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Konrad K. Dabrowski

Publications and source records attributed to Konrad K. Dabrowski.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Filling the Complexity Gaps for Colouring Planar and Bounded Degree Graphs

A colouring of a graph $G=(V,E)$ is a function $c: V\rightarrow\{1,2,\ldots \}$ such that $c(u)\neq c(v)$ for every $uv\in E$. A $k$-regular list assignment of $G$ is a function $L$ with domain $V$ such that for every $u\in V$, $L(u)$ is a subset of $\{1, 2, \dots\}$ of size $k$. A colouring $c$ of $G$ respects a $k$-regular list assignment $L$ of $G$ if $c(u)\in L(u)$ for every $u\in V$. A graph $G$ is $k$-choosable if for every $k$-regular list assignment $L$ of $G$, there exists a colouring of $G$ that respects $L$. We may also ask if for a given $k$-regular list assignment $L$ of a given graph $G$, there exists a colouring of $G$ that respects $L$. This yields the $k$-Regular List Colouring problem. For $k\in \{3,4\}$ we determine a family of classes ${\cal G}$ of planar graphs, such that either $k$-Regular List Colouring is NP-complete for instances $(G,L)$ with $G\in {\cal G}$, or every $G\in {\cal G}$ is $k$-choosable. By using known examples of non-$3$-choosable and non-$4$-choosable graphs, this enables us to classify the complexity of $k$-Regular List Colouring restricted to planar graphs, planar bipartite graphs, planar triangle-free graphs and to planar graphs with no $4$-cycles and no $5$-cycles. We also classify the complexity of $k$-Regular List Colouring and a number of related colouring problems for graphs with bounded maximum degree.

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Clique-Width for Hereditary Graph Classes

Clique-width is a well-studied graph parameter owing to its use in understanding algorithmic tractability: if the clique-width of a graph class ${\cal G}$ is bounded by a constant, a wide range of problems that are NP-complete in general can be shown to be polynomial-time solvable on ${\cal G}$. For this reason, the boundedness or unboundedness of clique-width has been investigated and determined for many graph classes. We survey these results for hereditary graph classes, which are the graph classes closed under taking induced subgraphs. We then discuss the algorithmic consequences of these results, in particular for the Colouring and Graph Isomorphism problems. We also explain a possible strong connection between results on boundedness of clique-width and on well-quasi-orderability by the induced subgraph relation for hereditary graph classes.

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Finding a Small Number of Colourful Components

A partition $(V_1,\ldots,V_k)$ of the vertex set of a graph $G$ with a (not necessarily proper) colouring $c$ is colourful if no two vertices in any $V_i$ have the same colour and every set $V_i$ induces a connected graph. The COLOURFUL PARTITION problem is to decide whether a coloured graph $(G,c)$ has a colourful partition of size at most $k$. This problem is closely related to the COLOURFUL COMPONENTS problem, which is to decide whether a graph can be modified into a graph whose connected components form a colourful partition by deleting at most $p$ edges. Nevertheless we show that COLOURFUL PARTITION and COLOURFUL COMPONENTS may have different complexities for restricted instances. We tighten known NP-hardness results for both problems and in addition we prove new hardness and tractability results for COLOURFUL PARTITION. Using these results we complete our paper with a thorough parameterized study of COLOURFUL PARTITION.

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On the (parameterized) complexity of recognizing well-covered (r,l)-graphs

An $(r, \ell)$-partition of a graph $G$ is a partition of its vertex set into $r$ independent sets and $\ell$ cliques. A graph is $(r, \ell)$ if it admits an $(r, \ell)$-partition. A graph is well-covered if every maximal independent set is also maximum. A graph is $(r,\ell)$-well-covered if it is both $(r,\ell)$ and well-covered. In this paper we consider two different decision problems. In the $(r,\ell)$-Well-Covered Graph problem ($(r,\ell)$WCG for short), we are given a graph $G$, and the question is whether $G$ is an $(r,\ell)$-well-covered graph. In the Well-Covered $(r,\ell)$-Graph problem (WC$(r,\ell)$G for short), we are given an $(r,\ell)$-graph $G$ together with an $(r,\ell)$-partition of $V(G)$ into $r$ independent sets and $\ell$ cliques, and the question is whether $G$ is well-covered. We classify most of these problems into P, coNP-complete, NP-complete, NP-hard, or coNP-hard. Only the cases WC$(r,0)$G for $r\geq 3$ remain open. In addition, we consider the parameterized complexity of these problems for several choices of parameters, such as the size $α$ of a maximum independent set of the input graph, its neighborhood diversity, its clique-width, or the number $\ell$ of cliques in an $(r, \ell)$-partition. In particular, we show that the parameterized problem of deciding whether a general graph is well-covered parameterized by $α$ can be reduced to the WC$(0,\ell)$G problem parameterized by $\ell$. In addition, we prove that both problems are coW[2]-hard but can be solved in XP-time.

