The 4 Color Theorem (4CT) implies that every $n$-vertex planar graph has an independent set of size at least $\frac{n}4$; this is best possible, as shown by the disjoint union of many copies of $K_4$. In 1968, Erdős asked whether this bound on independence number could be proved more easily than the full 4CT. In 1976 Albertson showed (independently of the 4CT) that every $n$-vertex planar graph has an independent set of size at least $\frac{2n}9$. Until now, this remained the best bound independent of the 4CT. Our main result improves this bound to $\frac{3n}{13}$.
A polyhedral graph is a $3$-connected planar graph. We find the least possible order $p(k,a)$ of a polyhedral graph containing a $k$-independent set of size $a$ for all positive integers $k$ and $a$. In the case $k = 1$ and $a$ even, we prove that the extremal graphs are exactly the vertex-face (radial) graphs of maximal planar graphs.
For every graph $X$, we consider the class of all connected $\{K_{1,3}, X\}$-free graphs which are distinct from an odd cycle and have independence number at least $4$, and we show that all graphs in the class are perfect if and only if $X$ is an induced subgraph of some of $P_6$, $K_1 \cup P_5$, $2P_3$, $Z_2$ or $K_1 \cup Z_1$. Furthermore, for $X$ chosen as $2K_1 \cup K_3$, we list all eight imperfect graphs belonging to the class; and for every other choice of $X$, we show that there are infinitely many such graphs. In addition, for $X$ chosen as $B_{1,2}$, we describe the structure of all …
We analyze the version of the deterministic Hats game. In this paper, we present new constructors, i.e. theorems that allow built winning strategies for the sages on different graphs. Using this technique we calculate the hat guessing number ${\text{HG}}_s(G)$ for paths and "petunias", and present a planar graph $G$ for which ${\text{HG}}_1(G) \ge 22$.
In this paper we prove that Sweller has a strategy so that the Sweller-Start Competition-Independence game lasts at least $(5n+3)/13$ moves for every tree. Moreover, we show that there exist arbitrarily large trees such that the Sweller-Start Competition-Independence game lasts at most $(5n+26)/12$ moves, disproving a conjecture by Henning.
We prove that every digraph of independence number at most 2 and arc-connectivity at least 2 has an out-branching $B^+$ and an in-branching $B^-$ which are arc-disjoint (we call such branchings good pair). This is best possible in terms of the arc-connectivity as there are infinitely many strong digraphs with independence number 2 and arbitrarily high minimum in-and out-degrees that have good no pair. The result settles a conjecture by Thomassen for digraphs of independence number 2. We prove that every digraph on at most 6 vertices and arc-connectivity at least 2 has a good pair and give an e…
For a positive integer $k$, the $k$-recolouring graph of a graph $G$ has as vertex set all proper $k$-colourings of $G$ with two $k$-colourings being adjacent if they differ by the colour of exactly one vertex. A result of Dyer et al. regarding graphs of bounded degeneracy implies that the $7$-recolouring graphs of planar graphs, the $5$-recolouring graphs of triangle-free planar graphs and the $4$-recolouring graphs planar graphs of girth at least six are connected. On the other hand, there are planar graphs whose $6$-recolouring graph is disconnected, triangle-free planar graphs whose $4$-re…
A graph is $(d_1, \ldots, d_k)$-colorable if its vertex set can be partitioned into $k$ nonempty subsets so that the subgraph induced by the $i$th part has maximum degree at most $d_i$ for each $i\in\{1, \ldots, k\}$. It is known that for each pair $(d_1, d_2)$, there exists a planar graph with girth $4$ that is not $(d_1, d_2)$-colorable. This sparked the interest in finding the pairs $(d_1, d_2)$ such that planar graphs with girth at least $5$ are $(d_1, d_2)$-colorable. Given $d_1\leq d_2$, it is known that planar graphs with girth at least $5$ are $(d_1, d_2)$-colorable if either $d_1\geq …
We initiate a systematic study of the fractional vertex-arboricity of planar graphs and demonstrate connections to open problems concerning both fractional coloring and the size of the largest induced forest in planar graphs. In particular, the following three long-standing conjectures concern the size of a largest induced forest in a planar graph, and we conjecture that each of these can be generalized to the setting of fractional vertex-arboricity. In 1979, Albertson and Berman conjectured that every planar graph has an induced forest on at least half of its vertices, in 1987, Akiyama and Wa…
Results on independent sets in categorical products of graphs, the ultimate categorical independence ratio and the ultimate categorical independent domination ratio
Planar ternary graphs, flag spheres, and Delannoy polynomials
University of Kansas（堪萨斯大学）；University of Vermont（佛蒙特大学）；Max Planck Institute for Mathematics in the Sciences（马克斯·普朗克科学促进研究所数学系）；Youngstown State University（扬斯敦州立大学）；Georgia Institute of Technology（佐治亚理工学院）
Considering connected $K_{1,3}$-free graphs with independence number at least $3$, Chudnovsky and Seymour (2010) showed that every such graph, say $G$, is $2ω$-colourable where $ω$ denotes the clique number of $G$. We study $(K_{1,3}, Y)$-free graphs, and show that the following three statements are equivalent. (1) Every connected $(K_{1,3}, Y)$-free graph which is distinct from an odd cycle and which has independence number at least $3$ is perfect. (2) Every connected $(K_{1,3}, Y)$-free graph which is distinct from an odd cycle and which has independence number at least $3$ is $ω$-colourable…
Let $G$ be a $\{C_4, C_5\}$-free planar graph with a list assignment $L$. Suppose a preferred color is given for some of the vertices. We prove that if all lists have size at least four, then there exists an $L$-coloring respecting at least a constant fraction of the preferences.
