Pub Date : 2026-06-01Epub Date: 2026-01-27DOI: 10.1016/j.disc.2026.115012
Alice Lacaze-Masmonteil
We confirm most open cases of a conjecture that first appeared in Alspach et al. (1987) which stipulates that the wreath (lexicographic) product of two hamiltonian decomposable directed graphs is also hamiltonian decomposable. Specifically, we show that the wreath product of a hamiltonian decomposable directed graph G, such that is even and , with a hamiltonian decomposable directed graph H, such that , is also hamiltonian decomposable except possibly when G is a directed cycle and H is a directed graph of odd order that admits a decomposition into c directed hamiltonian cycle where c is odd and .
{"title":"Hamiltonian decompositions of the wreath product of hamiltonian decomposable digraphs","authors":"Alice Lacaze-Masmonteil","doi":"10.1016/j.disc.2026.115012","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.disc.2026.115012","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>We confirm most open cases of a conjecture that first appeared in Alspach et al. (1987) which stipulates that the wreath (lexicographic) product of two hamiltonian decomposable directed graphs is also hamiltonian decomposable. Specifically, we show that the wreath product of a hamiltonian decomposable directed graph <em>G</em>, such that <span><math><mo>|</mo><mi>V</mi><mo>(</mo><mi>G</mi><mo>)</mo><mo>|</mo></math></span> is even and <span><math><mo>|</mo><mi>V</mi><mo>(</mo><mi>G</mi><mo>)</mo><mo>|</mo><mo>⩾</mo><mn>2</mn></math></span>, with a hamiltonian decomposable directed graph <em>H</em>, such that <span><math><mo>|</mo><mi>V</mi><mo>(</mo><mi>H</mi><mo>)</mo><mo>|</mo><mo>⩾</mo><mn>4</mn></math></span>, is also hamiltonian decomposable except possibly when <em>G</em> is a directed cycle and <em>H</em> is a directed graph of odd order that admits a decomposition into <em>c</em> directed hamiltonian cycle where <em>c</em> is odd and <span><math><mn>3</mn><mo>⩽</mo><mi>c</mi><mo>⩽</mo><mo>|</mo><mi>V</mi><mo>(</mo><mi>H</mi><mo>)</mo><mo>|</mo><mo>−</mo><mn>2</mn></math></span>.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50572,"journal":{"name":"Discrete Mathematics","volume":"349 6","pages":"Article 115012"},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146078350","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"数学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-06-01Epub Date: 2026-01-05DOI: 10.1016/j.disc.2025.114971
Lin-Peng Zhang , Hajo Broersma , Ligong Wang
<div><div>Let <span><math><mi>F</mi></math></span> be a family of graphs, and let <em>H</em> be a hypergraph. <em>H</em> is called a Berge-<span><math><mi>F</mi></math></span> if for some <span><math><mi>F</mi><mo>∈</mo><mi>F</mi></math></span>, there exists an injection <span><math><mi>θ</mi><mo>:</mo><mi>V</mi><mo>(</mo><mi>F</mi><mo>)</mo><mo>→</mo><mi>V</mi><mo>(</mo><mi>H</mi><mo>)</mo></math></span> and a bijection <span><math><mi>ϕ</mi><mo>:</mo><mi>E</mi><mo>(</mo><mi>F</mi><mo>)</mo><mo>→</mo><mi>E</mi><mo>(</mo><mi>H</mi><mo>)</mo></math></span> such that <span><math><mo>{</mo><mi>θ</mi><mo>(</mo><mi>u</mi><mo>)</mo><mo>,</mo><mi>θ</mi><mo>(</mo><mi>v</mi><mo>)</mo><mo>}</mo><mo>⊆</mo><mi>ϕ</mi><mo>(</mo><mi>e</mi><mo>)</mo></math></span> for each <span><math><mi>e</mi><mo>=</mo><mo>{</mo><mi>u</mi><mo>,</mo><mi>v</mi><mo>}</mo><mo>∈</mo><mi>E</mi><mo>(</mo><mi>F</mi><mo>)</mo></math></span>. <em>H</em> is called Berge-<span><math><mi>F</mi></math></span>-free if <em>H</em> contains no subhypergraph isomorphic to any Berge-<span><math><mi>F</mi></math></span>. The Turán number of a Berge-<span><math><mi>F</mi></math></span>, denoted by <span><math><msub><mrow><mi>ex</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>r</mi></mrow></msub><mo>(</mo><mi>n</mi><mo>,</mo><mtext>Berge-</mtext><mi>F</mi><mo>)</mo></math></span>, is defined as the maximum number of edges in an <em>n</em>-vertex Berge-<span><math><mi>F</mi></math></span>-free <em>r</em>-uniform hypergraph. A linear forest is a graph all components of which are paths or isolated vertices. Denote by <span><math><msub><mrow><mi>L</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>n</mi><mo>,</mo><mi>k</mi></mrow></msub></math></span> the family of all linear forests containing <em>n</em> vertices and <em>k</em> edges. In this paper, we determine the value of <span><math><msub><mrow><mi>ex</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>r</mi></mrow></msub><mo>(</mo><mi>n</mi><mo>,</mo><mtext>Berge-</mtext><msub><mrow><mi>L</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>n</mi><mo>,</mo><mi>k</mi></mrow></msub><mo>)</mo></math></span> for the cases <span><math><mn>3</mn><mo>≤</mo><mi>r</mi><mo>≤</mo><mo>⌈</mo><mfrac><mrow><mi>k</mi><mo>+</mo><mn>1</mn></mrow><mrow><mn>2</mn></mrow></mfrac><mo>⌉</mo><mo>−</mo><mn>2</mn></math></span> and <span><math><mi>r</mi><mo>≥</mo><mi>k</mi><mo>+</mo><mn>1</mn></math></span>. Furthermore, we characterize the extremal hypergraphs for the cases <span><math><mn>3</mn><mo>≤</mo><mi>r</mi><mo>≤</mo><mfrac><mrow><mi>k</mi><mo>+</mo><mn>1</mn></mrow><mrow><mn>2</mn></mrow></mfrac><mo>−</mo><mn>3</mn></math></span> and <span><math><mi>r</mi><mo>≥</mo><mi>k</mi><mo>+</mo><mn>1</mn></math></span>, when <em>k</em> is odd, and for the cases <span><math><mn>3</mn><mo>≤</mo><mi>r</mi><mo>≤</mo><mfrac><mrow><mi>k</mi></mrow><mrow><mn>2</mn></mrow></mfrac><mo>−</mo><mn>2</mn></math></span> and <span><math><mi>r</mi><mo>≥</mo><mi>k</mi><mo>+</mo><mn>1</mn></math></span>, when <em>k</em> is even. We establish an upper bound on <span><math><msub><mrow><mi>ex</mi></mrow><mrow><
{"title":"The Turán number of Berge-linear forests in hypergraphs","authors":"Lin-Peng Zhang , Hajo Broersma , Ligong Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.disc.2025.114971","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.disc.2025.114971","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Let <span><math><mi>F</mi></math></span> be a family of graphs, and let <em>H</em> be a hypergraph. <em>H</em> is called a Berge-<span><math><mi>F</mi></math></span> if for some <span><math><mi>F</mi><mo>∈</mo><mi>F</mi></math></span>, there exists an injection <span><math><mi>θ</mi><mo>:</mo><mi>V</mi><mo>(</mo><mi>F</mi><mo>)</mo><mo>→</mo><mi>V</mi><mo>(</mo><mi>H</mi><mo>)</mo></math></span> and a bijection <span><math><mi>ϕ</mi><mo>:</mo><mi>E</mi><mo>(</mo><mi>F</mi><mo>)</mo><mo>→</mo><mi>E</mi><mo>(</mo><mi>H</mi><mo>)</mo></math></span> such that <span><math><mo>{</mo><mi>θ</mi><mo>(</mo><mi>u</mi><mo>)</mo><mo>,</mo><mi>θ</mi><mo>(</mo><mi>v</mi><mo>)</mo><mo>}</mo><mo>⊆</mo><mi>ϕ</mi><mo>(</mo><mi>e</mi><mo>)</mo></math></span> for each <span><math><mi>e</mi><mo>=</mo><mo>{</mo><mi>u</mi><mo>,</mo><mi>v</mi><mo>}</mo><mo>∈</mo><mi>E</mi><mo>(</mo><mi>F</mi><mo>)</mo></math></span>. <em>H</em> is called Berge-<span><math><mi>F</mi></math></span>-free if <em>H</em> contains no subhypergraph isomorphic to any Berge-<span><math><mi>F</mi></math></span>. The Turán number of a Berge-<span><math><mi>F</mi></math></span>, denoted by <span><math><msub><mrow><mi>ex</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>r</mi></mrow></msub><mo>(</mo><mi>n</mi><mo>,</mo><mtext>Berge-</mtext><mi>F</mi><mo>)</mo></math></span>, is defined as the maximum number of edges in an <em>n</em>-vertex Berge-<span><math><mi>F</mi></math></span>-free <em>r</em>-uniform hypergraph. A linear forest is a graph all components of which are paths or isolated vertices. Denote by <span><math><msub><mrow><mi>L</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>n</mi><mo>,</mo><mi>k</mi></mrow></msub></math></span> the family of all linear forests containing <em>n</em> vertices and <em>k</em> edges. In this paper, we determine the value of <span><math><msub><mrow><mi>ex</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>r</mi></mrow></msub><mo>(</mo><mi>n</mi><mo>,</mo><mtext>Berge-</mtext><msub><mrow><mi>L</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>n</mi><mo>,</mo><mi>k</mi></mrow></msub><mo>)</mo></math></span> for the cases <span><math><mn>3</mn><mo>≤</mo><mi>r</mi><mo>≤</mo><mo>⌈</mo><mfrac><mrow><mi>k</mi><mo>+</mo><mn>1</mn></mrow><mrow><mn>2</mn></mrow></mfrac><mo>⌉</mo><mo>−</mo><mn>2</mn></math></span> and <span><math><mi>r</mi><mo>≥</mo><mi>k</mi><mo>+</mo><mn>1</mn></math></span>. Furthermore, we characterize the extremal hypergraphs for the cases <span><math><mn>3</mn><mo>≤</mo><mi>r</mi><mo>≤</mo><mfrac><mrow><mi>k</mi><mo>+</mo><mn>1</mn></mrow><mrow><mn>2</mn></mrow></mfrac><mo>−</mo><mn>3</mn></math></span> and <span><math><mi>r</mi><mo>≥</mo><mi>k</mi><mo>+</mo><mn>1</mn></math></span>, when <em>k</em> is odd, and for the cases <span><math><mn>3</mn><mo>≤</mo><mi>r</mi><mo>≤</mo><mfrac><mrow><mi>k</mi></mrow><mrow><mn>2</mn></mrow></mfrac><mo>−</mo><mn>2</mn></math></span> and <span><math><mi>r</mi><mo>≥</mo><mi>k</mi><mo>+</mo><mn>1</mn></math></span>, when <em>k</em> is even. We establish an upper bound on <span><math><msub><mrow><mi>ex</mi></mrow><mrow><","PeriodicalId":50572,"journal":{"name":"Discrete Mathematics","volume":"349 6","pages":"Article 114971"},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145898153","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"数学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-06-01Epub Date: 2026-01-05DOI: 10.1016/j.disc.2025.114961
Yanna J. Kraakman, Clara Stegehuis
Many complex systems show non-pairwise interactions, which can be captured by hypergraphs. In this work, we propose an edge-swapping method to sample random directed hypergraphs with fixed vertex and hyperarc degrees, which can be applied to different classes of directed hypergraphs (containing self-loops, degenerate hyperarcs and/or multi-hyperarcs). We prove that this method indeed samples uniformly from the classes with self-loops and multi-hyperarcs, and that the method may not sample uniformly from classes without self-loops, or with self-loops and degenerate hyperarcs but without multi-hyperarcs. We present a partial result on the class with self-loops, but without degenerate hyperarcs or multi-hyperarcs.
{"title":"Uniformly sampling random directed hypergraphs with fixed degrees","authors":"Yanna J. Kraakman, Clara Stegehuis","doi":"10.1016/j.disc.2025.114961","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.disc.2025.114961","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Many complex systems show non-pairwise interactions, which can be captured by hypergraphs. In this work, we propose an edge-swapping method to sample random directed hypergraphs with fixed vertex and hyperarc degrees, which can be applied to different classes of directed hypergraphs (containing self-loops, degenerate hyperarcs and/or multi-hyperarcs). We prove that this method indeed samples uniformly from the classes with self-loops and multi-hyperarcs, and that the method may not sample uniformly from classes without self-loops, or with self-loops and degenerate hyperarcs but without multi-hyperarcs. We present a partial result on the class with self-loops, but without degenerate hyperarcs or multi-hyperarcs.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50572,"journal":{"name":"Discrete Mathematics","volume":"349 6","pages":"Article 114961"},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145898195","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"数学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-06-01Epub Date: 2026-01-16DOI: 10.1016/j.disc.2026.115007
Naoki Matsumoto
Two vertex colorings of a graph are Kempe equivalent if they can be transformed into each other by a sequence of Kempe changes which interchange the colors used on a component of the subgraph induced by two color classes. Fisk showed that every two vertex 4-colorings of a 3-colorable triangulation on the sphere are Kempe equivalent, and then Mohar extended this result to any 3-colorable planar graph. Fisk also verified that there are 4-chromatic triangulations on the sphere and 3-colorable triangulations on the torus such that some two 4-colorings of them are not Kempe equivalent. In this paper, we show that every two vertex 4-colorings of a 3-colorable triangulation on the projective plane or the Klein bottle are Kempe equivalent. Our result is best possible in terms of all conditions; 3-colorability, the genus of a non-orientable surface, a triangulation (i.e., it cannot be replaced with a graph).