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Clique-width and Well-Quasi-Ordering of Triangle-Free Graph Classes

Daligault, Rao and Thomassé asked whether every hereditary graph class that is well-quasi-ordered by the induced subgraph relation has bounded clique-width. Lozin, Razgon and Zamaraev (JCTB 2017+) gave a negative answer to this question, but their counterexample is a class that can only be characterised by infinitely many forbidden induced subgraphs. This raises the issue of whether the question has a positive answer for finitely defined hereditary graph classes. Apart from two stubborn cases, this has been confirmed when at most two induced subgraphs $H_1,H_2$ are forbidden. We confirm it for one of the two stubborn cases, namely for the $(H_1,H_2)=(\mbox{triangle},P_2+P_4)$ case, by proving that the class of $(\mbox{triangle},P_2+P_4)$-free graphs has bounded clique-width and is well-quasi-ordered. Our technique is based on a special decomposition of $3$-partite graphs. We also use this technique to prove that the class of $(\mbox{triangle},P_1+P_5)$-free graphs, which is known to have bounded clique-width, is well-quasi-ordered. Our results enable us to complete the classification of graphs $H$ for which the class of $(\mbox{triangle},H)$-free graphs is well-quasi-ordered.

math.CO↗

Independent Feedback Vertex Sets for Graphs of Bounded Diameter

The Near-Bipartiteness problem is that of deciding whether or not the vertices of a graph can be partitioned into sets $A$ and $B$, where $A$ is an independent set and $B$ induces a forest. The set $A$ in such a partition is said to be an independent feedback vertex set. Yang and Yuan proved that Near-Bipartiteness is polynomial-time solvable for graphs of diameter 2 and NP-complete for graphs of diameter 4. We show that Near-Bipartiteness is NP-complete for graphs of diameter 3, resolving their open problem. We also generalise their result for diameter 2 by proving that even the problem of computing a minimum independent feedback vertex is polynomial-time solvable for graphs of diameter 2.

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Independent Feedback Vertex Set for $P_5$-free Graphs

The NP-complete problem Feedback Vertex Set is that of deciding whether or not it is possible, for a given integer $k\geq 0$, to delete at most $k$ vertices from a given graph so that what remains is a forest. The variant in which the deleted vertices must form an independent set is called Independent Feedback Vertex Set and is also NP-complete. In fact, even deciding if an independent feedback vertex set exists is NP-complete and this problem is closely related to the $3$-Colouring problem, or equivalently, to the problem of deciding whether or not a graph has an independent odd cycle transversal, that is, an independent set of vertices whose deletion makes the graph bipartite. We initiate a systematic study of the complexity of Independent Feedback Vertex Set for $H$-free graphs. We prove that it is NP-complete if $H$ contains a claw or cycle. Tamura, Ito and Zhou proved that it is polynomial-time solvable for $P_4$-free graphs. We show that it remains polynomial-time solvable for $P_5$-free graphs. We prove analogous results for the Independent Odd Cycle Transversal problem, which asks whether or not a graph has an independent odd cycle transversal of size at most $k$ for a given integer $k\geq 0$. Finally, in line with our underlying research aim, we compare the complexity of Independent Feedback Vertex Set for $H$-free graphs with the complexity of $3$-Colouring, Independent Odd Cycle Transversal and other related problems.

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Contracting Bipartite Graphs to Paths and Cycles

Testing if a given graph $G$ contains the $k$-vertex path $P_k$ as a minor or as an induced minor is trivial for every fixed integer $k\geq 1$. However, the situation changes for the problem of checking if a graph can be modified into $P_k$ by using only edge contractions. In this case the problem is known to be NP-complete even if $k=4$. This led to an intensive investigation for testing contractibility on restricted graph classes. We focus on bipartite graphs. Heggernes, van 't Hof, Lévêque and Paul proved that the problem stays NP-complete for bipartite graphs if $k=6$. We strengthen their result from $k=6$ to $k=5$. We also show that the problem of contracting a bipartite graph to the $6$-vertex cycle $C_6$ is NP-complete. The cyclicity of a graph is the length of the longest cycle the graph can be contracted to. As a consequence of our second result, determining the cyclicity of a bipartite graph is NP-hard.

