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Dieter Rautenbach

Publications and source records attributed to Dieter Rautenbach.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
arXiv2018

On some tractable and hard instances for partial incentives and target set selection

A widely studied model for influence diffusion in social networks are {\it target sets}. For a graph $G$ and an integer-valued threshold function $τ$ on its vertex set, a {\it target set} or {\it dynamic monopoly} is a set of vertices of $G$ such that iteratively adding to it vertices $u$ of $G$ that have at least $τ(u)$ neighbors in it eventually yields the entire vertex set of $G$. This notion is limited to the binary choice of including a vertex in the target set or not, and Cordasco et al.~proposed {\it partial incentives} as a variant allowing for intermediate choices. We show that finding optimal partial incentives is hard for chordal graphs and planar graphs but tractable for graphs of bounded treewidth and for interval graphs with bounded thresholds. We also contribute some new results about target set seletion on planar graphs by showing the hardness of this problem, and by describing an efficient $O(\sqrt{n})$-approximation algorithm as well as a PTAS for the dual problem of finding a maximum degenerate set.

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arXiv2018

On the maximum number of maximum independent sets

We give a very short and simple proof of Zykov's generalization of Turán's theorem, which implies that the number of maximum independent sets of a graph of order $n$ and independence number $α$ with $α n$, and we also characterize the extremal graphs. Finally, we show that the number of maximum independent sets of a subcubic tree of order $n$ and independence number $α$ is at most $\left(\frac{1+\sqrt{5}}{2}\right)^{2n-3α+1}$, and we provide more precise results for extremal values of $α$.

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arXiv2018

Uniquely restricted matchings in subcubic graphs

A matching $M$ in a graph $G$ is uniquely restricted if no other matching in $G$ covers the same set of vertices. We conjecture that every connected subcubic graph with $m$ edges and $b$ bridges that is distinct from $K_{3,3}$ has a uniquely restricted matching of size at least $\frac{m+b}{6}$, and we establish this bound with $b$ replaced by the number of bridges that lie on a path between two vertices of degree at most $2$. Moreover, we prove that every connected subcubic graph of order $n$ and girth at least $7$ has a uniquely restricted matching of size at least $\frac{n-1}{3}$, which partially confirms a Conjecture of Fürst and Rautenbach (Some bounds on the uniquely restricted matching number, arXiv:1803.11032).

math.CO↗
arXiv2018

Dynamic monopolies for interval graphs with bounded thresholds

For a graph $G$ and an integer-valued threshold function $τ$ on its vertex set, a dynamic monopoly is a set of vertices of $G$ such that iteratively adding to it vertices $u$ of $G$ that have at least $τ(u)$ neighbors in it eventually yields the vertex set of $G$. We show that the problem of finding a dynamic monopoly of minimum order can be solved in polynomial time for interval graphs with bounded threshold functions, but is NP-hard for chordal graphs allowing unbounded threshold functions.

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arXiv2018

Partial immunization of trees

For a graph $G$ and an integer-valued function $τ$ on its vertex set, a dynamic monopoly is a set of vertices of $G$ such that iteratively adding to it vertices $u$ of $G$ that have at least $τ(u)$ neighbors in it eventually yields the vertex set of $G$. We study the problem of maximizing the minimum order of a dynamic monopoly by increasing the threshold values of individual vertices subject to vertex-dependent lower and upper bounds, and fixing the total increase. We solve this problem efficiently for trees, which extends a result of Khoshkhah and Zaker (On the largest dynamic monopolies of graphs with a given average threshold, Canadian Mathematical Bulletin 58 (2015) 306-316).

math.CO↗
arXiv2018

Vaccinate your trees!

