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Douglas B. West

Publications and source records attributed to Douglas B. West.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Decomposition of Sparse Graphs into Forests: The Nine Dragon Tree Conjecture for $k \le 2$

For a loopless multigraph $G$, the fractional arboricity $Arb(G)$ is the maximum of $\frac{|E(H)|}{|V(H)|-1}$ over all subgraphs $H$ with at least two vertices. Generalizing the Nash-Williams Arboricity Theorem, the Nine Dragon Tree Conjecture asserts that if $Arb(G)\le k+\frac{d}{k+d+1}$, then $G$ decomposes into $k+1$ forests with one having maximum degree at most $d$. The conjecture was previously proved for $d=k+1$ and for $k=1$ when $d \le 6$. We prove it for all $d$ when $k \le 2$, except for $(k,d)=(2,1)$.

math.CO↗

Beyond Ohba's Conjecture: A bound on the choice number of $k$-chromatic graphs with $n$ vertices

Let $\text{ch}(G)$ denote the choice number of a graph $G$ (also called "list chromatic number" or "choosability" of $G$). Noel, Reed, and Wu proved the conjecture of Ohba that $\text{ch}(G)=χ(G)$ when $|V(G)|\le 2χ(G)+1$. We extend this to a general upper bound: $\text{ch}(G)\le \max\{χ(G),\lceil({|V(G)|+χ(G)-1})/{3}\rceil\}$. Our result is sharp for $|V(G)|\le 3χ(G)$ using Ohba's examples, and it improves the best-known upper bound for $\text{ch}(K_{4,\dots,4})$.

math.CO↗

On r-dynamic Coloring of Grids

An \textit{$r$-dynamic $k$-coloring} of a graph $G$ is a proper $k$-coloring of $G$ such that every vertex in $V(G)$ has neighbors in at least $\min\{d(v),r\}$ different color classes. The \textit{$r$-dynamic chromatic number} of a graph $G$, written $χ_r(G)$, is the least $k$ such that $G$ has such a coloring. Proving a conjecture of Jahanbekam, Kim, O, and West, we show that the $m$-by-$n$ grid has no $3$-dynamic $4$-coloring when $mn\equiv2\mod 4$. This completes the determination of the $r$-dynamic chromatic number of the $m$-by-$n$ grid for all $r,m,n$.

math.CO↗

The Game Saturation Number of a Graph

Given a family ${\mathcal F}$ and a host graph $H$, a graph $G\subseteq H$ is ${\mathcal F}$-saturated relative to $H$ if no subgraph of $G$ lies in ${\mathcal F}$ but adding any edge from $E(H)-E(G)$ to $G$ creates such a subgraph. In the ${\mathcal F}$-saturation game on $H$, players Max and Min alternately add edges of $H$ to $G$, avoiding subgraphs in ${\mathcal F}$, until $G$ becomes ${\mathcal F}$-saturated relative to $H$. They aim to maximize or minimize the length of the game, respectively; $\textrm{sat}_g({\mathcal F};H)$ denotes the length under optimal play (when Max starts). Let ${\mathcal O}$ denote the family of all odd cycles and ${\mathcal T}$ the family of $n$-vertex trees, and write $F$ for ${\mathcal F}$ when ${\mathcal F}=\{F\}$. Our results include $\textrm{sat}_g({\mathcal O};K_{2k})=k^2$, $\textrm{sat}_g({\mathcal T};K_n)=\binom{n-2}{2}+1$ for $n\ge6$, $\textrm{sat}_g(K_{1,3};K_n)=2\lfloor n/2 \rfloor$ for $n\ge8$, $\textrm{sat}_g(K_{1,r+1};K_n)=\frac{rn}{2}-\frac{r^2}{8}+O(1)$, and $|\textrm{sat}_g(P_4;K_n)-(4n-1)/5|\le 1$. We also determine $\textrm{sat}_g(P_4;K_{m,n})$; with $m\ge n$, it is $n$ when $n$ is even, $m$ when $n$ is odd and $m$ is even, and $m+\lfloor n/2 \rfloor$ when $mn$ is odd. Finally, we prove the lower bound $\textrm{sat}_g(C_4;K_{n,n})\ge\frac{1}{10.4}n^{13/12}-O(n^{35/36})$. The results are very similar when Min plays first, except for the $P_4$-saturation game on $K_{m,n}$.

math.CO↗

1,2,3-Conjecture and 1,2-Conjecture for Sparse Graphs

We apply the Discharging Method to prove the 1,2,3-Conjecture and the 1,2-Conjecture for graphs with maximum average degree less than 8/3. Stronger results on these conjectures have been proved, but this is the first application of discharging to them, and the structure theorems and reducibility results are of independent interest.

