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.

Sizhong Zhou1
1School of Mathematics and Physics Jiangsu University of Science and Technology Mengxi Road 2, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu 212003 People’s Republic of China
Abstract:

Let \(k \geq 3\) be an integer, and let \(G\) be a graph of order \(n\) with \(n \geq \max\{10, 4k-3\}\) and \(\delta(G) \geq k+1\). If \(G\) satisfies \(\max\{d_G(x), d_G(y)\} \geq \frac{n}{2}\) for each pair of nonadjacent vertices \(x, y\) of \(G\), then \(G\) is a fractional \(k\)-covered graph. The result is best possible in some sense, and it improves and extends the result of C. Wang and C. Ji (C. Wang and C. Ji, Some new results on \(k\)-covered graphs, Mathematica Applicata \(11(1) (1998), 61-64)\).

Chia-Ming Lin1, Tao-Ming Wang1
1Department of Mathematics Tunghai University Taichung, Taiwan, 40704
Abstract:

For a positive integer \(k\), let \(\mathbb{Z}_k = (\mathbb{Z}_k, +, 0)\) be the additive group of congruences modulo \(k\) with identity \(0\), and \(\mathbb{Z}_1\) is the usual group of integers \(\mathbb{Z}\). We call a finite simple graph \(G = (V(G), E(G))\) \(\mathbb{Z}_k\)-magic if it admits an edge labeling \(\ell: E(G) \to \mathbb{Z}_k \setminus \{0\}\) such that the induced vertex sum labeling \(\ell^+: V(G) \to \mathbb{Z}_k\), defined by \(\ell^+(v) = \sum_{uv \in E(G)} \ell(uv)\), is constant. The constant is called a \emph{magic sum index}, or an \emph{index} for short, of \(G\) under \(\ell\), following R. Stanley. The \emph{null set} of \(G\), defined by E. Salehi as the set of all \(k\) such that \(G\) is \(\mathbb{Z}_k\)-magic with zero magic sum index, is denoted by \(Null(G)\). For a fixed integer \(k\), we consider the set of all possible magic sum indices \(r\) such that \(G\) is \(\mathbb{Z}_k\)-magic with magic sum index \(r\), and denote it by \(I_k(G)\). We call \(I_k(G)\) the \emph{index set} of \(G\) with respect to \(\mathbb{Z}_k\). In this paper, we investigate properties and relations of index sets \(I_k(G)\) and null sets \(Null(G)\) for \(\mathbb{Z}_k\)-magic graphs. Among others, we determine null sets of generalized wheels and generalized fans and construct infinitely many examples of \(\mathbb{Z}_k\)-magic graphs with magic sum zero. Some open problems are presented.

Liandi Zhang1, Caifeng Zhou2, Yuqin Zhang2
1Center for Combinatorics, LPMC-TJKLC, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, P.R.China
2Department of Mathematics, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, P.R.China
Abstract:

Packing and covering are dual problems in graph theory. A graph \(G\) is called \(H\)-equipackable if every maximal \(H\)-packing in \(G\) is also a maximum \(H\)-packing in \(G\). Dually, a graph \(G\) is called \(H\)-equicoverable if every minimal \(H\)-covering in \(G\) is also a minimum \(H\)-covering in \(G\). In 2012, Zhang characterized two kinds of equipackable paths and cycles: \(P_k\)-equipackable paths and cycles, and \(M_k\)-equipackable paths and cycles. In this paper, we characterize \(P_k\)-equicoverable (\(k > 3\)) paths and cycles, and \(M_k\)-equicoverable (\(k > 2\)) paths and cycles.