{"title":"Kempe equivalence of 4-colorings of graphs on non-orientable surfaces","authors":"Naoki Matsumoto","doi":"10.1016/j.disc.2026.115007","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.disc.2026.115007","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Two vertex colorings of a graph are Kempe equivalent if they can be transformed into each other by a sequence of Kempe changes which interchange the colors used on a component of the subgraph induced by two color classes. Fisk showed that every two vertex 4-colorings of a 3-colorable triangulation on the sphere are Kempe equivalent, and then Mohar extended this result to any 3-colorable planar graph. Fisk also verified that there are 4-chromatic triangulations on the sphere and 3-colorable triangulations on the torus such that some two 4-colorings of them are not Kempe equivalent. In this paper, we show that every two vertex 4-colorings of a 3-colorable triangulation on the projective plane or the Klein bottle are Kempe equivalent. Our result is best possible in terms of all conditions; 3-colorability, the genus of a non-orientable surface, a triangulation (i.e., it cannot be replaced with a graph).</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50572,"journal":{"name":"Discrete Mathematics","volume":"349 6","pages":"Article 115007"},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145980015","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"数学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-06-01Epub Date: 2026-01-14DOI: 10.1016/j.disc.2026.114978
Ryutaro Misawa , Akihiro Munemasa , Masanori Sawa
We determine the smallest size of a non-antipodal spherical design with harmonic indices to be , where m is a positive integer. This is achieved by proving an analogous result for interval designs.
{"title":"Antipodality of spherical designs with odd harmonic indices","authors":"Ryutaro Misawa , Akihiro Munemasa , Masanori Sawa","doi":"10.1016/j.disc.2026.114978","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.disc.2026.114978","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>We determine the smallest size of a non-antipodal spherical design with harmonic indices <span><math><mo>{</mo><mn>1</mn><mo>,</mo><mn>3</mn><mo>,</mo><mo>…</mo><mo>,</mo><mn>2</mn><mi>m</mi><mo>−</mo><mn>1</mn><mo>}</mo></math></span> to be <span><math><mn>2</mn><mi>m</mi><mo>+</mo><mn>1</mn></math></span>, where <em>m</em> is a positive integer. This is achieved by proving an analogous result for interval designs.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50572,"journal":{"name":"Discrete Mathematics","volume":"349 6","pages":"Article 114978"},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145980072","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"数学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-06-01Epub Date: 2026-01-14DOI: 10.1016/j.disc.2026.114982
Dehai Liu , Kaishun Wang , Tian Yao
Two families and of k-subsets of an n-set are called s-almost cross-t-intersecting if each member in (resp. ) is t-disjoint with at most s members in (resp. ). In this paper, we characterize the s-almost cross-t-intersecting families with the maximum product of their sizes. Furthermore, we provide a corresponding stability result after studying the s-almost cross-t-intersecting families which are not cross-t-intersecting.
{"title":"s-almost cross-t-intersecting families for finite sets","authors":"Dehai Liu , Kaishun Wang , Tian Yao","doi":"10.1016/j.disc.2026.114982","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.disc.2026.114982","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Two families <span><math><mi>F</mi></math></span> and <span><math><mi>G</mi></math></span> of <em>k</em>-subsets of an <em>n</em>-set are called <em>s</em>-almost cross-<em>t</em>-intersecting if each member in <span><math><mi>F</mi></math></span> (resp. <span><math><mi>G</mi></math></span>) is <em>t</em>-disjoint with at most <em>s</em> members in <span><math><mi>G</mi></math></span> (resp. <span><math><mi>F</mi></math></span>). In this paper, we characterize the <em>s</em>-almost cross-<em>t</em>-intersecting families with the maximum product of their sizes. Furthermore, we provide a corresponding stability result after studying the <em>s</em>-almost cross-<em>t</em>-intersecting families which are not cross-<em>t</em>-intersecting.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50572,"journal":{"name":"Discrete Mathematics","volume":"349 6","pages":"Article 114982"},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145980073","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"数学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-06-01Epub Date: 2026-01-21DOI: 10.1016/j.disc.2026.115002
George M. Bergman
The definition of the dimension of a poset is recalled. For a subposet P of a direct product of chains, and an integer , a condition is developed which implies that for any family of n chains , one has . Applications are noted.
