arXiv subjects

Matjaž Krnc

Publications and source records attributed to Matjaž Krnc.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Sandwich Monotonicity and Recognition of Weighted Graph Classes

Edge-weighted graphs play an important role in the theory of Robinsonian matrices and similarity theory, particularly via the concept of level graphs, that is, graphs obtained from an edge-weighted graph by removing all sufficiently light edges. This suggests a natural way of associating to any class $\mathcal{G}$ of unweighted graphs a corresponding class of edge-weighted graphs, namely by requiring that all level graphs belong to $\mathcal{G}$. We show that for weighted graphs $G=(V,E)$ with weights from $\{1,\dots,|E|\}$ we can decide in linear time whether all level graphs are split, threshold, or chain graphs using special edge elimination orderings. We obtain these results by introducing the notion of degree sandwich monotone graph classes. A graph class $\mathcal{G}$ is sandwich monotone if every edge set which may be removed from a graph in $\mathcal{G}$ without leaving the class also contains a single edge that can be safely removed. Furthermore, if we require the safe edge to fulfill a certain degree property, then $\mathcal{G}$ is called degree sandwich monotone. We present necessary and sufficient conditions for the existence of a linear-time recognition algorithm for any weighted graph class whose corresponding unweighted class is degree sandwich monotone and contains all edgeless graphs.

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arXiv2026

Excluding paths and bicliques

Classes of graphs excluding a path and a biclique as induced subgraphs are extensively studied in the literature. One of the key structural results for such graphs is a Ramsey-type result due to Galvin, Rival, and Sands (1982), establishing the existence of a function $f$ bounding the maximum length of a path in terms of clique number $ω$. We improve the best known bound on $f$ to a function that is a singly exponential in $ω^c$, for some constant $c$, which we show is best possible, up to optimizing $c$. Our approach also has consequences for treedepth. In particular, we show that, for graphs excluding a path and a biclique as induced subgraphs, treedepth is bounded by a polynomial function of clique number. In turn, this result implies that every hereditary graph class that admits a function bounding treedepth of graphs in the class in terms of clique number, admits a polynomial such function. This gives a treedepth analogue of a recent result on pathwidth due to Hajebi (2025).

math.CO↗

arXiv2026

Sidorenko property and forcing in regular tournaments

We give a complete characterization of tournaments H that have the Sidorenko property with respect to nearly regular tournaments, i.e., the homomorphism density of H among all nearly regular tournaments is minimized by a random tournament. Corollaries of our result are a positive answer to the question of Noel, Ranganathan and Simbaqueba whether there exist infinitely many non-transitive tournaments that are quasirandom forcing for nearly regular tournaments, and a negative answer to their question whether almost every tournament is quasirandom forcing for nearly regular tournaments.

math.CO↗

arXiv2026

CRIM: A Natural Game on Integer Partitions

We analyze Column-Row Impartial Merge (CRIM), an impartial combinatorial game played on integer partitions. A move in CRIM consists of removing an arbitrary row or column from the corresponding Young diagram, with the remaining parts reattaching to form a single partition. We define rectairs -- a common generalization of rectangles and staircases -- and characterize their $\mathcal{P}/\mathcal{N}$-status. We define the meld operation on partitions and show that the meld of losing rectairs is losing. We introduce Odds-Are-Even (OAE) and Evens-Are-Odd (EAO) partitions, proving that all OAE partitions are $\mathcal{P}$-positions and characterizing the losing positions within EAO partitions. We determine the $\mathcal{P}/\mathcal{N}$-status for staircases and for $2$- and $3$-part partitions. We evaluate CRIM and its restrictions to certain partition families within the Conway-Gurvich-Ho classification scheme, establishing that CRIM is neither returnable nor domestic. We conjecture that every losing partition has even rank.

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arXiv2026

Linear colorings of graphs

Motivated by algorithmic applications, Kun, O'Brien, Pilipczuk, and Sullivan introduced the parameter linear chromatic number as a relaxation of treedepth and proved that the two parameters are polynomially related. They conjectured that treedepth could be bounded from above by twice the linear chromatic number. In this paper we investigate the properties of linear chromatic number and provide improved bounds in several graph classes.

math.CO↗

arXiv2026

Young domination on Hamming rectangles

We introduce a family of domination-type problems in Cartesian products of two graphs. The framework captures several well-studied topics, including variants of bootstrap percolation, line growth, distance domination, and target set selection. We focus on Cartesian products of two complete graphs and formulate the notion of Young domination number in terms of a growth rule determined by a Young diagram; this number is the smallest cardinality of an initial set that covers the entire vertex set in a prescribed number $L$ of iterations of the rule. We compute the Young domination number with $L=1$ for several natural cases, including $k$-domination for Cartesian products of two complete graphs of the same order, thereby proving a conjecture from 2009 due to Burchett, Lane, and Lachniet. We show that the case of $L=1$ of Young domination is equivalent to computing bipartite Turán numbers for families of double stars, yielding implications of our results in extremal graph theory. For arbitrary fixed $L$, we devise constant-factor approximation algorithms for the problem. Our approach is based on a variety of techniques, including duality between Young diagrams, algebraic formulations, explicit constructions, and dynamic programming.