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Clique-Width for Graph Classes Closed under Complementation

Clique-width is an important graph parameter due to its algorithmic and structural properties. A graph class is hereditary if it can be characterized by a (not necessarily finite) set ${\cal H}$ of forbidden induced subgraphs. We initiate a systematic study into the boundedness of clique-width of hereditary graph classes closed under complementation. First, we extend the known classification for the $|{\cal H}|=1$ case by classifying the boundedness of clique-width for every set ${\cal H}$ of self-complementary graphs. We then completely settle the $|{\cal H}|=2$ case. In particular, we determine one new class of $(H,\overline{H})$-free graphs of bounded clique-width (as a side effect, this leaves only six classes of $(H_1,H_2)$-free graphs, for which it is not known whether their clique-width is bounded). Once we have obtained the classification of the $|{\cal H}|=2$ case, we research the effect of forbidding self-complementary graphs on the boundedness of clique-width. Surprisingly, we show that for a set ${\cal F}$ of self-complementary graphs on at least five vertices, the classification of the boundedness of clique-width for $(\{H,\overline{H}\}\cup {\cal F})$-free graphs coincides with the one for the $|{\cal H}|=2$ case if and only if ${\cal F}$ does not include the bull (the only non-empty self-complementary graphs on fewer than five vertices are $P_1$ and $P_4$, and $P_4$-free graphs have clique-width at most $2$). Finally, we discuss the consequences of our results for the Colouring problem.

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Hereditary Graph Classes: When the Complexities of Colouring and Clique Cover Coincide

A graph is $(H_1,H_2)$-free for a pair of graphs $H_1,H_2$ if it contains no induced subgraph isomorphic to $H_1$ or $H_2$. In 2001, Král', Kratochv\'ıl, Tuza, and Woeginger initiated a study into the complexity of Colouring for $(H_1,H_2)$-free graphs. Since then, others have tried to complete their study, but many cases remain open. We focus on those $(H_1,H_2)$-free graphs where $H_2$ is $\overline{H_1}$, the complement of $H_1$. As these classes are closed under complementation, the computational complexities of Colouring and Clique Cover coincide. By combining new and known results, we are able to classify the complexity of Colouring and Clique Cover for $(H,\overline{H})$-free graphs for all cases except when $H=sP_1+ P_3$ for $s\geq 3$ or $H=sP_1+P_4$ for $s\geq 2$. We also classify the complexity of Colouring on graph classes characterized by forbidding a finite number of self-complementary induced subgraphs, and we initiate a study of $k$-Colouring for $(P_r,\overline{P_r})$-free graphs.

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Well-Quasi-Ordering versus Clique-Width: New Results on Bigenic Classes

Daligault, Rao and Thomassé asked whether a hereditary class of graphs well-quasi-ordered by the induced subgraph relation has bounded clique-width. Lozin, Razgon and Zamaraev recently showed that this is not true for classes defined by infinitely many forbidden induced subgraphs. However, in the case of finitely many forbidden induced subgraphs the question remains open and we conjecture that in this case the answer is positive. The conjecture is known to hold for classes of graphs defined by a single forbidden induced subgraph $H$, as such graphs are well-quasi-ordered and are of bounded clique-width if and only if $H$ is an induced subgraph of $P_4$. For bigenic classes of graphs, i.e. ones defined by two forbidden induced subgraphs, there are several open cases in both classifications. In the present paper we obtain a number of new results on well-quasi-orderability of bigenic classes, each of which supports the conjecture.

math.CO↗

Colouring Diamond-free Graphs

The Colouring problem is that of deciding, given a graph $G$ and an integer $k$, whether $G$ admits a (proper) $k$-colouring. For all graphs $H$ up to five vertices, we classify the computational complexity of Colouring for $(\mbox{diamond},H)$-free graphs. Our proof is based on combining known results together with proving that the clique-width is bounded for $(\mbox{diamond}, P_1+2P_2)$-free graphs. Our technique for handling this case is to reduce the graph under consideration to a $k$-partite graph that has a very specific decomposition. As a by-product of this general technique we are also able to prove boundedness of clique-width for four other new classes of $(H_1,H_2)$-free graphs. As such, our work also continues a recent systematic study into the (un)boundedness of clique-width of $(H_1,H_2)$-free graphs, and our five new classes of bounded clique-width reduce the number of open cases from 13 to 8.

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Bounding the Clique-Width of $H$-free Chordal Graphs

A graph is $H$-free if it has no induced subgraph isomorphic to $H$. Brandstädt, Engelfriet, Le and Lozin proved that the class of chordal graphs with independence number at most 3 has unbounded clique-width. Brandstädt, Le and Mosca erroneously claimed that the gem and the co-gem are the only two 1-vertex $P_4$-extensions $H$ for which the class of $H$-free chordal graphs has bounded clique-width. In fact we prove that bull-free chordal and co-chair-free chordal graphs have clique-width at most 3 and 4, respectively. In particular, we find four new classes of $H$-free chordal graphs of bounded clique-width. Our main result, obtained by combining new and known results, provides a classification of all but two stubborn cases, that is, with two potential exceptions we determine all graphs $H$ for which the class of $H$-free chordal graphs has bounded clique-width. We illustrate the usefulness of this classification for classifying other types of graph classes by proving that the class of $(2P_1+P_3,K_4)$-free graphs has bounded clique-width via a reduction to $K_4$-free chordal graphs. Finally, we give a complete classification of the (un)boundedness of clique-width of $H$-free weakly chordal graphs.

