arXiv subjects

Douglas F. Rall

Publications and source records attributed to Douglas F. Rall.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2020

The Enclaveless Competition Game

For a subset $S$ of vertices in a graph $G$, a vertex $v \in S$ is an enclave of $S$ if $v$ and all of its neighbors are in $S$, where a neighbor of $v$ is a vertex adjacent to $v$. A set $S$ is enclaveless if it does not contain any enclaves. The enclaveless number $Ψ(G)$ of $G$ is the maximum cardinality of an enclaveless set in $G$. As first observed in 1997 by Slater [J. Res. Nat. Bur. Standards 82 (1977), 197--202], if $G$ is a graph with $n$ vertices, then $γ(G) + Ψ(G) = n$ where $γ(G)$ is the well-studied domination number of $G$. In this paper, we continue the study of the competition-enclaveless game introduced in 2001 by Phillips and Slater [Graph Theory Notes N. Y. 41 (2001), 37--41] and defined as follows. Two players take turns in constructing a maximal enclaveless set $S$, where one player, Maximizer, tries to maximize $|S|$ and one player, Minimizer, tries to minimize~$|S|$. The competition-enclaveless game number $Ψ_g^+(G)$ of $G$ is the number of vertices played when Maximizer starts the game and both players play optimally. We study among other problems the conjecture that if $G$ is an isolate-free graph of order $n$, then $Ψ_g^+(G) \ge \frac{1}{2}n$. We prove this conjecture for regular graphs and for claw-free graphs.

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arXiv2020

On graphs having one size of maximal open packings

A set $P$ of vertices in a graph $G$ is an open packing if no two distinct vertices in $P$ have a common neighbor. Among all maximal open packings in $G$, the smallest cardinality is denoted $ρ^{\rm o}_L(G)$ and the largest cardinality is $ρ^{\rm o}(G)$. There exist graphs for which these two invariants are arbitrarily far apart. In this paper we begin the investigation of the class of graphs that have one size of maximal open packings. By presenting a method of constructing such graphs we show that every graph is the induced subgraph of a graph in this class. The main result of the paper is a structural characterization of those $G$ that do not have a cycle of order less than $15$ and for which $ρ^{\rm o}_L(G)=ρ^{\rm o}(G)$.

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arXiv2020

General $d$-position sets

The general $d$-position number ${\rm gp}_d(G)$ of a graph $G$ is the cardinality of a largest set $S$ for which no three distinct vertices from $S$ lie on a common geodesic of length at most $d$. This new graph parameter generalizes the well studied general position number. We first give some results concerning the monotonic behavior of ${\rm gp}_d(G)$ with respect to the suitable values of $d$. We show that the decision problem concerning finding ${\rm gp}_d(G)$ is NP-complete for any value of $d$. The value of ${\rm gp}_d(G)$ when $G$ is a path or a cycle is computed and a structural characterization of general $d$-position sets is shown. Moreover, we present some relationships with other topics including strong resolving graphs and dissociation sets. We finish our exposition by proving that ${\rm gp}_d(G)$ is infinite whenever $G$ is an infinite graph and $d$ is a finite integer.

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arXiv2019

On well-dominated graphs

A graph is \emph{well-dominated} if all of its minimal dominating sets have the same cardinality. We prove that at least one of the factors is well-dominated if the Cartesian product of two graphs is well-dominated. In addition, we show that the Cartesian product of two connected, triangle-free graphs is well-dominated if and only if both graphs are complete graphs of order $2$. Under the assumption that at least one of the connected graphs $G$ or $H$ has no isolatable vertices, we prove that the direct product of $G$ and $H$ is well-dominated if and only if either $G=H=K_3$ or $G=K_2$ and $H$ is either the $4$-cycle or the corona of a connected graph. Furthermore, we show that the disjunctive product of two connected graphs is well-dominated if and only if one of the factors is a complete graph and the other factor has domination number at most $2$.

