silk Textile Technology Suzhou, 215005, PR. CHINA
Abstract:

An obvious necessary condition for the existence of an almost resolvable \(B(k,k-1;v)\) is \(v \equiv 1 \pmod{k}\). We show in this paper that the necessary condition is also sufficient for \(k = 5\) or \(k = 6\), possibly excepting \(8\) values of \(v\) when \(k = 5\) and \(3\) values of \(v\) when \(k = 6\).

Le Tu Quoc Hung1
1 Institute of Computer Science University of Wroclaw Przesmyckiego 20 51 – 151 Wroclaw, Poland
Liu Zhenhong1, Guoping Jin1, Changfan Wang2
1Institute of Systems Science, Academia Sinica, Beijing 100080, People’s Republic China
2Yan Tai Teacher’s College, P. R. China
Abstract:

This paper gives two sufficient conditions for a \(2\)-connected graph to be pancyclic. The first one is that the degree sum of every pair of nonadjacent vertices should not be less than \(\frac{n}{2} + \delta\). The second is that the degree sum of every triple of independent vertices should not be less than \(n + \delta\), where \(n\) is the number of vertices and \(\delta\) is the minimum degree of the graph.

Hanno Lefmannst1
1 Fakultat fiir Mathematik, Universitat Bielefeld Postfach 8640 W-4800 Bielefeld 1 Germany
Abstract:

In this paper we will consider the Ramsey numbers for paths and cycles in graphs with unordered as well as ordered vertex sets.

Zhang Ke Min1, Wang Jian-zhong2
1 Department of Mathematics, University of Otago Dunedin, New Zealand
2 Department of Mathematics, Taiyuan Institute of Machinery Taiyuan, 030051, People’s Republic of China
Abstract:

Suppose that \(R = (V, A)\) is a diregular bipartite tournament of order \(p \geq 8\). Denote a cycle of length \(k\) by \(C_k\). Then for any \(e \in A(R)\), \(w \in V(R) \setminus V(e)\), there exists a pair of vertex-disjoint cycles \(C_4\) and \(C_{p-4}\) in \(R\) with \(e \in C_4\) and \(w \in C_{p-4}\), except \(R\) is isomorphic to a special digraph \(\tilde{F}_{4k}\).

Denis Hanson1, Gary MacGillivray1
1 Department of Mathematics and Statistics University of Regina Regina, Sask., S45 0A2 Canada
Abstract:

We construct all four-chromatic triangle-free graphs on twelve vertices, and a triangle-free, uniquely three-colourable graph.

Pak-Ken Wong1
1 Department of Mathematics and Computer Science Seton Hall University South Orange, NJ 07079
Abstract:

Let \(K\) be a maximal block of a graph \(G\) and let \(x\) and \(y\) be two nonadjacent vertices of \(G\). If \(|V(X)| \leq \frac{1}{2}(n+3)\) and \(x\) and \(y\) are not cut vertices, we show that \(x\) is not adjacent to \(y\) in the closure \(c(G)\) of \(G\). We also show that, if \(x, y \notin V(K)\), then \(x\) is not adjacent to \(y\) in \(c(G)\).