math.CO↗

Game matching number of graphs

We study a competitive optimization version of $α'(G)$, the maximum size of a matching in a graph $G$. Players alternate adding edges of $G$ to a matching until it becomes a maximal matching. One player (Max) wants that matching to be large; the other (Min) wants it to be small. The resulting sizes under optimal play when Max or Min starts are denoted $\Max(G)$ and $\Min(G)$, respectively. We show that always $|\Max(G)-\Min(G)|\le 1$. We obtain a sufficient condition for $\Max(G)=α'(G)$ that is preserved under cartesian product. In general, $\Max(G)\ge \frac23α'(G)$, with equality for many split graphs, while $\Max(G)\ge\frac34α'(G)$ when $G$ is a forest. Whenever $G$ is a 3-regular $n$-vertex connected graph, $\Max(G) \ge n/3$, and there are such examples with $\Max(G)\le 7n/18$. For an $n$-vertex path or cycle, the answer is roughly $n/7$.

math.CO↗

Revolutionaries and spies: Spy-good and spy-bad graphs

We study a game on a graph $G$ played by $r$ {\it revolutionaries} and $s$ {\it spies}. Initially, revolutionaries and then spies occupy vertices. In each subsequent round, each revolutionary may move to a neighboring vertex or not move, and then each spy has the same option. The revolutionaries win if $m$ of them meet at some vertex having no spy (at the end of a round); the spies win if they can avoid this forever. Let $σ(G,m,r)$ denote the minimum number of spies needed to win. To avoid degenerate cases, assume $|V(G)|\ge r-m+1\ge\floor{r/m}\ge 1$. The easy bounds are then $\floor{r/m}\le σ(G,m,r)\le r-m+1$. We prove that the lower bound is sharp when $G$ has a rooted spanning tree $T$ such that every edge of $G$ not in $T$ joins two vertices having the same parent in $T$. As a consequence, $σ(G,m,r)\leγ(G)\floor{r/m}$, where $γ(G)$ is the domination number; this bound is nearly sharp when $γ(G)\le m$. For the random graph with constant edge-probability $p$, we obtain constants $c$ and $c'$ (depending on $m$ and $p$) such that $σ(G,m,r)$ is near the trivial upper bound when $r c'\ln n$. For the hypercube $Q_d$ with $d\ge r$, we have $σ(G,m,r)=r-m+1$ when $m=2$, and for $m\ge 3$ at least $r-39m$ spies are needed. For complete $k$-partite graphs with partite sets of size at least $2r$, the leading term in $σ(G,m,r)$ is approximately $\frac{k}{k-1}\frac{r}{m}$ when $k\ge m$. For $k=2$, we have $σ(G,2,r)=\bigl\lceil{\frac{\floor{7r/2}-3}5}\bigr\rceil$ and $σ(G,3,r)=\floor{r/2}$, and in general $\frac{3r}{2m}-3\le σ(G,m,r)\le\frac{(1+1/\sqrt3)r}{m}$.

cs.DM↗

Revolutionaries and spies on trees and unicyclic graphs

A team of $r$ {\it revolutionaries} and a team of $s$ {\it spies} play a game on a graph $G$. Initially, revolutionaries and then spies take positions at vertices. In each subsequent round, each revolutionary may move to an adjacent vertex or not move, and then each spy has the same option. The revolutionaries want to hold an {\it unguarded meeting}, meaning $m$ revolutionaries at some vertex having no spy at the end of a round. To prevent this forever, trivially at least $\min\{|V(G)|,\FL{r/m}\}$ spies are needed. When $G$ is a tree, this many spies suffices. When $G$ is a unicyclic graph, $\min\{|V(G)|,\CL{r/m}\}$ spies suffice, and we characterize those unicyclic graphs where $\FL{r/m}+1$ spies are needed. \def\FL#1{\lfloor #1 \rfloor} \def\CL#1{\lceil #1 \rceil}

math.CO↗

Chain-making games in grid-like posets

We study the Maker-Breaker game on the hypergraph of chains of fixed size in a poset. In a product of chains, the maximum size of a chain that Maker can guarantee building is $k-\lfloor r/2\rfloor$, where $k$ is the maximum size of a chain in the product, and $r$ is the maximum size of a factor chain. We also study a variant in which Maker must follow the chain in order, called the {\it Walker-Blocker game}. In the poset consisting of the bottom $k$ levels of the product of $d$ arbitrarily long chains, Walker can guarantee a chain that hits all levels if $d\ge14$; this result uses a solution to Conway's Angel-Devil game. When d=2, the maximum that Walker can guarantee is only 2/3 of the levels, and 2/3 is asymptotically achievable in the product of two equal chains.