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arXiv2019

Packing chromatic vertex-critical graphs

The packing chromatic number $χ_ρ(G)$ of a graph $G$ is the smallest integer $k$ such that the vertex set of $G$ can be partitioned into sets $V_i$, $i\in [k]$, where vertices in $V_i$ are pairwise at distance at least $i+1$. Packing chromatic vertex-critical graphs, $χ_ρ$-critical for short, are introduced as the graphs $G$ for which $χ_ρ(G-x) < χ_ρ(G)$ holds for every vertex $x$ of $G$. If $χ_ρ(G) = k$, then $G$ is $k$-$χ_ρ$-critical. It is shown that if $G$ is $χ_ρ$-critical, then the set $\{χ_ρ(G) - χ_ρ(G-x):\ x\in V(G)\}$ can be almost arbitrary. The $3$-$χ_ρ$-critical graphs are characterized, and $4$-$χ_ρ$-critical graphs are characterized in the case when they contain a cycle of length at least $5$ which is not congruent to $0$ modulo $4$. It is shown that for every integer $k\ge 2$ there exists a $k$-$χ_ρ$-critical tree and that a $k$-$χ_ρ$-critical caterpillar exists if and only if $k\le 7$. Cartesian products are also considered and in particular it is proved that if $G$ and $H$ are vertex-transitive graphs and ${\rm diam(G)} + {\rm diam}(H) \le χ_ρ(G)$, then $G\,\square\, H$ is $χ_ρ$-critical.

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arXiv2019

Graphs with a unique maximum open packing

A set $S$ of vertices in a graph is an open packing if (open) neighborhoods of any two distinct vertices in $S$ are disjoint. In this paper, we consider the graphs that have a unique maximum open packing. We characterize the trees with this property by using four local operations such that any nontrivial tree with a unique maximum open packing can be obtained by a sequence of these operations starting from $P_2$. We also prove that the decision version of the open packing number is NP-complete even when restricted to graphs of girth at least $6$. Finally, we show that the recognition of the graphs with a unique maximum open packing is polynomially equivalent to the recognition of the graphs with a unique maximum independent set, and we prove that the complexity of both problems is not polynomial, unless P=NP.

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arXiv2019

On well-covered direct products

A graph $G$ is well-covered if all maximal independent sets of $G$ have the same cardinality. In 1992 Topp and Volkmann investigated the structure of well-covered graphs that have nontrivial factorizations with respect to some of the standard graph products. In particular, they showed that both factors of a well-covered direct product are also well-covered and proved that the direct product of two complete graphs (respectively, two cycles) is well-covered precisely when they have the same order (respectively, both have order 3 or 4). Furthermore, they proved that the direct product of two well-covered graphs with independence number one-half their order is well-covered. We initiate a characterization of nontrivial, connected well-covered graphs $G$ and $H$, whose independence numbers are strictly less than one-half their orders, such that their direct product $G \times H$ is well-covered. In particular, we show that in this case both $G$ and $H$ have girth 3 and we present several infinite families of such well-covered direct products. Moreover, we show that if $G$ is a factor of any well-covered direct product, then $G$ is a complete graph unless it is possible to create an isolated vertex by removing the closed neighborhood of some independent set of vertices in $G$.

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arXiv2018

Domination game and minimal edge cuts

In this paper a relationship is established between the domination game and minimal edge cuts. It is proved that the game domination number of a connected graph can be bounded above in terms of the size of minimal edge cuts. In particular, if $C$ a minimum edge cut of a connected graph $G$, then $γ_g(G) \le γ_g(G\setminus C) + 2κ'(G)$. Double-Staller graphs are introduced in order to show that this upper bound can be attained for graphs with a bridge. The obtained results are used to extend the family of known traceable graphs whose game domination numbers are at most one-half their order. Along the way two technical lemmas, which seem to be generally applicable for the study of the domination game, are proved.

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arXiv2017

On $k$-rainbow independent domination in graphs

In this paper, we define a new domination invariant on a graph $G$, which coincides with the ordinary independent domination number of the generalized prism $G \Box K_k$, called the $k$-rainbow independent domination number and denoted by $γ_{{\rm ri}k}(G)$. Some bounds and exact values concerning this domination concept are determined. As a main result, we prove a Nordhaus-Gaddum-type theorem on the sum for $2$-rainbow independent domination number, and show if G is a graph of order $n \geq 3$, then $5\leq γ_{{\rm ri}2}(G)+γ_{{\rm ri}2}(\overline{G})\leq n+3$, with both bounds being sharp.