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arXiv2025

Dominated balanced separators in wheel-induced-minor-free graphs

Gartland and Lokshtanov conjectured that every graph that excludes some planar graph as an induced minor has a balanced separator, that is, a separator whose deletion leaves every component with no more than half of the vertices of the graph, which is dominated by a bounded number of vertices. We confirm this conjecture for excluding any fixed wheel, that is, a cycle together with a universal vertex, as an induced minor.

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arXiv2025

Ramsey multiplicity of apices of trees

A graph $H$ is common if its Ramsey multiplicity, i.e., the minimum number of monochromatic copies of $H$ contained in any $2$-edge-coloring of $K_n$, is asymptotically the same as the number of monochromatic copies in the random $2$-edge-coloring of $K_n$. Erdős conjectured that every complete graph is common, which was disproved by Thomason in the 1980s. Till today, a classification of common graphs remains a widely open challenging problem. Grzesik, Lee, Lidický and Volec [Combin. Prob. Comput. 31 (2022), 907--923] conjectured that every $k$-apex of any connected Sidorenko graph is common. We prove for $k\le 5$ that the $k$-apex of any tree is common.

math.CO↗

arXiv2025

Row Impartial Terminus

We introduce Row Impartial Terminus (RIT), an impartial combinatorial game played on integer partitions. We show that any position in RIT can be uniquely decomposed into a core and a remnant. Our central result is that the Conway pair of any RIT position-which determines the outcome under both normal and misère play-is identical to the Conway pair of a corresponding position in the game of Nim defined by the remnant. This finding provides a complete winning strategy for both variants of RIT, reducing its analysis to the well-understood framework of Nim. As a consequence, we classify RIT within the Conway-Gurvich-Ho hierarchy, showing it to be forced and miserable but not pet.

math.CO↗

arXiv2025

Nim on Integer Partitions and Hyperrectangles

We describe PNim and RNim, two variants of Nim in which piles of tokens are replaced with integer partitions or hyperrectangles. In PNim, the players choose one of the integer partitions and remove a positive number of rows or a positive number of columns from the Young diagram of that partition. In RNim, players choose one of the hyperrectangles and reduce one of its side lengths. For PNim, we find a tight upper bound for the Sprague-Grundy values of partitions and characterize partitions with Sprague-Grundy value one. For RNim, we provide a formula for the Sprague-Grundy value of any position. We classify both games in the Conway-Gurvich-Ho hierarchy.

math.CO↗

arXiv2025

Avoidability beyond paths

The concept of avoidable paths in graphs was introduced by Beisegel, Chudnovsky, Gurvich, Milanič, and Servatius in 2019 as a common generalization of avoidable vertices and simplicial paths. In 2020, Bonamy, Defrain, Hatzel, and Thiebaut proved that every graph containing an induced path of order $k$ also contains an avoidable induced path of the same order. They also asked whether one could generalize this result to other avoidable structures, leaving the notion of avoidability up to interpretation. In this paper we address this question: we specify the concept of avoidability for arbitrary graphs equipped with two terminal vertices. We provide both positive and negative results, some of which appear to be related to the recent work by Chudnovsky, Norin, Seymour, and Turcotte [arXiv:2301.13175].

math.CO↗

arXiv2025

Growing Trees and Amoebas' Replications

An amoeba is a tree together with instructions how to iteratively grow trees by adding paths of a fixed length $\ell$. This paper analyses such a growth process. An amoeba is mortal if all versions of the process are finite, and it is immortal if they are all infinite. We obtain some necessary and some sufficient conditions for mortality. In particular, for growing caterpillars in the case $\ell=1$ we characterize mortal amoebas. We discuss variations of the mortality concept, conjecture that some of them are equivalent, and support this conjecture for $\ell\in\{1,2\}$.

math.CO↗

arXiv2025

Impartial Chess on Integer Partitions

Berlekamp proposed a class of impartial combinatorial games based on the moves of chess pieces on rectangular boards. We generalize impartial chess games by playing them on Young diagrams and obtain results about winning and losing positions and Sprague-Grundy values for all chess pieces. We classify these games, and their restrictions to sets of partitions known as rectangles, staircases, and general staircases, according to the approach of Conway, later extended by Gurvich and Ho. The games $\rm {R\small OOK}$ and $\rm{Q\small UEEN}$ restricted to rectangles are known to have the same game tree as $2$-pile $\rm N{\small IM}$ and $\rm W{\small YTHOFF}$, respectively, so our work generalizes these well-known games.

