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.

Cheng-Kuan Lin1, Jimmy J. M. Tan1, Lih-Hsing Hsu2, Eddie Cheng3, Laszlo Liptak3
1Department of Computer Science, National Chiao Tung University
2Department of Computer Science and Information Engineering, Providence University
3Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Oakland University
Abstract:

Fault tolerance is an important property of network performance. A graph \(G\) is \(k\)-edge-fault conditional Hamiltonian if \(G – F\) is Hamiltonian for every \(F \subset E(G)\) with \(|F| \leq k\) and \(\delta(G – F) \geq 2\). In this paper, we show that for \(n \geq 4\), the \(n\)-dimensional star graph \(S_n\) is \((3n – 10)\)-edge-fault conditional Hamiltonian.

Derya Saglam1, Ozgur Boyacioglu Kalkan1
1Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science and Arts, ANS Campus, Afyon Ko- catepe University, 03200 Afyonkarahisar, Turkey.
Abstract:

In this paper, we characterize all spacelike, timelike, and null curves lying on the pseudohyperbolic space \({H}^{4}_{v-1}\), in Minkowski space \({E}^5_v\). Moreover, we prove that there are no timelike and no null curves lying on the pseudohyperbolic space \({H}^{4}_{v-1}\) in \({E}^5_v\).

Juan Liu1, Xindong Zhang1, Jiziang Meng2
1School of Mathematical Sciences, Xinjiang Normal University Urumgi, Xinjiang 830054, P.R. China
2College of Mathematics and System Sciences, Xinjiang University Urumgi, Xinjiang 830046, P.R. China
Abstract:

The local-restricted-edge-connectivity \(\lambda'(e, f)\) of two nonadjacent edges \(e\) and \(f\) in a graph \(G\) is the maximum number of edge-disjoint \(e\)-\(f\) paths in \(G\). It is clear that \(\lambda'(G) = \min\{\lambda'(e, f) \mid e \text{ and } f \text{ are nonadjacent edges in } G\}\), and \(\lambda'(e, f) \leq \min\{\xi(e), \xi(f)\}\) for all pairs \(e\) and \(f\) of nonadjacent edges in \(G\), where \(\lambda(G)\), \(\xi(e)\), and \(\xi(f)\) denote the restricted-edge-connectivity of \(G\), the edge-degree of edges \(e\) and \(f\), respectively. Let \(\xi(G)\) be the minimum edge-degree of \(G\). We call a graph \(G\) optimally restricted-edge-connected when \(\lambda'(G) = \xi(G)\) and optimally local-restricted-edge-connected if \(\lambda'(e, f) = \min\{\xi(e),\xi(f)\}\) for all pairs \(e\) and \(f\) of nonadjacent edges in \(G\). In this paper, we show that some known sufficient conditions that guarantee that a graph is optimally restricted-edge-connected also guarantee that it is optimally local-restricted-edge-connected.

Dan Saracino1
1Colgate University
Abstract:

In 1982, Beutelspacher and Brestovansky proved that for every integer \(m \geq 3\), the \(2\)-color Rado number of the equation
\[x_1+x_2+ \ldots + x_{m-1}=x_m\]
is \(m^2 – m – 1\). In 2008, Schaal and Vestal proved that, for every \(m \geq 6\), the \(2\)-color Rado number of
\[x_1+x_2+ \ldots + x_{m-1}=2x_m\]
is \(\left\lceil \frac{m-1}{2}\left\lceil \frac{m-1}{2} \right\rceil \right\rceil \). Here, we prove that, for every integer \(a \geq 3\) and every \(m \geq 2a^2 – a + 2\), the 2-color Rado number of
\[x_1+x_2+ \ldots + x_{m-1}=ax_m\]
is \(\left\lceil \frac{m-1}{a}\left\lceil \frac{m-1}{a} \right\rceil \right\rceil\). For the case \(a = 3\), we show that our formula gives the Rado number for all \(m \geq 7\), and we determine the Rado number for all \(m \geq 3\).

Risheng Cui1, Guangzhi Jin2, Yinglie Jin1
1School of Mathematical Sciences and LPMC, Nankai University Tianjin 300071, P.R.China
2Mathematics Department, College of Science, Yanbian University Jilin 133002, P.R.China
Abstract:

The general Randic index \(R_{-\alpha}(G)\) of a graph \(G\), defined by a real number \(\alpha\), is the sum of \((d(u)d(v))^{-\alpha}\) over all edges \(uv\) of \(G\), where \(d(u)\) denotes the degree of a vertex \(u\) in \(G\). In this paper, we have discussed some properties of the Max Tree which has the maximum general Randic index \(R_{-\alpha}(G)\), where \(\alpha \in (\alpha_0,2)\). Based on these properties, we are able to obtain the structure of the Max Tree among all trees of order \(k \geq 3\). Thus, the maximal value of \(R_{-\alpha}(G)\) follows easily.

