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.

Urszula Bednarz1, Dorota Brod2, Malgorzata Wolowiec-Musial1
1Rzeszow University of Technology Faculty of Mathematics and Applied Physics al. Powstaricéw Warszawy 12, 25-3859 Rzeszéw, Poland
2 Rzeszow University of Technology Faculty of Mathematics and Applied Physics al. Powstaricéw Warszawy 12, 25-3859 Rzeszéw, Poland
Abstract:

In this paper we define new types of generalizations in the distance sense of Lucas numbers. These generalizations are based on introduced recently the concept of \((2, k)\)-distance Fibonacci numbers.We study some properties of these numbers and present identities
which generalize known identities for Lucas numbers. Moreover, we show representations and interpretations of these numbers.

Enqiang Zhu1, Chanjuan Liu1
1Peking University; Key Laboratory of High Confidence Software Technologies (Peking University), Ministry of Education, CHINA
Abstract:

The number of colors required to properly color the edges of a simple graph \(G\) such that any two vertices are incident with different sets of colors is referred to as the vertex-distinguishing edge chromatic number, denoted by \(\chi’_{vd}(G)\). This paper explores an interesting phenomenon concerning vertex-distinguishing proper edge coloring. Specifically, we prove that for every integer \(m \geq 3\), there exists a graph \(G\) of maximum degree \(m\) with \(\chi’_{vd}(G) < \chi'_{vd}(H)\), where \(H\) is a proper subgraph of \(G\).

Xinshang You1, Xianglin Wei1
1College of Science, Hebei University of Science and Technology, 050018, China
Abstract:

Let \(P\) be a planar point set with no three points collinear. A \(k\)-hole of \(P\) is a convex \(k\)-gon \(H\) such that the vertices of \(H\) are elements of \(P\) and no element of \(P\) lies inside \(H\). In this article, we prove that for any planar \(9\)-point set \(P\) with no three points collinear and at least \(5\) vertices on the boundary of the convex hull, \(P\) contains a \(5\)-hole and a disjoint \(3\)-hole.

Baris Kendirli1
1FATIH UNIVERSITY Istanbul/TURKEY
Abstract:

We evaluate the convolution sums

\(\sum_{l+30m=n} \sigma(l) \sigma(m), \sum_{3l+10m=n} \sigma(l) \sigma(m),\\ \)
\(\sum_{2l+15m=m} \sigma(l) \sigma(m), \sum_{5l+6m=n} \sigma(l) \sigma(m), \\\)
\(\sum_{l+33m=n} \sigma(l) \sigma(m), \sum_{3l+11m=n} \sigma(l) \sigma(m), \\\)
\(\sum_{l+39m=n} \sigma(l) \sigma(m), \sum_{3l+13m=n} \sigma(l) \sigma(m),\\\)

for all \(n \in \mathbb{N}\) using the theory of quasimodular forms, and utilize these convolution sums to determine the number of representations of a positive integer \(n\) by the forms
\[x_1^2 +x_1x_2+ x_2^2 + x_3^2 +x_3x_4+ x_4^2
+ a(x_5^2 + x_5x_6+x_6^2 + x_7^2 + x_7x_8+x_8^2), \]
for \(a = 10, 11, 13\). Quasimodular forms, divisor functions, convolution sums, representation number \(11A25,11F11,11F25,11F20\)

Hacéne Belbachir1, Imad Eddine Bousbaa1
1USTHB, Faculty of Mathematics, RECITS Lab., DG-RSDT BP 32, El Alia, 16111, Bab Ezzouar, Algiers, Algeria
Abstract:

This paper is an orthogonal continuation of the work of Belbachir and Belkhir in sense where we establish, using bijective proofs, recurrence relations and convolution identities between lines of \(r\)-Lah triangle. It is also established a symmetric function form for the \(r\)-Lah numbers.