For a graph $G$ and an integer-valued function $τ$ on its vertex set, a dynamic monopoly is a set of vertices of $G$ such that iteratively adding to it vertices $u$ of $G$ that have at least $τ(u)$ neighbors in it eventually yields the vertex set of $G$. We study two vaccination problems, where the goal is to maximize the minimum order of such a dynamic monopoly either by increasing the threshold value of $b$ vertices beyond their degree, or by removing $b$ vertices from $G$, where $b$ is a given non-negative integer corresponding to a budget. We show how to solve these problems efficiently for trees.

math.CO↗
arXiv2018

Approximately locating an invisible agent in a graph with relative distance queries

In a pursuit evasion game on a finite, simple, undirected, and connected graph $G$, a first player visits vertices $m_1,m_2,\ldots$ of $G$, where $m_{i+1}$ is in the closed neighborhood of $m_i$ for every $i$, and a second player probes arbitrary vertices $c_1,c_2,\ldots$ of $G$, and learns whether or not the distance between $c_{i+1}$ and $m_{i+1}$ is at most the distance between $c_i$ and $m_i$. Up to what distance $d$ can the second player determine the position of the first? For trees of bounded maximum degree and grids, we show that $d$ is bounded by a constant. We conjecture that $d=O(\log n)$ for every graph $G$ of order $n$, and show that $d=0$ if $m_{i+1}$ may differ from $m_i$ only if $i$ is a multiple of some sufficiently large integer.

math.CO↗
arXiv2018

Forcing Brushes

We give short and simple proofs of the inequalities $B(G)\leq Z(L(G))$ and $Z(G)\leq Z(L(G))$ first established by Erzurumluoğlu, Meagher, and Pike, where $G$ is a graph without isolated vertices, $B(G)$ is the brushing number of $G$, $Z(G)$ is the zero forcing number of $G$, and $L(G)$ is the line graph of $G$.

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arXiv2017

Approximating Connected Safe Sets in Weighted Trees

For a graph $G$ and a non-negative integral weight function $w$ on the vertex set of $G$, a set $S$ of vertices of $G$ is $w$-safe if $w(C)\geq w(D)$ for every component $C$ of the subgraph of $G$ induced by $S$ and every component $D$ of the subgraph of $G$ induced by the complement of $S$ such that some vertex in $C$ is adjacent to some vertex of $D$. The minimum weight $w(S)$ of a $w$-safe set $S$ is the safe number $s(G,w)$ of the weighted graph $(G,w)$, and the minimum weight of a $w$-safe set that induces a connected subgraph of $G$ is its connected safe number $cs(G,w)$. Bapat et al. showed that computing $cs(G,w)$ is NP-hard even when $G$ is a star. For a given weighted tree $(T,w)$, they described an efficient $2$-approximation algorithm for $cs(T,w)$ as well as an efficient $4$-approximation algorithm for $s(T,w)$. Addressing a problem they posed, we present a PTAS for the connected safe number of a weighted tree. Our PTAS partly relies on an exact pseudopolynomial time algorithm, which also allows to derive an asymptotic FPTAS for restricted instances. Finally, we extend a bound due to Fujita et al. from trees to block graphs.

math.CO↗
arXiv2017

Maximal determinants of combinatorial matrices

We prove that $\det A\leq 6^\frac{n}{6}$ whenever $A\in\{0,1\}^{n\times n}$ contains at most $2n$ ones. We also prove an upper bound on the determinant of matrices with the $k$-consecutive ones property, a generalisation of the consecutive ones property, where each row is allowed to have up to $k$ blocks of ones. Finally, we prove an upper bound on the determinant of a path-edge incidence matrix in a tree and use that to bound the leaf rank of a graph in terms of its order.