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arXiv2017

Game Total Domination Critical Graphs

In the total domination game played on a graph $G$, players Dominator and Staller alternately select vertices of $G$, as long as possible, such that each vertex chosen increases the number of vertices totally dominated. Dominator (Staller) wishes to minimize (maximize) the number of vertices selected. The game total domination number, $γ_{\rm tg}(G)$, of $G$ is the number of vertices chosen when Dominator starts the game and both players play optimally. If a vertex $v$ of $G$ is declared to be already totally dominated, then we denote this graph by $G|v$. In this paper the total domination game critical graphs are introduced as the graphs $G$ for which $γ_{\rm tg}(G|v) < γ_{\rm tg}(G)$ holds for every vertex $v$ in $G$. If $γ_{\rm tg}(G) = k$, then $G$ is called $k$-$γ_{\rm tg}$-critical. It is proved that the cycle $C_n$ is $γ_{\rm tg}$-critical if and only if $n\pmod 6 \in \{0,1,3\}$ and that the path $P_n$ is $γ_{\rm tg}$-critical if and only if $n\pmod 6\in \{2,4\}$. $2$-$γ_{\rm tg}$-critical and $3$-$γ_{\rm tg}$-critical graphs are also characterized as well as $3$-$γ_{\rm tg}$-critical joins of graphs.

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arXiv2017

Packing chromatic number versus chromatic and clique number

The packing chromatic number $χ_ρ(G)$ of a graph $G$ is the smallest integer $k$ such that the vertex set of $G$ can be partitioned into sets $V_i$, $i\in [k]$, where each $V_i$ is an $i$-packing. In this paper, we investigate for a given triple $(a,b,c)$ of positive integers whether there exists a graph $G$ such that $ω(G) = a$, $χ(G) = b$, and $χ_ρ(G) = c$. If so, we say that $(a, b, c)$ is realizable. It is proved that $b=c\ge 3$ implies $a=b$, and that triples $(2,k,k+1)$ and $(2,k,k+2)$ are not realizable as soon as $k\ge 4$. Some of the obtained results are deduced from the bounds proved on the packing chromatic number of the Mycielskian. Moreover, a formula for the independence number of the Mycielskian is given. A lower bound on $χ_ρ(G)$ in terms of $Δ(G)$ and $α(G)$ is also proved.

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arXiv2017

On well-covered Cartesian products

In 1970, Plummer defined a well-covered graph to be a graph $G$ in which all maximal independent sets are in fact maximum. Later Hartnell and Rall showed that if the Cartesian product $G \Box H$ is well-covered, then at least one of $G$ or $H$ is well-covered. In this paper, we consider the problem of classifying all well-covered Cartesian products. In particular, we show that if the Cartesian product of two nontrivial, connected graphs of girth at least $4$ is well-covered, then at least one of the graphs is $K_2$. Moreover, we show that $K_2 \Box K_2$ and $C_5 \Box K_2$ are the only well-covered Cartesian products of nontrivial, connected graphs of girth at least $5$.

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arXiv2016

Trees with Equal Total Domination and Game Total Domination Numbers

In this paper, we continue the study of the total domination game in graphs introduced in [Graphs Combin. 31(5) (2015), 1453--1462], where the players Dominator and Staller alternately select vertices of $G$. Each vertex chosen must strictly increase the number of vertices totally dominated, where a vertex totally dominates another vertex if they are neighbors. This process eventually produces a total dominating set $S$ of $G$ in which every vertex is totally dominated by a vertex in $S$. Dominator wishes to minimize the number of vertices chosen, while Staller wishes to maximize it. The game total domination number, $γ_{\rm tg}(G)$, (respectively, Staller-start game total domination number, $γ_{\rm tg}'(G)$) of $G$ is the number of vertices chosen when Dominator (respectively, Staller) starts the game and both players play optimally. For general graphs $G$, sometimes $γ_{\rm tg}(G) > γ_{\rm tg}'(G)$. We show that if $G$ is a forest with no isolated vertex, then $γ_{\rm tg}(G) \le γ_{\rm tg}'(G)$. Using this result, we characterize the trees with equal total domination and game total domination number.

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arXiv2016

Packing chromatic number, $(1,1,2,2)$-colorings, and characterizing the Petersen graph

The packing chromatic number $χ_ρ(G)$ of a graph $G$ is the smallest integer $k$ such that the vertex set of $G$ can be partitioned into sets $Π_1,\ldots,Π_k$, where $Π_i$, $i\in [k]$, is an $i$-packing. The following conjecture is posed and studied: if $G$ is a subcubic graph, then $χ_ρ(S(G))\le 5$, where $S(G)$ is the subdivision of $G$. The conjecture is proved for all generalized prisms of cycles. To get this result it is proved that if $G$ is a generalized prism of a cycle, then $G$ is $(1,1,2,2)$-colorable if and only if $G$ is not the Petersen graph. The validity of the conjecture is further proved for graphs that can be obtained from generalized prisms in such a way that one of the two $n$-cycles in the edge set of a generalized prism is replaced by a union of cycles among which at most one is a 5-cycle. The packing chromatic number of graphs obtained by subdividing each of its edges a fixed number of times is also considered.