Open questions, old and new, on dimensions of product posets are stated, and some other numerical invariants of posets that seem useful for studying these questions are developed. Some variants of the concept of the dimension of a poset from the literature are also recalled.
In a final section, independent of the other results, it is noted that by the compactness theorem of first-order logic, an infinite poset P has finite dimension d if and only if d is the supremum of the dimensions of its finite subposets.
{"title":"Some frustrating questions on dimensions of products of posets","authors":"George M. Bergman","doi":"10.1016/j.disc.2026.115002","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.disc.2026.115002","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The definition of the dimension of a poset is recalled. For a subposet <em>P</em> of a direct product of <span><math><mi>d</mi><mo>></mo><mn>0</mn></math></span> chains, and an integer <span><math><mi>n</mi><mo>></mo><mn>0</mn></math></span>, a condition is developed which implies that for any family of <em>n</em> chains <span><math><msub><mrow><mo>(</mo><msub><mrow><mi>T</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>j</mi></mrow></msub><mo>)</mo></mrow><mrow><mi>j</mi><mo>∈</mo><mi>n</mi></mrow></msub></math></span>, one has <span><math><mi>dim</mi><mo></mo><mo>(</mo><mi>P</mi><mo>×</mo><msub><mrow><mo>∏</mo></mrow><mrow><mi>j</mi><mo>∈</mo><mi>n</mi></mrow></msub><msub><mrow><mi>T</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>j</mi></mrow></msub><mo>)</mo><mo>≤</mo><mi>d</mi></math></span>. Applications are noted.</div><div>Open questions, old and new, on dimensions of product posets are stated, and some other numerical invariants of posets that seem useful for studying these questions are developed. Some variants of the concept of the dimension of a poset from the literature are also recalled.</div><div>In a final section, independent of the other results, it is noted that by the compactness theorem of first-order logic, an infinite poset <em>P</em> has finite dimension <em>d</em> if and only if <em>d</em> is the supremum of the dimensions of its finite subposets.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50572,"journal":{"name":"Discrete Mathematics","volume":"349 6","pages":"Article 115002"},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146038447","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"数学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
The d-distance p-packing domination number of G is the minimum size of a set of vertices of G which is both a d-distance dominating set and a p-packing. In 1994, Beineke and Henning conjectured that if and T is a tree of order , then . They supported the conjecture by proving it for . In this paper, it is proved that holds for any bipartite graph G of order , and any . Trees T for which holds are characterized. It is also proved that if T has ℓ leaves, then (provided that ), and (provided that ). The latter result extends Favaron's theorem from 1992 asserting that . In both cases, trees that attain the equality are characterized and relevant conclusions for the d-distance domination number of trees derived.
G的d距离p-填料支配数γdp(G)是G的一个顶点集的最小大小,该顶点集既是d距离支配集又是p-填料。1994年,Beineke和Henning推测,如果d≥1且T是n阶≥d+1的树,则γd1(T)≤nd+1。他们通过证明d∈{1,2,3}来支持这个猜想。本文证明了γd1(G)≤nd+1对任意阶n≥d+1的二部图G和任意d≥1成立。对γd1(T)=nd+1成立的树T进行表征。还证明了如果T有r个叶,则γd1(T)≤n−r d(假设n−r≥d), γd1(T)≤n+ r d+2(假设n≥d)。后一个结果推广了1992年的Favaron定理,断言γ11(T)≤n+ l3。在这两种情况下,都对达到相等的树进行了表征,并得出了树的d距离支配数的相关结论。
{"title":"Revisiting d-distance (independent) domination in trees and in bipartite graphs","authors":"Csilla Bujtás , Vesna Iršič Chenoweth , Sandi Klavžar , Gang Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.disc.2025.114972","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.disc.2025.114972","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The <em>d</em>-distance <em>p</em>-packing domination number <span><math><msubsup><mrow><mi>γ</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>d</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>p</mi></mrow></msubsup><mo>(</mo><mi>G</mi><mo>)</mo></math></span> of <em>G</em> is the minimum size of a