Fang Tian1, Zi-Long Liu2
1Department of Applied Mathematics Shanghai University of Finance and Economics, Shanghai, China
2School of Computer and Electronic Engineering University of Shanghai for Science and Technology of China, Shanghai, China
Abstract:

For positive integers \(r\) and \(k_1, k_2, \ldots, k_r\), the van der Waerden number \(W(k_1, k_2, \ldots, k_r; r)\) is the minimum integer \(N\) such that whenever the set \(\{1, 2, \ldots, N\}\) is partitioned into \(r\) sets \(S_1, S_2, \ldots, S_r\), there exists a \(k_i\)-term arithmetic progression contained in \(S_i\) for some \(i\). This paper establishes an asymptotic lower bound for \(W(k, m; 2)\) for fixed \(m \geq 3\), improving upon the result of T.C. Brown et al. in [Bounds on some van der Waerden numbers.J. Combin. Theory, Ser.A \(115 (2008), 1304-1309]\). Additionally, we propose lower bounds on certain van der Waerden-like functions.

Dae San Kim 1, Taekyun Kim2
1Department of Mathematics Sogang University, Seoul 121-742, S. Korea
2Department of Mathematics Kwangwoon University, Seoul 139-701, S. Korea
Abstract:

In this paper, we investigate some properties of higher-order Cauchy of the second kind and poly-Cauchy of the second mixed type polynomials with umbral calculus viewpoint. From our investigation, we derive many interesting identities of higher-order Cauchy of the second kind and poly-Cauchy of the second kind mixed type polynomials.

Meysam Alishahi 1, Ali Taherkhani1
1Department of Mathematical Sciences Shahid Beheshti University, G.C. P.O. Box 19839-63113, Tehran, Iran
Abstract:

The chromatic sum \(\Sigma(G)\) of a graph \(G\) is the smallest sum of colors among all proper colorings using natural numbers. In this paper, we establish a necessary condition for the existence of graph homomorphisms. Furthermore, we show that \(\Sigma(G) \leq \chi_f(G) |V(G)|\) holds for every graph \(G\).

Wei Meng1, Shengjia Li1, Qiaoping Guo1, Yubao Guo2
1School of Mathematical Sciences, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, P.R. China
2Lehrstuhl C fiir Mathematik, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
Abstract:

The concept of signed cycle domination number of graphs, introduced by B. Xu [B. Xu, On signed cycle domination in graphs, Discrete Math. \(309 (2009)1007-1012]\), is extended to digraphs, denoted by \(\gamma’_{sc}(D)\) for a digraph \(D\). We establish bounds on \(\gamma_s(D)\), characterize all digraphs \(D\) with \(\gamma’_{sc}(D) = |A(D)|-2\), and determine the exact value of \(\gamma’_{sc}(D)\) for specific classes of digraphs \(D\). Furthermore, we define the parameter \(g'(m,n) = \min\{\gamma’_{sc}(D) \mid D \text{ is a digraph with } |V(D)| = n \text{ and } |A(D)| = m\}\) and obtain its value for all integers \(n\) and \(m\) satisfying \(0 \leq m \leq n(n-1)\).

Xiaofeng Guo1, Zhixia Xu1,2
1College of Mathematics and System Sciences, Xinjiang University, Wulumuqi Xinjiang, 830046, P.R. China
2Center for Combinatorics and LPMC-TJKLC, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, P.R. China
Abstract:

A connected graph \(G\) is \({k-cycle \; resonant}\) if, for \(0 \leq t \leq k\), any \(t\) disjoint cycles \(C_1, C_2, \ldots, C_t\) in \(G\) imply a perfect matching in \(G – \bigcup_{i=1}^{t} V(C_i)\). \(G\) is \({cycle \; resonant}\) if it is \(k^*\)-cycle resonant, where \(k^*\) is the maximum number of disjoint cycles in \(G\). This paper proves that for outerplane graphs, \(2\)-cycle resonant is equivalent to cycle resonant and establishes a necessary and sufficient condition for an outerplanar graph to be cycle resonant. We also discuss the structure of \(2\)-connected cycle resonant outerplane graphs. Let \(\beta(G)\) denote the number of perfect matchings in \(G\). For any \(2\)-connected cycle resonant outerplane graph \(G\) with \(k\) chords, we show \(k+2 \leq \Phi(G) \leq 2^k + 1\) and provide extremal graphs for these inequalities.