Haixia Guo1,2, Shufang Zhao3
1College of Science, Tianjin University of Technology and Education, Tianjin, 900222,P.R.China
2 Dept.of Applied Math., Delian University of Technology, Dalian, 116024,P.R.China
3Science and Educational Department, Hebei First People’s Hospital, Shijiazhuang, 050051, P. R. China
Abstract:

For non-negative integers \(n_1, n_2, \ldots, n_t\), let \(GL_{n_1, n_2, \ldots, n_t}(\mathbb{F}_q)\) denote the \(t\)-singular general linear group of degree \(n = n_1 + n_2 + \cdots + n_t\) over the finite field \(\mathbb{F}_q^{n_1+n_2+\ldots+n_t}\) denote the \((n_1+n_2+\ldots+n_t)\)-dimensional \(t\)-singular linear space over the finite \(\mathbb{F}\). Let \(\mathcal{M}\) be any orbit of subspaces under \(GL_{n_1, n_2, \ldots, n_t}(\mathbb{F}_q)\). Denote by \(\mathcal{L}\) the set of all intersections of subspaces in \(M\). Ordered by ordinary or reverse inclusion, two posets are obtained. This paper discusses their geometricity and computes their characteristic polynomials.

Jizhen Yang1, Yunpeng Wang2
1Department of Mathematics, Luoyang normal College, 1 Luoyang 471022, P. R. China
2 Department of Mathematics and Physical, Luoyang Institute of Science and Technology, 2 Luoyang 471022, P. R. China
Abstract:

The purpose of this paper is to establish g-analogue of some identities and then generalize the result to give identities for finite sums for products of generalized q-harmonic numbers and reciprocals of \(q\)-binomial coefficients.

R. Barzgar P.1, A. Erfanian1, M. Farrokhi D.G.1
1DEPARTMENT OF MATHEMATICS AND CENTER OF EXCELLENCE IN ANALYSIS ON ALGEBRAIC STRUCTURES, FERDOWSI UNIVERSITY OF MASH- HAD, MASHHAD, IRAN.
Abstract:

For a finite group \(G\), let \(P(m,n,G)\) denote the probability that a \(m\)-subset and an \(n\)-subset of \(G\) commute elementwise, and let \(P(n,G) = P(1,n,G)\) be the probability that an element commutes with an \(n\)-subset of \(G\). Some lower and upper bounds are given for \(P(m,n,G)\), and it is shown that \(\{P(m,n,G)\}_{m,n}\) is decreasing with respect to \(m\) and \(n\). Also, \(P(m,n,G)\) is computed for some classes of finite groups, including groups with a central factor of order \(p^2\) and \(P(n,G)\) is computed for groups with a central factor of order \(p^3\) and wreath products of finite abelian groups.

Xueliang Li1, Yaping Mao1
1Center for Combinatorics and LPMC-TJKLC Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
Abstract:

For \(S \subseteq V(G)\) and \(|S| \geq 2\), let \(\lambda(S)\) denote the maximum number of edge-disjoint trees connecting \(S\) in \(G\). For an integer \(k\) with \(2 \leq k \leq n\), the generalized \(k\)-edge-connectivity \(\lambda_k(G)\) of \(G\) is defined as \(\lambda_k(G) = \min\{\lambda(S) : S \subseteq V(G) \text{ and } |S| = k\}\). Note that when \(|S| = 2\), \(\lambda_2(G)\) coincides with the standard \emph{edge-connectivity} \(\lambda(G)\) of \(G\). In this paper, we characterize graphs of order \(n\) such that \(\lambda_n(G) = n – 3\). Furthermore, we determine the minimal number of edges of a graph \(G\) of order \(n\) with \(\lambda_3(G) = 1, n – 3, n – 2\) and establish a sharp lower bound for \(2 \leq \lambda_3(G) \leq n – 4\).