math.CO↗
arXiv2017

On the Kőnig-Egerváry Theorem for $k$-Paths

The famous Kőnig-Egerváry theorem is equivalent to the statement that the matching number equals the vertex cover number for every induced subgraph of some graph if and only if that graph is bipartite. Inspired by this result, we consider the set ${\cal G}_k$ of all graphs such that, for every induced subgraph, the maximum number of disjoint paths of order $k$ equals the minimum order of a set of vertices intersecting all paths of order $k$. For $k\in \{ 3,4\}$, we give complete structural descriptions of the graphs in ${\cal G}_k$. Furthermore, for odd $k$, we give a complete structural description of the graphs in ${\cal G}_k$ that contain no cycle of order less than $k$. For these graph classes, our results yield efficient recognition algorithms as well as efficient algorithms that determine maximum sets of disjoint paths of order $k$ and minimum sets of vertices intersecting all paths of order $k$.

math.CO↗
arXiv2017

Locally Searching for Large Induced Matchings

It is an easy observation that a natural greedy approach yields a $\left(d-O(1)\right)$-factor approximation algorithm for the maximum induced matching problem in $d$-regular graphs. The only considerable and non-trivial improvement of this approximation ratio was obtained by Gotthilf and Lewenstein using a combination of the greedy approach and local search, where understanding the performance of the local search was the challenging part of the analysis. We study the performance of their local search when applied to general graphs, $C_4$-free graphs, $\{C_3,C_4\}$-free graphs, $C_5$-free graphs, and claw-free graphs. As immediate consequences, we obtain approximation algorithms for the maximum induced matching problem restricted to the $d$-regular graphs in these classes.

math.CO↗
arXiv2017

The Cat and the Noisy Mouse

We consider a variant of a pursuit and evasion game studied independently by Britnell and Wildon as well as Haslegrave. In their game, a cat has to catch an invisible mouse that moves along the edges of some graph $G$. In our version, the cat receives partial information about its distance to the mouse, and we show that the cat has a winning strategy if and only if $G$ is a forest. Seager proposed a similar game with complete distance information whose rules cause some small yet important differences to the game we consider.

math.CO↗
arXiv2017

Optimal Colorings with Rainbow Paths

Let $G$ be a connected graph of chromatic number $k$. For a $k$-coloring $f$ of $G$, a full $f$-rainbow path is a path of order $k$ in $G$ whose vertices are all colored differently by $f$. We show that $G$ has a $k$-coloring $f$ such that every vertex of $G$ lies on a full $f$-rainbow path, which provides a positive answer to a question posed by Lin (Simple proofs of results on paths representing all colors in proper vertex-colorings, Graphs Combin. 23 (2007) 201-203). Furthermore, we show that if $G$ has a cycle of length $k$, then $G$ has a $k$-coloring $f$ such that, for every vertex $u$ of $G$, some full $f$-rainbow path begins at $u$, which solves a problem posed by Bessy and Bousquet (Colorful paths for 3-chromatic graphs, arXiv 1503.00965v1). Finally, we establish some more results on the existence of optimal colorings with (directed) full rainbow paths.