set of vertices of <em>G</em> which is both a <em>d</em>-distance dominating set and a <em>p</em>-packing. In 1994, Beineke and Henning conjectured that if <span><math><mi>d</mi><mo>≥</mo><mn>1</mn></math></span> and <em>T</em> is a tree of order <span><math><mi>n</mi><mo>≥</mo><mi>d</mi><mo>+</mo><mn>1</mn></math></span>, then <span><math><msubsup><mrow><mi>γ</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>d</mi></mrow><mrow><mn>1</mn></mrow></msubsup><mo>(</mo><mi>T</mi><mo>)</mo><mo>≤</mo><mfrac><mrow><mi>n</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>d</mi><mo>+</mo><mn>1</mn></mrow></mfrac></math></span>. They supported the conjecture by proving it for <span><math><mi>d</mi><mo>∈</mo><mo>{</mo><mn>1</mn><mo>,</mo><mn>2</mn><mo>,</mo><mn>3</mn><mo>}</mo></math></span>. In this paper, it is proved that <span><math><msubsup><mrow><mi>γ</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>d</mi></mrow><mrow><mn>1</mn></mrow></msubsup><mo>(</mo><mi>G</mi><mo>)</mo><mo>≤</mo><mfrac><mrow><mi>n</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>d</mi><mo>+</mo><mn>1</mn></mrow></mfrac></math></span> holds for any bipartite graph <em>G</em> of order <span><math><mi>n</mi><mo>≥</mo><mi>d</mi><mo>+</mo><mn>1</mn></math></span>, and any <span><math><mi>d</mi><mo>≥</mo><mn>1</mn></math></span>. Trees <em>T</em> for which <span><math><msubsup><mrow><mi>γ</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>d</mi></mrow><mrow><mn>1</mn></mrow></msubsup><mo>(</mo><mi>T</mi><mo>)</mo><mo>=</mo><mfrac><mrow><mi>n</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>d</mi><mo>+</mo><mn>1</mn></mrow></mfrac></math></span> holds are characterized. It is also proved that if <em>T</em> has <em>ℓ</em> leaves, then <span><math><msubsup><mrow><mi>γ</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>d</mi></mrow><mrow><mn>1</mn></mrow></msubsup><mo>(</mo><mi>T</mi><mo>)</mo><mo>≤</mo><mfrac><mrow><mi>n</mi><mo>−</mo><mi>ℓ</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>d</mi></mrow></mfrac></math></span> (provided that <span><math><mi>n</mi><mo>−</mo><mi>ℓ</mi><mo>≥</mo><mi>d</mi></math></span>), and <span><math><msubsup><mrow><mi>γ</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>d</mi></mrow><mrow><mn>1</mn></mrow></msubsup><mo>(</mo><mi>T</mi><mo>)</mo><mo>≤</mo><mfrac><mrow><mi>n</mi><mo>+</mo><mi>ℓ</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>d</mi><mo>+</mo><mn>2</mn></mrow></mfrac></math></span> (provided that <span><math><mi>n</mi><mo>≥</mo><mi>d</mi></math></span>). The latter result extends Favaron's theorem from 1992 asserting that <span><math><msubsup><mrow><mi>γ</mi></mrow><mrow><mn>1</mn></mrow><mrow><mn>1</mn></mrow></msubsup><mo>(</mo><mi>T</mi><mo>)</mo><mo>≤</mo><mfrac><mrow><mi>n</mi><mo>+</mo><mi>ℓ</mi></mrow><mrow><mn>3</mn></mrow></mfrac></math></span>. In both cases, trees that attain the equality are characterized and relevant conclusions for the <em>d</em>-distance domination number of trees derived.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50572,"journal":{"name":"Discrete Mathematics","volume":"349 6","pages":"Article 114972"},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145898198","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"数学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-06-01Epub Date: 2026-01-29DOI: 10.1016/j.disc.2026.115021
Harry Sapranidis Mantelos
<div><div>We study the problem raised in Marco Stevens (2021) <span><span>[20]</span></span> concerning the extension of its main result to the more general (potentially non-symmetric) setting. We construct a counterexample disproving the conjecture proposed in the paper, and subsequently solve it under some additional minor assumptions that preclude such counterexamples.