Yufei Huang1, Bolian Liu2
1Guangzhou Civil Aviation College, Guangzhou, P.R. China, 510403
2 College of Mathematical Science, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, P.R. China, 510631
Abstract:

The noncrossing partitions with fixed points have been introduced and studied in the literature. In this paper, as their continuations, we derive expressions for \(f_m(x_1, 0^\mu, x_{\mu+2},0^\rho,x_{\mu+\mu+3},0^{m-\mu-\rho-3})\),and \(f_{m}(x_1,x_2, 0^\mu, x_{\mu+3},0^\rho,x_{\mu+\mu+3},0^{\rho+\mu+4},0^{m-\rho-\mu-4}\), are given,respectively. Moreover, we introduce noncrossing partitions with fixed points having specific property \(\mathcal{P}\) and describe their enumeration through a multivariable function \(f_m^\mathcal{P}(x_1, x_2, \ldots, x_m)\). Additionally, we obtain counting formulas for \(f_m^\mathcal{P}(x_1, 0^{m-1})\) and \(f_m^\mathcal{P}(x_1, x_2, 0^{m-2})\) for various properties \(\mathcal{P}\).

Haoli Wang1, Xirong Xu2, Yuansheng Yang2, Guoging Wang3
1College of Computer and Information Engineering Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin, 300387, P. R. China
2Department of Computer Science Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, 116024, P. R. China
3Department of Mathematics Tianjin Polytechnic University, Tianjin, 300387, P. R. China
Abstract:

Let \(G = (V(G), E(G))\) be a simple, connected, and undirected graph with vertex set \(V(G)\) and edge set \(E(G)\). A set \(S \subseteq V(G)\) is a \emph{dominating set} if for each \(v \in V(G)\), either \(v \in S\) or \(v\) is adjacent to some \(w \in S\). That is, \(S\) is a dominating set if and only if \(N[S] = V(G)\). The \emph{domination number} \(\gamma(G)\) is the minimum cardinality of minimal dominating sets. In this paper, we provide an improved upper bound on the domination number of generalized Petersen graphs \(P(c,k)\) for \(c \geq 3\) and \(k \geq 3\). We also prove that \(\gamma(P(4k,k)) = 2k + 1\) for even \(k\), \(\gamma(P(5k, k)) = 3k\) for all \(k \geq 1\), and \(\gamma(P(6k,k)) = \left\lceil \frac{10k}{3} \right\rceil\) for \(k \geq 1\) and \(k \neq 2\).

Kyle Kolasinski1, Jianwei Lin1, Chira Lumduanhom1, Bryan Phinezy1, Futaba Okamoto2
1Department of Mathematics Western Michigan University Kalamazoo, MI 49008
2 Mathematics Department University of Wisconsin – La Crosse La Crosse, WI 54601
Abstract:

A proper coloring of a graph \(G\) assigns colors to vertices such that adjacent vertices receive distinct colors. The minimum number of colors is the chromatic number \(\chi(G)\). For a graph \(G\) and a proper coloring \(c: V(G) \to \{1, 2, \ldots, k\}\), the color code of a vertex \(v\) is \(code(v) = (c(v), S_v)\), where \(S_v = \{c(u): u \in N(v)\}\). Coloring \(c\) is \emph{singular} if distinct vertices have distinct color codes, and the \emph{singular chromatic number} \(\chi_s(G)\) is the minimum positive integer \(k\) for which \(G\) has a singular \(k\)-coloring. Thus, \(\chi(G) \leq \chi_{si}(G) \leq n\) for every graph \(G\) of order \(n\). We establish a characterization for all triples \((a, b, n)\) of positive integers for which there exists a graph \(G\) of order \(n\) with \(\chi(G) = a\) and \(\chi_{si}(G) = b\). Furthermore, for every vertex \(v\) and edge \(e\) in \(G\), we show:
\( \chi_{si}(G) – 1 \leq \chi_{si}(G – v) \leq \chi_{si}(G) + \deg(v) \) and
\( \chi_{si}(G) – 1 \leq \chi_{si}(G – e) \leq \chi_{si}(G) + 2, \)
and prove that these bounds are sharp. Additionally, we determine the singular chromatic numbers of cycles and paths.