In this paper, we study the flexibility of two planar graph classes $\mathcal{H}_1$, $\mathcal{H}_2$, where $\mathcal{H}_1$, $\mathcal{H}_2$ denote the set of all hopper-free planar graphs and house-free planar graphs, respectively. Let $G$ be a planar graph with a list assignment $L$. Suppose a preferred color is given for some of the vertices. We prove that if $G\in \mathcal{H}_1$ or $G\in \mathcal{H}_2$ such that all lists have size at least $5$, then there exists an $L$-coloring respecting at least a constant fraction of the preferences.
Woess \cite{Woess98} introduced a curvature notion on the set of edges of a planar graph, called $Ψ$-curvature in our paper, which is stable under the planar duality. We study geometric and combinatorial properties for the class of infinite planar graphs with non-negative $Ψ$-curvature. By using the discharging method, we prove that for such an infinite graph the number of vertices (resp. faces) of degree $k,$ except $k=3,4$ or $6,$ is finite. As a main result, we prove that for an infinite planar graph with non-negative $Ψ$-curvature the sum of the number of vertices of degree at least $8$ an…
Merker conjectured that if $k \ge 2$ is an integer and $G$ a 3-connected cubic planar graph of circumference at least $k$, then the set of cycle lengths of $G$ must contain at least one element of the interval $[k, 2k+2]$. We here prove that for every even integer $k \ge 6$ there is an infinite family of counterexamples.
We give a simple characterisation of the distribution of the independence number, and equivalently the matching number, of a random tree on $n$ labelled vertices chosen uniformly among the $n^{n-2}$ such trees: Roll an $n$-sided die repeatedly, and let $α$ be the smallest number such that after $α$ throws, at least $n-α$ distinct numbers have occurred. Then $α$ has the same distribution as the independence number, and $n-α$ has the same distribution as the matching number. We obtain a similar characterisation of the path cover number. The proofs are bijective and based on modifications of the …
Tree-independence number of $K_{1,d}$-free graph classes
Faculty of Information Studies in Novo mesto（新梅斯托信息学院）；FAMNIT, University of Primorska（滨海大学 FAMNIT）；Department of Mathematical Sciences, KAIST（韩国科学技术院数学科学系）；Discrete Mathematics Group, Institute for Basic Science, KAIST（韩国科学技术院基础科学研究院离散数学组）；Department of Combinatorics and Optimization, University of Waterloo（滑铁卢大学组合优化系）；Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, University of Ljubljana（卢布尔雅那大学数学物理学院）
A $3$-connected graph $G$ is essentially $4$-connected if, for any $3$-cut $S\subseteq V(G)$ of $G$, at most one component of $G-S$ contains at least two vertices. We prove that every essentially $4$-connected maximal planar graph $G$ on $n$ vertices contains a cycle of length at least $\frac{2}{3}(n+4)$; moreover, this bound is sharp.
Hakimi, Schmeichel, and Thomassen in 1979 conjectured that every $4$-connected planar triangulation $G$ on $n$ vertices has at least $2(n-2)(n-4)$ Hamiltonian cycles, with equality if and only if $G$ is a double wheel. In this paper, we show that every $4$-connected planar triangulation on $n$ vertices has $Ω(n^2)$ Hamiltonian cycles. Moreover, we show that if $G$ is a $4$-connected planar triangulation on $n$ vertices and the distance between any two vertices of degree $4$ in $G$ is at least $3$, then $G$ has $2^{Ω(n^{1/4})}$ Hamiltonian cycles.
Let G be a planar graph with a list assignment L. Suppose a preferred color is given for some of the vertices. We prove that if G has girth at least six and all lists have size at least three, then there exists an L-coloring respecting at least a constant fraction of the preferences.
A fullerene graph is a 3-connected cubic planar graph with pentagonal and hexagonal faces. The leapfrog transformation of a planar graph produces the trucation of the dual of the given graph. A fullerene graph is leapfrog if it can be obtained from another fullerene graph by the leapfrog transformation. We prove that leapfrog fullerene graphs on $n=12k-6$ vertices have at least $2^{k}$ Hamilton cycles.
We show that every 1-planar graph with minimum degree at least 4 has girth at most $8$, and every 1-planar graph with minimum degree at least 3 has girth at most $198$.