</div><div>The problem is plainly stated as follows: Let Λ be a set and <span><math><mi>F</mi></math></span> a field, and suppose that <span><math><mi>K</mi><mo>,</mo><mi>Q</mi><mo>:</mo><msup><mrow><mi>Λ</mi></mrow><mrow><mn>2</mn></mrow></msup><mo>→</mo><mi>F</mi></math></span> are two functions such that for any <span><math><mi>n</mi><mo>∈</mo><mi>N</mi></math></span> and <span><math><msub><mrow><mi>x</mi></mrow><mrow><mn>1</mn></mrow></msub><mo>,</mo><msub><mrow><mi>x</mi></mrow><mrow><mn>2</mn></mrow></msub><mo>,</mo><mo>…</mo><mo>,</mo><msub><mrow><mi>x</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>n</mi></mrow></msub><mo>∈</mo><mi>Λ</mi></math></span>, the determinants of matrices <span><math><msub><mrow><mo>(</mo><mi>K</mi><mo>(</mo><msub><mrow><mi>x</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>i</mi></mrow></msub><mo>,</mo><msub><mrow><mi>x</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>j</mi></mrow></msub><mo>)</mo><mo>)</mo></mrow><mrow><mn>1</mn><mo>≤</mo><mi>i</mi><mo>,</mo><mi>j</mi><mo>≤</mo><mi>n</mi></mrow></msub></math></span> and <span><math><msub><mrow><mo>(</mo><mi>Q</mi><mo>(</mo><msub><mrow><mi>x</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>i</mi></mrow></msub><mo>,</mo><msub><mrow><mi>x</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>j</mi></mrow></msub><mo>)</mo><mo>)</mo></mrow><mrow><mn>1</mn><mo>≤</mo><mi>i</mi><mo>,</mo><mi>j</mi><mo>≤</mo><mi>n</mi></mrow></msub></math></span> agree. What are all the possible transformations that transform <em>Q</em> into <em>K</em>? In Marco Stevens (2021) <span><span>[20]</span></span> the following two were conjectured: <span><math><mo>(</mo><mi>T</mi><mi>f</mi><mo>)</mo><mo>(</mo><mi>x</mi><mo>,</mo><mi>y</mi><mo>)</mo><mo>=</mo><mi>f</mi><mo>(</mo><mi>y</mi><mo>,</mo><mi>x</mi><mo>)</mo></math></span>; and <span><math><mo>(</mo><mi>T</mi><mi>f</mi><mo>)</mo><mo>(</mo><mi>x</mi><mo>,</mo><mi>y</mi><mo>)</mo><mo>=</mo><mi>g</mi><mo>(</mo><mi>x</mi><mo>)</mo><mi>g</mi><msup><mrow><mo>(</mo><mi>y</mi><mo>)</mo></mrow><mrow><mo>−</mo><mn>1</mn></mrow></msup><mi>f</mi><mo>(</mo><mi>x</mi><mo>,</mo><mi>y</mi><mo>)</mo></math></span> for some nowhere-zero function <em>g</em>. In the same paper, this conjectured classification is verified in the case of symmetric functions <em>K</em> and <em>Q</em>. By extending the graph-theoretic techniques of the paper, we show that under some surprisingly simple and natural conditions the conjecture remains valid even with the symmetry constraints relaxed.</div><div>By taking Λ finite, the above problem, furthermore, reduces to that between two square matrices investigated in [Raphael Loewy, Principal minors and diagonal similarity of matrices, Linear Algebra and its Applications 78 (1986), 23–64]. Hence, o
{"title":"Determinantally equivalent nonzero functions","authors":"Harry Sapranidis Mantelos","doi":"10.1016/j.disc.2026.115021","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.disc.2026.115021","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>We study the problem raised in Marco Stevens (2021) <span><span>[20]</span></span> concerning the extension of its main result to the more general (potentially non-symmetric) setting. We construct a counterexample disproving the conjecture proposed in the paper, and subsequently solve it under some additional minor assumptions that preclude such counterexamples.</div><div>The problem is plainly stated as follows: Let Λ be a set and <span><math><mi>F</mi></math></span> a field, and suppose that <span><math><mi>K</mi><mo>,</mo><mi>Q</mi><mo>:</mo><msup><mrow><mi>Λ</mi></mrow><mrow><mn>2</mn></mrow></msup><mo>→</mo><mi>F</mi></math></span> are two functions such that for any <span><math><mi>n</mi><mo>∈</mo><mi>N</mi></math></span> and <span><math><msub><mrow><mi>x</mi></mrow><mrow><mn>1</mn></mrow></msub><mo>,</mo><msub><mrow><mi>x</mi></mrow><mrow><mn>2</mn></mrow></msub><mo>,</mo><mo>…</mo><mo>,</mo><msub><mrow><mi>x</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>n</mi></mrow></msub><mo>∈</mo><mi>Λ</mi></math></span>, the determinants of matrices <span><math><msub><mrow><mo>(</mo><mi>K</mi><mo>(</mo><msub><mrow><mi>x</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>i</mi></mrow></msub><mo>,</mo><msub><mrow><mi>x</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>j</mi></mrow></msub><mo>)</mo><mo>)</mo></mrow><mrow><mn>1</mn><mo>≤</mo><mi>i</mi><mo>,</mo><mi>j</mi><mo>≤</mo><mi>n</mi></mrow></msub></math></span> and <span><math><msub><mrow><mo>(</mo><mi>Q</mi><mo>(</mo><msub><mrow><mi>x</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>i</mi></mrow></msub><mo>,</mo><msub><mrow><mi>x</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>j</mi></mrow></msub><mo>)</mo><mo>)</mo></mrow><mrow><mn>1</mn><mo>≤</mo><mi>i</mi><mo>,</mo><mi>j</mi><mo>≤</mo><mi>n</mi></mrow></msub></math></span> agree. What are all the possible transformations that transform <em>Q</em> into <em>K</em>? In Marco Stevens (2021) <span><span>[20]</span></span> the following two were conjectured: <span><math><mo>(</mo><mi>T</mi><mi>f</mi><mo>)</mo><mo>(</mo><mi>x</mi><mo>,</mo><mi>y</mi><mo>)</mo><mo>=</mo><mi>f</mi><mo>(</mo><mi>y</mi><mo>,</mo><mi>x</mi><mo>)</mo></math></span>; and <span><math><mo>(</mo><mi>T</mi><mi>f</mi><mo>)</mo><mo>(</mo><mi>x</mi><mo>,</mo><mi>y</mi><mo>)</mo><mo>=</mo><mi>g</mi><mo>(</mo><mi>x</mi><mo>)</mo><mi>g</mi><msup><mrow><mo>(</mo><mi>y</mi><mo>)</mo></mrow><mrow><mo>−</mo><mn>1</mn></mrow></msup><mi>f</mi><mo>(</mo><mi>x</mi><mo>,</mo><mi>y</mi><mo>)</mo></math></span> for some nowhere-zero function <em>g</em>. In the same paper, this conjectured classification is verified in the case of symmetric functions <em>K</em> and <em>Q</em>. By extending the graph-theoretic techniques of the paper, we show that under some surprisingly simple and natural conditions the conjecture remains valid even with the symmetry constraints relaxed.</div><div>By taking Λ finite, the above problem, furthermore, reduces to that between two square matrices investigated in [Raphael Loewy, Principal minors and diagonal similarity of matrices, Linear Algebra and its Applications 78 (1986), 23–64]. Hence, o","PeriodicalId":50572,"journal":{"name":"Discrete Mathematics","volume":"349 6","pages":"Article 115021"},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146078349","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"数学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-06-01Epub Date: 2026-01-20DOI: 10.1016/j.disc.2026.115010
Danila Cherkashin , Pavel Prozorov
Counting the number of spanning trees in specific classes of graphs has attracted growing attention in recent years. In this note, we present unified proofs and generalizations of several results obtained during the 2020s. Our main approach is to study the behavior of the vertex (degree) enumerator polynomial of a distance-hereditary graph under certain graph-theoretical operations. The first result provides a factorization formula applicable to graphs admitting a cut whose edges form a complete bipartite subgraph.
One of the central open problems in this area is Ehrenborg's conjecture, which asserts that a Ferrers–Young graph maximizes the number of spanning trees among all bipartite graphs with the same degree sequence. The second main result of this paper shows the equivalence between Ehrenborg's conjecture and its polynomial version.
{"title":"Around the number of trees in distance-hereditary graphs","authors":"Danila Cherkashin , Pavel Prozorov","doi":"10.1016/j.disc.2026.115010","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.disc.2026.115010","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Counting the number of spanning trees in specific classes of graphs has attracted growing attention in recent years. In this note, we present unified proofs and generalizations of several results obtained during the 2020s. Our main approach is to study the behavior of the vertex (degree) enumerator polynomial of a distance-hereditary graph under certain graph-theoretical operations. The first result provides a factorization formula applicable to graphs admitting a cut whose edges form a complete bipartite subgraph.</div><div>One of the central open problems in this area is Ehrenborg's conjecture, which asserts that a Ferrers–Young graph maximizes the number of spanning trees among all bipartite graphs with the same degree sequence. The second main result of this paper shows the equivalence between Ehrenborg's conjecture and its polynomial version.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50572,"journal":{"name":"Discrete Mathematics","volume":"349 6","pages":"Article 115010"},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146038448","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"数学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}