math.CO↗

Overlap Number of Graphs

An {\it overlap representation} of a graph $G$ assigns sets to vertices so that vertices are adjacent if and only if their assigned sets intersect with neither containing the other. The {\it overlap number} $\ol(G)$ (introduced by Rosgen) is the minimum size of the union of the sets in such a representation. We prove the following: (1) An optimal overlap representation of a tree can be produced in linear time, and its size is the number of vertices in the largest subtree in which the neighbor of any leaf has degree 2. (2) If $δ(G)\ge 2$ and $G\ne K_3$, then $\ol(G)\le |E(G)|-1$, with equality when $G$ is connected and triangle-free and has no star-cutset. (3) If $G$ is an $n$-vertex plane graph with $n\ge5$, then $\ol(G)\le 2n-5$, with equality when every face has length 4 and there is no star-cutset. (4) If $G$ is an $n$-vertex graph with $n\ge 14$, then $\ol(G)\le \floor{n^2/4-n/2-1}$, and this is sharp (for even $n$, equality holds when $G$ arises from $K_{n/2,n/2}$ by deleting a perfect matching).

math.CO↗

Classes of 3-regular graphs that are (7, 2)-edge-choosable

A graph is (7, 2)-edge-choosable if, for every assignment of lists of size 7 to the edges, it is possible to choose two colors for each edge from its list so that no color is chosen for two incident edges. We show that every 3-edge-colorable graph is (7, 2)-edge-choosable and also that many non-3-edge-colorable 3-regular graphs are (7, 2)-edge-choosable.

math.CO↗

Proper path-factors and interval edge-coloring of (3,4)-biregular bigraphs

An interval coloring of a graph G is a proper coloring of E(G) by positive integers such that the colors on the edges incident to any vertex are consecutive. A (3,4)-biregular bigraph is a bipartite graph in which each vertex of one part has degree 3 and each vertex of the other has degree 4; it is unknown whether these all have interval colorings. We prove that G has an interval coloring using 6 colors when G is a (3,4)-biregular bigraph having a spanning subgraph whose components are paths with endpoints at 3-valent vertices and lengths in {2,4,6,8}. We provide sufficient conditions for the existence of such a subgraph.

math.CO↗

Short Proofs for Cut-and-Paste Sorting of Permutations

We consider the problem of determining the maximum number of moves required to sort a permutation of $[n]$ using cut-and-paste operations, in which a segment is cut out and then pasted into the remaining string, possibly reversed. We give short proofs that every permutation of $[n]$ can be transformed to the identity in at most $\flr{2n/3}$ such moves and that some permutations require at least $\flr{n/2}$ moves.

math.CO↗

Parity Edge-Coloring of Graphs

In a graph whose edges are colored, a parity walk is a walk that uses each color an even number of times. The parity edge chromatic number p(G) of a graph G is the least k so that there is a coloring of E(G) using k colors that does not contain a parity path. The strong parity edge chromatic number p'(G) of G is the least k so that there is a coloring of E(G) using k colors with the property that every parity walk is closed. Our main result is to determine p'(K_n). Specifically, if m is the least power of two that is as large as n, then p'(K_n) has value m - 1. As a corollary, we strengthen a special case of an old result of Daykin and Lovasz. Other results include determining p(G) and p'(G) whenever G is a path, cycle, or of the form K_{2,n}, and an upper bound on p'(G) for the case that G is a complete bipartite graph. We conclude with a sample of open problems.

math.CO↗

Multiple vertex coverings by specified induced subgraphs

Given graphs H_1,...,H_k, we study the minimum order of a graph G such that for each i, the induced copies of H_i in G cover V(G). We prove a general upper bound of twice the sum of the numbers m_i, where m_i is one less than the order of H_i. When k=2 and one graph is an independent set of size n, we determine the optimum within a constant. When k=2 and the graphs are a star and an independent set, we determine the answer exactly.

math.CO↗

Coloring of Trees with Minimum Sum of Colors

The chromatic sum of a graph is the smallest sum of colors among all proper colorings with natural numbers. The strength is the minimum number of colors needed to achieve the chromatic sum. We construct for each positive integer k a tree with strength k that has maximum degree only 2k-2. The result is best possible.

math.CO↗

Edge-bandwidth of graphs

The edge-bandwidth of a graph is the minimum, over all labelings of the edges with distinct integers, of the maximum difference between labels of two incident edges. We prove that edge-bandwidth is at least as large as bandwidth for every graph, with equality for certain caterpillars. We obtain sharp or nearly-sharp bounds on the change in edge-bandwidth under addition, subdivision, or contraction of edges. We compute edge-bandwidth for cliques, bicliques, caterpillars, and some theta graphs.

math.CO↗