Selda Kucukcifci1
1Department of Mathematics, Kog University Istanbul, Turkey
Abstract:

A \(\lambda\)-fold \(G\)-design of order \(n\) is a pair \((X, {B})\), where \(X\) is a set of \(n\) vertices and \({B}\) is a collection of edge-disjoint copies of the simple graph \(G\), called blocks, which partitions the edge set of \(K_n\) (the undirected complete graph with \(n\) vertices) with vertex set \(X\). Let \((X, {B})\) be a \(G\)-design and \(H\) be a subgraph of \(G\). For each block \(B \in \mathcal{B}\), partition \(B\) into copies of \(H\) and \(G \setminus H\) and place the copy of \(H\) in \({B}(H)\) and the edges belonging to the copy of \(G \setminus H\) in \({D}(G \setminus H)\). Now, if the edges belonging to \({D}(G \setminus H)\) can be arranged into a collection \({D}_H\) of copies of \(H\), then \((X, {B}(H) \cup {D}(H))\) is a \(\lambda\)-fold \(H\)-design of order \(n\) and is called a metamorphosis of the \(\lambda\)-fold \(G\)-design \((X, {B})\) into a \(\lambda\)-fold \(H\)-design, denoted by \((G > H) – M_\lambda(n)\).
In this paper, the existence of a \((G > H) – M_\lambda(n)\) for graph designs will be presented, variations of this problem will be explained, and recent developments will be surveyed.

Mostafa Blidia1, Ahmed Bouchou1, Lutz Volkmann2
1Lamda-RO, Dept. Mathematics, University of Blida, B.P. 270, Blida, Algeria
2Lehrstuhl 1] far Mathematik, RWTH Aachen University, Templergraben 55, D-52056 Aachen, Germany.
Abstract:

For an integer \(k \geq 1\) and a graph \(G = (V, E)\), a subset \(S\) of the vertex set \(V\) is \(k\)-independent in \(G\) if the maximum degree of the subgraph induced by the vertices of \(S\) is less than or equal to \(k – 1\). The \(k\)-independence number \(\beta_k(G)\) of \(G\) is the maximum cardinality of a \(k\)-independent set of \(G\). A set \(S\) of \(V\) is \(k\)-Co-independent in \(G\) if \(S\) is \(k\)-independent in the complement of \(G\). The \(k\)-Co-independence number \(\omega_k(G)\) of \(G\) is the maximum size of a \(k\)-Co-independent set in \(G\). The sequences \((\beta_k)\) and \((\omega_k)\) are weakly increasing. We define the \(k\)-chromatic number or \(k\)-independence partition number \(\chi_k(G)\) of \(G\) as the smallest integer \(m\) such that \(G\) admits a partition of its vertices into \(m\) \(k\)-independent sets and the \(k\)-Co-independence partition number \(\theta_k(G)\) of \(G\) as the smallest integer \(m\) such that \(G\) admits a partition of its vertices into \(m\) \(k\)-Co-independent sets. The sequences \((\chi_k)\) and \((\theta_k)\) are weakly decreasing. In this paper, we mainly present bounds on these four parameters, some of which are extensions of well-known classical results.

Timothy J. Hetherington1
1School of Science and Technology, Nottingham Trent University, Clifton Campus, Nottingham, NG11 8NS, U.K.
Abstract:

It is proved that if \(G\) is a plane embedding of a \(K_4\)-minor-free graph, then \(G\) is coupled \(5\)-choosable; that is, if every vertex and every face of \(G\) is given a list of \(5\) colours, then each of these ele-ments can be given a colour from its list such that no two adjacent or incident elements are given the same colour. Using this result it is proved also that if \(G\) is a plane embedding of a \(K_{2,3}\),\(3\)-minor-free graph or a \((\bar{K}_2 + (K_1 \cup K_2))\)-minor-free graph, then \(G\) is coupled \(5\)-choosable. All results here are sharp, even for outerplane graphs.

James Nechvatal1
1Computer Security Division National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD 20899, USA
Abstract:

A Steiner system \(S(2, k, v)\) is a collection of \(k\)-subsets (blocks) of a \(k\)-set \(V\) such that each \(2\)-subset of \(V\) is contained in exactly one block. We find re-currence relations for \(S(2, k, v)\).

Xiaoling Ma1, Hong Bian2, Haizheng Yu1
1College of Mathematics and System Sciences, Xinjiang University, Urumai 830046, P.R.China
2School of Mathematical Science, Xinjiang Normal University, Urumai 830054, P.R.China
Abstract:

Denote by \(\mathcal{P}(n_1, n_2, n_3)\) the set of all polyphenyl spiders with three legs of lengths \(n_1\), \(n_2\), and \(n_3\). Let \(S^j(n_1, n_2, n_3) \in \mathcal{P}(n_1, n_2, n_3)\) (\(j \in \{1, 2, 3\}\)) be three non-isomorphic polyphenyl spiders with three legs of lengths \(n_1\), \(n_2\), and \(n_3\), and let \(m_k(G)\) and \(i_k(G)\) be the numbers of \(k\)-matchings and \(k\)-independent sets of a graph \(G\), respectively. In this paper, we show that for any \(S^j(n_1, n_2, n_3) \in \mathcal{P}(n_1, n_2, n_3)\) (\(j \in \{1, 2, 3\}\)), we have \(m_k(S_M^3(n_1, n_2, n_3)) \leq m_k(S^j(n_1, n_2, n_3)) \leq m_k(S^j(n_1, n_2, n_3))\) and \(i_k(S_O^1(n_1, n_2, n_3)) \leq i_k(S^j(n_1, n_2, n_3)) \leq i_k(S^3_M(n_1, n_2, n_3))\), with equalities if and only if \(S^j(n_1, n_2, n_3) = S_M^3(n_1, n_2, n_3)\) or \(S^j(n_1, n_2, n_3) = S_O^1(n_1, n_2, n_3)\), where \(S_O^1(n_1, n_2, n_3)\) and \(S_M^3(n_1, n_2, n_3)\) are respectively an ortho-polyphenyl spider and a meta-polyphenyl spider.