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Bounding the Clique-Width of $H$-free Split Graphs

A graph is $H$-free if it has no induced subgraph isomorphic to $H$. We continue a study into the boundedness of clique-width of subclasses of perfect graphs. We identify five new classes of $H$-free split graphs whose clique-width is bounded. Our main result, obtained by combining new and known results, provides a classification of all but two stubborn cases, that is, with two potential exceptions we determine all graphs $H$ for which the class of $H$-free split graphs has bounded clique-width.

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Editing to a Planar Graph of Given Degrees

We consider the following graph modification problem. Let the input consist of a graph $G=(V,E)$, a weight function $w\colon V\cup E\rightarrow \mathbb{N}$, a cost function $c\colon V\cup E\rightarrow \mathbb{N}$ and a degree function $δ\colon V\rightarrow \mathbb{N}_0$, together with three integers $k_v, k_e$ and $C$. The question is whether we can delete a set of vertices of total weight at most $k_v$ and a set of edges of total weight at most $k_e$ so that the total cost of the deleted elements is at most $C$ and every non-deleted vertex $v$ has degree $δ(v)$ in the resulting graph $G'$. We also consider the variant in which $G'$ must be connected. Both problems are known to be NP-complete and W[1]-hard when parameterized by $k_v+k_e$. We prove that, when restricted to planar graphs, they stay NP-complete but have polynomial kernels when parameterized by $k_v+k_e$.

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Clique-width of Graph Classes Defined by Two Forbidden Induced Subgraphs

If a graph has no induced subgraph isomorphic to any graph in a finite family $\{H_1,\ldots,H_p\}$, it is said to be $(H_1,\ldots,H_p)$-free. The class of $H$-free graphs has bounded clique-width if and only if $H$ is an induced subgraph of the 4-vertex path $P_4$. We study the (un)boundedness of the clique-width of graph classes defined by two forbidden induced subgraphs $H_1$ and $H_2$. Prior to our study it was not known whether the number of open cases was finite. We provide a positive answer to this question. To reduce the number of open cases we determine new graph classes of bounded clique-width and new graph classes of unbounded clique-width. For obtaining the latter results we first present a new, generic construction for graph classes of unbounded clique-width. Our results settle the boundedness or unboundedness of the clique-width of the class of $(H_1,H_2)$-free graphs (i) for all pairs $(H_1,H_2)$, both of which are connected, except two non-equivalent cases, and (ii) for all pairs $(H_1,H_2)$, at least one of which is not connected, except 11 non-equivalent cases. We also consider classes characterized by forbidding a finite family of graphs $\{H_1,\ldots,H_p\}$ as subgraphs, minors and topological minors, respectively, and completely determine which of these classes have bounded clique-width. Finally, we show algorithmic consequences of our results for the graph colour

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Bounding Clique-Width via Perfect Graphs

Given two graphs $H_1$ and $H_2$, a graph $G$ is $(H_1,H_2)$-free if it contains no subgraph isomorphic to $H_1$ or $H_2$. We continue a recent study into the clique-width of $(H_1,H_2)$-free graphs and present three new classes of $(H_1,H_2)$-free graphs of bounded clique-width and one of unbounded clique-width. The four new graph classes have in common that one of their two forbidden induced subgraphs is the diamond (the graph obtained from a clique on four vertices by deleting one edge). To prove boundedness of clique-width for the first three cases we develop a technique based on bounding clique covering number in combination with reduction to subclasses of perfect graphs. We extend our proof of unboundedness for the fourth case to show that Graph Isomorphism is Graph Isomorphism-complete on the same graph class. We also show the implications of our results for the computational complexity of the Colouring problem restricted to $(H_1,H_2)$-free graphs.

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Combinatorics and algorithms for augmenting graphs

The notion of augmenting graphs generalizes Berge's idea of augmenting chains, which was used by Edmonds in his celebrated solution of the maximum matching problem. This problem is a special case of the more general maximum independent set (MIS) problem. Recently, the augmenting graph approach has been successfully applied to solve MIS in various other special cases. However, our knowledge of augmenting graphs is still very limited, and we do not even know what the minimal infinite classes of augmenting graphs are. In the present paper, we find an answer to this question and apply it to extend the area of polynomial-time solvability of the maximum independent set problem.

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