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.

Ali Ahmad1, F.A. Muntaner-Battle2, M. Rius-Font3
1Abdus Salam School of Mathematical Sciences, GC University, 68-B, New Muslim Town, Lahore, Pakistan
2Facultat de Ciéncies Politiques i Juridiques, Universitat Internacional de Cataluria, C/Immaculada 22, 08017 Barcelona, Spain
3 Departament de Matematica Aplicada i Telematica, Universitat Politécnica de Catalunya, Castelldefels, Spain
Abstract:

Consider a labeled and strongly oriented cycle \(\overrightarrow{C_m}\) and a set \(\mathcal{T} = \{\overrightarrow{C_n}, \overleftarrow{C_n}\}\), where \(\overrightarrow{C_n}\) and \(\overleftarrow{C_n}\) are two labeled and strongly oriented cycles with the same underlying graph and opposite orientations. Let \(h: E(\overrightarrow{C_m}) \to \Gamma\) be any function that sends every edge of \(\overrightarrow{C_m}\) to either \(\overrightarrow{C_n}\) or \(\overleftarrow{C_n}\). The primary goal of this paper is to study the underlying graph of the product \(\overrightarrow{C_m} \otimes_h \Gamma\), defined as follows:
\[ V(\overrightarrow{C_m} \otimes_h \Gamma) = V(\overrightarrow{C_m}) \times V(\overrightarrow{C_n}) \]
and
\[ ((a, b), (c, d)) \in E(\overrightarrow{C_m} \otimes_h \Gamma) \iff (a, c) \in E(\overrightarrow{C_m}) \wedge (b, d) \in h(a, c). \]
This product is of interest since it preserves various types of labelings, such as edge-magic and super edge-magic labelings. Additionally, we investigate the algorithmic complexity of determining whether a digraph \(\overrightarrow{D}\) can be factored using the product \(\otimes_h\), given a set of digraphs \(\Gamma\). This is the main topic of the third section of the paper.

Svetlana Topalova1, Stela Zhelezova1
1Mathematical Foundations of Informatics Department Institute of Mathematics and Informatics, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences PO.Box 323, 5000 Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria
Abstract:

Doubly resolvable \(2-(v,k,\lambda)\) designs \((DRDs)\) with small parameters and their resolutions which have orthogonal resolutions (\(RORs\)) are constructed and classified up to isomorphism. Exact values or lower bounds on the number of the nonisomorphic sets of \(7\) mutually orthogonal resolutions \((m-MORs)\) are presented. The implemented algorithms and the parameter range of this method are discussed, and the correctness of the computational results is checked in several ways.

G. Aalipour-Hafshejani1, S. Akbari2,1, Z. Ebrahimi1
1Department of Mathematical Sciences, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, Iran
2School of Mathematics, Institute for Research in Fundamental Sciences (IPM)
Abstract:

Let \(G\) be a simple graph of order \(n\). We define a dominating set as a set \(S \subseteq V(G)\) such that every vertex of \(G\) is either in \(S\) or adjacent to a vertex in \(S\). The \({domination\; polynomial}\) of \(G\) is \(D(G, x) = \sum_{i=0}^{n} d(G, i)x^i\), where \(d(G, i)\) is the number of dominating sets of \(G\) of size \(i\). Two graphs \(G\) and \(H\) are \({D-equivalent}\), denoted \(G \sim H\), if \(D(G, x) = D(H, x)\). The \({D-equivalence\; class}\) of \(G\) is \([G] = \{H \mid H \sim G\}\). Recently, determining the \(D\)-equivalence class of a given graph has garnered interest. In this paper, we show that for \(n \geq 3\), \([K_{n,n}]\) has size two. We conjecture that the complete bipartite graph \(K_{m,n}\) for \(m, n \geq 2\) is uniquely determined by its domination polynomial.

Abdullah Altin1, Bayram Cekim2, Esra Erkus-Duman2
1Ankara University, Faculty of Science, Department of Mathematics, Tandogan TR-06100, Ankara, Turkey
2Gazi University, Faculty of Sciences and Arts, Department of Mathematics, Teknikokullar TR-06500, Ankara, Turkey.
Abstract:

The Jacobi matrix polynomials and their orthogonality only for commutative matrices was first studied by Defez \(et. al\).
[Jacobi matrix differential equation, polynomial solutions and their properties. Comput. Math. Appl. \(48 (2004), 789-803]\). It is known that orthogonal matrix polynomials comprise an emerging field of study, with important results in both theory and applications continuing to appear in the literature. The main object of this paper is to derive various families of linear, multilateral and multilinear generating functions for the Jacobi matrix polynomials and the Gegenbauer matrix polynomials. Recurrence relations of Jacobi matrix polynomials are obtained. Some special cases of the results presented in this study are also indicated.