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arXiv2024

Treewidth versus clique number. IV. Tree-independence number of graphs excluding an induced star

Many recent works address the question of characterizing induced obstructions to bounded treewidth. In 2022, Lozin and Razgon completely answered this question for graph classes defined by finitely many forbidden induced subgraphs. Their result also implies a characterization of graph classes defined by finitely many forbidden induced subgraphs that are $(tw,ω)$-bounded, that is, treewidth can only be large due to the presence of a large clique. This condition is known to be satisfied for any graph class with bounded tree-independence number, a graph parameter introduced independently by Yolov in 2018 and by Dallard, Milanič, and Štorgel in 2024. Dallard et al. conjectured that $(tw,ω)$-boundedness is actually equivalent to bounded tree-independence number. We address this conjecture in the context of graph classes defined by finitely many forbidden induced subgraphs and prove it for the case of graph classes excluding an induced star. We also prove it for subclasses of the class of line graphs, determine the exact values of the tree-independence numbers of line graphs of complete graphs and line graphs of complete bipartite graphs, and characterize the tree-independence number of $P_4$-free graphs, which implies a linear-time algorithm for its computation. Applying the algorithmic framework provided in a previous paper of the series leads to polynomial-time algorithms for the Maximum Weight Independent Set problem in an infinite family of graph classes.

math.CO↗

arXiv2023

Sprague-Grundy values and complexity for LCTR

Given an integer partition of $n$, we consider the impartial combinatorial game LCTR in which moves consist of removing either the left column or top row of its Young diagram. We show that for both normal and misère play, the optimal strategy can consist mostly of mirroring the opponent's moves. We also establish that both LCTR and Downright are domestic as well as returnable, and on the other hand neither tame nor forced. For both games, those structural observations allow for computing the Sprague-Grundy value any position in $O(\log(n))$ time, assuming that the time unit allows for reading an integer, or performing a basic arithmetic operation. This improves on the previously known bound of $O(n)$ due to Ilić (2019). We also cover some other complexity measures of both games, such as state-space complexity, and number of leaves and nodes in the corresponding game tree.

math.CO↗

arXiv2023

Fair Allocation Algorithms for Indivisible Items under Structured Conflict Constraints

We consider the fair allocation of indivisible items to several agents with additional conflict constraints. These are represented by a conflict graph where each item corresponds to a vertex of the graph and edges in the graph represent incompatible pairs of items which should not be allocated to the same agent. This setting combines the issues of Partition and Independent Set and can be seen as a partial coloring of the conflict graph. In the resulting optimization problem each agent has its own valuation function for the profits of the items. We aim at maximizing the lowest total profit obtained by any of the agents. In a previous paper this problem was shown to be strongly \NP-hard for several well-known graph classes, e.g., bipartite graphs and their line graphs. On the other hand, it was shown that pseudo-polynomial time algorithms exist for the classes of chordal graphs, cocomparability graphs, biconvex bipartite graphs, and graphs of bounded treewidth. In this contribution we extend this line of research by developing pseudo-polynomial time algorithms that solve the problem for the class of convex bipartite conflict graphs, graphs of bounded clique-width, and graphs of bounded tree-independence number. The algorithms are based on dynamic programming and also permit fully polynomial-time approximation schemes (FPTAS).

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arXiv2023

Graphs with at most two moplexes

A moplex is a natural graph structure that arises when lifting Dirac's classical theorem from chordal graphs to general graphs. While every non-complete graph has at least two moplexes, little is known about structural properties of graphs with a bounded number of moplexes. The study of these graphs is, in part, motivated by the parallel between moplexes in general graphs and simplicial modules in chordal graphs: unlike in the moplex setting, properties of chordal graphs with a bounded number of simplicial modules are well understood. For instance, chordal graphs having at most two simplicial modules are interval. In this work, we initiate an investigation of $k$-moplex graphs, which are defined as graphs containing at most $k$ moplexes. Of particular interest is the smallest nontrivial case $k=2$, which forms a counterpart to the class of interval graphs. As our main structural result, we show that, when restricted to connected graphs, the class of $2$-moplex graphs is sandwiched between the classes of proper interval graphs and cocomparability graphs; moreover, both inclusions are tight for hereditary classes. From a complexity theoretic viewpoint, this leads to the natural question of whether the presence of at most two moplexes guarantees a sufficient amount of structure to efficiently solve problems that are known to be intractable on cocomparability graphs, but not on proper interval graphs. We develop new reductions that answer this question negatively for two prominent problems fitting this profile, namely Graph Isomorphism and Max-Cut. On the other hand, we prove that every connected $2$-moplex graph contains a Hamiltonian path, generalising the same property of connected proper interval graphs.

math.CO↗

arXiv2022

Fair allocation of indivisible items with conflict graphs

We consider the fair allocation of indivisible items to several agents and add a graph theoretical perspective to this classical problem. Namely, we introduce an incompatibility relation between pairs of items described in terms of a conflict graph. Every subset of items assigned to one agent has to form an independent set in this graph. Thus, the allocation of items to the agents corresponds to a partial coloring of the conflict graph. Every agent has its own profit valuation for every item. Aiming at a fair allocation, our goal is the maximization of the lowest total profit of items allocated to any one of the agents. The resulting optimization problem contains, as special cases, both Partition and Independent Set. In our contribution we derive complexity and algorithmic results depending on the properties of the given graph. We show that the problem is strongly NP-hard for bipartite graphs and their line graphs, and solvable in pseudo-polynomial time for the classes of chordal graphs, cocomparability graphs, biconvex bipartite graphs, and graphs of bounded treewidth. Each of the pseudo-polynomial algorithms can also be turned into a fully polynomial approximation scheme (FPTAS).

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