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arXiv2016

Packing chromatic number under local changes in a graph

The packing chromatic number $χ_ρ(G)$ of a graph $G$ is the smallest integer $k$ such that there exists a $k$-vertex coloring of $G$ in which any two vertices receiving color $i$ are at distance at least $i+1$. It is proved that in the class of subcubic graphs the packing chromatic number is bigger than $13$, thus answering an open problem from [Gastineau, Togni, $S$-packing colorings of cubic graphs, Discrete Math.\ 339 (2016) 2461--2470]. In addition, the packing chromatic number is investigated with respect to several local operations. In particular, if $S_e(G)$ is the graph obtained from a graph $G$ by subdividing its edge $e$, then $\left\lfloor χ_ρ(G)/2 \right\rfloor +1 \le χ_ρ(S_e(G)) \le χ_ρ(G)+1$.

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arXiv2016

Partitioning the vertex set of $G$ to make $G\,\Box\, H$ an efficient open domination graph

A graph is an efficient open domination graph if there exists a subset of vertices whose open neighborhoods partition its vertex set. We characterize those graphs $G$ for which the Cartesian product $G \Box H$ is an efficient open domination graph when $H$ is a complete graph of order at least 3 or a complete bipartite graph. The characterization is based on the existence of a certain type of weak partition of $V(G)$. For the class of trees when $H$ is complete of order at least 3, the characterization is constructive. In addition, a special type of efficient open domination graph is characterized among Cartesian products $G \Box H$ when $H$ is a 5-cycle or a 4-cycle.

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arXiv2016

On minimum identifying codes in some Cartesian product graphs

An identifying code in a graph is a dominating set that also has the property that the closed neighborhood of each vertex in the graph has a distinct intersection with the set. The minimum cardinality of an identifying code, or ID code, in a graph $G$ is called the ID code number of $G$ and is denoted $\gid(G)$. In this paper, we give upper and lower bounds for the ID code number of the prism of a graph, or $G\Box K_2$. In particular, we show that $\gid(G \Box K_2) \ge \gid(G)$ and we show that this bound is sharp. We also give upper and lower bounds for the ID code number of grid graphs and a general upper bound for $\gid(G\Box K_2)$.

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arXiv2016

Total Dominating Sequences in Graphs

A vertex in a graph totally dominates another vertex if they are adjacent. A sequence of vertices in a graph $G$ is called a total dominating sequence if every vertex $v$ in the sequence totally dominates at least one vertex that was not totally dominated by any vertex that precedes $v$ in the sequence, and at the end all vertices of $G$ are totally dominated. While the length of a shortest such sequence is the total domination number of $G$, in this paper we investigate total dominating sequences of maximum length, which we call the Grundy total domination number, $γ_{\rm gr}^t(G)$, of $G$. We provide a characterization of the graphs $G$ for which $γ_{\rm gr}^t(G)=|V(G)|$ and of those for which $γ_{\rm gr}^t(G)=2$. We show that if $T$ is a nontrivial tree of order~$n$ with no vertex with two or more leaf-neighbors, then $γ_{\rm gr}^t(T) \ge \frac{2}{3}(n+1)$, and characterize the extremal trees. We also prove that for $k \ge 3$, if $G$ is a connected $k$-regular graph of order~$n$ different from $K_{k,k}$, then $γ_{\rm gr}^t(G) \ge (n + \lceil \frac{k}{2} \rceil - 2)/(k-1)$ if $G$ is not bipartite and $γ_{\rm gr}^t(G) \ge (n + 2\lceil \frac{k}{2} \rceil - 4)/(k-1)$ if $G$ is bipartite. The Grundy total domination number is proven to be bounded from above by two times the Grundy domination number, while the former invariant can be arbitrarily smaller than the latter. Finally, a natural connection with edge covering sequences in hypergraphs is established, which in particular yields the NP-completeness of the decision version of the Grundy total domination number.

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