Guihai Yu1,2, Linua Feng3, Qingwen Wang2, Aleksandar Ilié4
1School of Mathematics, Shandong Institute of Business and Technology, Yantai, Shandong, P.R. China, 264005.
2Department of Mathematics, Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200444.
3Department of Mathematics, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410083.
4Faculty of Sciences and Mathematics, University of NiS, Serbia, 18000.
Abstract:

The positive index of inertia of a signed graph \(\Gamma\), denoted by \(,(\Gamma)\), is the number of positive eigenvalues of the adjacency matrix \(A(\Gamma)\) including multiplicities. In this paper we investigate the minimal positive index of inertia of
signed unicyclic graphs of order \(n\) with fixed girth and characterize the extremal graphs with the minimal positive index. Finally, we characterize the signed unicyclic graphs with the positive indices \(1\) and \(2\).

Hailong Hou1, Rui Gu1
1 School of Mathematics and Statistics, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, 471003, P.R. China
Abstract:

In this paper, we explicitly explore the endomorphism monoid of the circulant complete graph \(K(n, 4)\). We demonstrate that \(Aut(K(n,4)) \cong D_n\), the dihedral group of degree \(n\). Furthermore, we show that \(K(n,4)\cong D_n\) is unretractive for \(n = 4m , 4m +2\) (\(m \geq 2\)), and that \(End(K(n,4)) = qEnd(K(n,4))\) and \(sEnd(K(n,4)) = Aut(K(n,4))\) when \(n = 4m, 4m + 2\) (\(m \geq 2\)). Additionally, we prove that \(End(K(4m,4))\) is regular and \(End(K(4m + 2,4))\) is completely regular. We also solve some enumerative problems concerning \(End(K(n,4))\) are solved.

Stefan O.Tohaneanu1
1DEPARTMENT OF MATHEMATICAL SCIENCES, UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI, CINCINNATI, OH 45221-0025,
Abstract:

In this note we find a necessary and sufficient condition for the supersolvability of an essential, central arrangement of rank \(3\) (\(i.e\), line arrangement in the projective plane). We present an algorithmic way to decide if such an arrangement is supersoivable or not that does not require an ordering of the lines as the Bjémer-Ziegler’s and Peeva’s criteria require. The method uses the duality between points and lines in the projective plane in the context of coding theory.

Xiaoxia Wu1, Lianzhu Zhang2, Hawei Dong3, Chengfu Qin4
1School of Mathematics and Statistics, Minnan Normal University, Fujian 363000, China
2School of Mathematical Sciences, Xiamen University, Fujian 861005, China,
3Department of Mathematics, Minjiang University, Fujian 850108, China
4 Department of Mathematics, Guangxi Teachers Education University, Guangzi 530001, China
Abstract:

This paper deals with the Abelian sandpile model on the generalized trees with certain given boundary condition. Using a combinatorial method, we obtain the exact expressions for all single-site probabilities and some two-site joint probabilities. Also, we prove that the sites near the boundary have a different height probability from those away from it in bulk for the Bethe lattice with the boundary condition, which is the same as those results found by Grassberger and Manna [Some more sandpiles,” J.Phys.(France)\(51,1077-1098(1990)\)] and proved by Haiyan chen and Fuji Zhang [“Height probabilities in the Abelian sandpile on the generalized finite Bethe lattice” J. Math. Phys. \(54, 083503 (2013))\).

Edray Herber Goins1, Talitha M.Washington2
1DEPARTMENT OF MATHEMATICS, PURDUE UNIVERSITY, 150 NORTH UNIVERSITY STREET, WEST LAFAYETTE, IN 47907
2DEPARTMENT OF MATHEMATICS, 1800 LINCOLN AVENUE, UNIVERSITY OF EVANSVILLE, EVANSVILLE, IN 47722
Abstract:

Let \(S\) be a subset of the positive integers and \(M\) be a positive integer. Inspired by Tony Colledge’s work, Mohammad K. Azarian considered the number of ways to climb a staircase with \(n\) stairs using “step-sizes” \(s \in S\) with multiplicities at most \(M\). In this exposition, we find a solution via generating functions, i.e., an expression counting the number of partitions \(n = \sum_{s \in S} m_ss\), satisfying \(0 \leq m_s \leq M\). We then use this result to answer a series of questions posed by Azarian, establishing a link with ten sequences listed in the On-Line Encyclopedia of Integer Sequences (OEIS). We conclude by posing open questions that seek to count the number of compositions of \(n\).

Premysl Holub1
1Department of Mathematics, University of West Bohemia, and Institute for Theo- retical Computer Science (ITI), Charles University, Univerzitni 22, 306 14 Pilsen, Czech Republic
Abstract:

Hamiltonian index of a graph \(G\) is the smallest positive integer \(k\), for which the \(k\)-th iterated line graph \(L^k(G)\) is hamiltonian. Bedrossian characterized all pairs of forbidden induced subgraphs that imply hamiltonicity in \(2\)-connected graphs. In this paper, some upper bounds on the hamiltonian index of a \(2\)-connected graph in terms of forbidden not necessarily induced subgraphs are presented.