math.CO↗
arXiv2017

Sandwiches Missing Two Ingredients of Order Four

For a set ${\cal F}$ of graphs, an instance of the ${\cal F}$-{\sc free Sandwich Problem} is a pair $(G_1,G_2)$ consisting of two graphs $G_1$ and $G_2$ with the same vertex set such that $G_1$ is a subgraph of $G_2$, and the task is to determine an ${\cal F}$-free graph $G$ containing $G_1$ and contained in $G_2$, or to decide that such a graph does not exist. Initially motivated by the graph sandwich problem for trivially perfect graphs, which are the $\{ P_4,C_4\}$-free graphs, we study the complexity of the ${\cal F}$-{\sc free Sandwich Problem} for sets ${\cal F}$ containing two non-isomorphic graphs of order four. We show that if ${\cal F}$ is one of the sets $\left\{ {\rm diamond},K_4\right\}$, $\left\{ {\rm diamond},C_4\right\}$, $\left\{ {\rm diamond},{\rm paw}\right\}$, $\left\{ K_4,\overline{K_4}\right\}$, $\left\{ P_4,C_4\right\}$, $\left\{ P_4,\overline{\rm claw}\right\}$, $\left\{ P_4,\overline{\rm paw}\right\}$, $\left\{ P_4,\overline{\rm diamond}\right\}$, $\left\{ {\rm paw},C_4\right\}$, $\left\{ {\rm paw},{\rm claw}\right\}$, $\left\{ {\rm paw},\overline{\rm claw}\right\}$, $\left\{ {\rm paw},\overline{\rm paw}\right\}$, $\left\{ C_4,\overline{C_4}\right\}$, $\left\{ {\rm claw},\overline{\rm claw}\right\}$, and $\left\{ {\rm claw},\overline{C_4}\right\}$, then the ${\cal F}$-{\sc free Sandwich Problem} can be solved in polynomial time, and, if ${\cal F}$ is one of the sets $\left\{ C_4,K_4\right\}$, $\left\{ {\rm paw},K_4\right\}$, $\left\{ {\rm paw},\overline{K_4}\right\}$, $\left\{ {\rm paw},\overline{C_4}\right\}$, $\left\{ {\rm diamond},\overline{C_4}\right\}$, $\left\{ {\rm paw},\overline{\rm diamond}\right\}$, and $\left\{ {\rm diamond},\overline{\rm diamond}\right\}$, then the decision version of the ${\cal F}$-{\sc free Sandwich Problem} is NP-complete.

math.CO↗
arXiv2017

Constant Threshold Intersection Graphs of Orthodox Paths in Trees

A graph $G$ belongs to the class ${\rm ORTH}[h,s,t]$ for integers $h$, $s$, and $t$ if there is a pair $(T,{\cal S})$, where $T$ is a tree of maximum degree at most $h$, and ${\cal S}$ is a collection $(S_u)_{u\in V(G)}$ of subtrees $S_u$ of maximum degree at most $s$ of $T$, one for each vertex $u$ of $G$, such that, for every vertex $u$ of $G$, all leaves of $S_u$ are also leaves of $T$, and, for every two distinct vertices $u$ and $v$ of $G$, the following three properties are equivalent: (i) $u$ and $v$ are adjacent. (ii) $S_u$ and $S_v$ have at least $t$ vertices in common. (iii) $S_u$ and $S_v$ share a leaf of $T$. The class ${\rm ORTH}[h,s,t]$ was introduced by Jamison and Mulder. Here we focus on the case $s=2$, which is closely related to the well-known VPT and EPT graphs. We collect general properties of the graphs in ${\rm ORTH}[h,2,t]$, and provide a characterization in terms of tree layouts. Answering a question posed by Golumbic, Lipshteyn, and Stern, we show that ${\rm ORTH}[h+1,2,t]\setminus {\rm ORTH}[h,2,t]$ is non-empty for every $h\geq 3$ and $t\geq 3$. We derive decomposition properties, which lead to efficient recognition algorithms for the graphs in ${\rm ORTH}[h,2,2]$ for every $h\geq 3$. Finally, we give a complete description of the graphs in ${\rm ORTH}[3,2,2]$, and show that the graphs in ${\rm ORTH}[3,2,3]$ are line graphs of planar graphs.

math.CO↗
arXiv2017

Degenerate Matchings and Edge Colorings

A matching $M$ in a graph $G$ is $r$-degenerate if the subgraph of $G$ induced by the set of vertices incident with an edge in $M$ is $r$-degenerate. Goddard, Hedetniemi, Hedetniemi, and Laskar (Generalized subgraph-restricted matchings in graphs, Discrete Mathematics 293 (2005) 129-138) introduced the notion of acyclic matchings, which coincide with $1$-degenerate matchings. Solving a problem they posed, we describe an efficient algorithm to determine the maximum size of an $r$-degenerate matching in a given chordal graph. Furthermore, we study the $r$-chromatic index of a graph defined as the minimum number of $r$-degenerate matchings into which its edge set can be partitioned, obtaining upper bounds and discussing extremal graphs.

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