Let $X$ be $k$-regular graph on $v$ vertices and let $τ$ denote the least eigenvalue of its adjacency matrix $A(X)$. If $α(X)$ denotes the maximum size of an independent set in $X$, we have the following well known bound: \[ α(X) \le\frac{v}{1-\frac{k}τ}. \] It is less well known that if equality holds here and $S$ is a maximum independent set in $X$ with characteristic vector $x$, then the vector \[ x-\frac{|S|}{v}\one \] is an eigenvector for $A(X)$ with eigenvalue $τ$. In this paper we show how this can be used to characterise the maximal independent sets in certain classes of graphs. As a corollary we show that a graph defined on the partitions of $\{1,...,9\}$ with three cells of size three is a core.
We investigate intriguing sets of an association scheme introduced by Penttila and Williford (2011) that was the basis for their construction of primitive cometric association schemes that are not $P$-polynomial nor the dual of a $P$-polynomial scheme. In particular, we give examples and characterisation results for the four types of intriguing sets that arise in this scheme.
We show that taking the set of primitive idempotents of commutative association schemes is a functor from the category of commutative association schemes with surjective morphisms to the category of finite sets with surjective partial functions. We then consider projective systems of commutative association schemes consisting of surjections (which we call profinite association schemes), for which Bose-Mesner algebra is defined, and describe a Delsarte theory on such schemes. This is another method for generalizing association schemes to those on infinite sets, related with the approach by Barg…
One may think of a $d$-class association scheme as a $(d+1)$-dimensional matrix algebra over $\mathbb{R}$ closed under Schur products. In this context, an imprimitive scheme is one which admits a subalgebra of block matrices, also closed under the Schur product. Such systems of imprimitivity provide us with quotient schemes, smaller association schemes which are often easier to understand, providing useful information about the structure of the larger scheme. For any association scheme we find a basis of $d+1$ idempotent matrices for the algebra. A cometric scheme is one whose idempotent basis…
Let $G$ be a finite group and $f:G \to {\mathbb C}$ be a function. For a non-empty finite subset $Y\subset G$, let $I_Y(f)$ denote the average of $f$ over $Y$. Then, $I_G(f)$ is the average of $f$ over $G$. Using the decomposition of $f$ into irreducible components of ${\mathbb C}^G$ as a representation of $G\times G$, we define non-negative real numbers $V(f)$ and $D(Y)$, each depending only on $f$, $Y$, respectively, such that an inequality of the form $|I_G(f)-I_Y(f)|\leq V(f)\cdot D(Y)$ holds. We give a lower bound of $D(Y)$ depending only on $\#Y$ and $\#G$. We show that the lower bound i…
Applying results from partial difference sets, quadratic forms, and recent results of Brouwer and Van Dam, we construct the first known amorphic association scheme with negative Latin square type graphs and whose underlying set is a non-elementary abelian 2-group. We give a simple proof of a result of Hamilton that generalizes Brouwer's result. We use multiple distinct quadratic forms to construct amorphic association schemes with a large number of classes.
In this article we determine feasible parameter sets for (what could potentially be) commutative association schemes with noncyclotomic eigenvalues that are of smallest possible rank and order. A feasible parameter set for a commutative association scheme corresponds to a standard integral table algebra with integral multiplicities that satisfies all of the parameter restrictions known to hold for association schemes. For each rank and involution type, we generate an algebraic variety for which any suitable integral solution corresponds to a standard integral table algebra with integral multip…
We generalize the construction of affine polar graphs in two different ways to obtain new partial difference sets and amorphic association schemes. The first generalization uses a combination of quadratic forms and uniform cyclotomy. In the second generalization we replace the quadratic form in the affine polar graph construction by higher degree homogeneous functions that are $p$-ary weakly regular bent. The negative Latin square type partial difference sets arising from the first generalization are new.
We consider numbers and sizes of independent sets in graphs with minimum degree at least $d$, when the number $n$ of vertices is large. In particular we investigate which of these graphs yield the maximum numbers of independent sets of different sizes, and which yield the largest random independent sets. We establish a strengthened form of a conjecture of Galvin concerning the first of these topics.
We introduce the concept of the primitivity of independent set in vertex-transitive graphs, and investigate the relationship between the primitivity and the structure of maximum independent sets in direct products of vertex-transitive graphs. As a consequence of our main results, we positively solve an open problem related to the structure of independent sets in powers of vertex-transitive graphs.
We study properties of 3-restricted min-wise independent sets of permutations and prove that the class of these sets is isomorphic to the class of subsets of vertices of multi-dimentional hypercube of certain size with certain pair-wise distances fixed.
We connect two classical results in extremal graph theory concerning the number of maximal independent sets. The maximum number mis$(n)$ of maximal independent sets in an $n$-vertex graph was determined by Moon and Moser. The maximum number mis$_\bigtriangleup(n)$ of maximal independent sets in an $n$-vertex triangle-free graph was determined by Hujter and Tuza. We determine the maximum number mis$_t(n)$ of maximal independent sets in an $n$-vertex graph containing no induced triangle matching of size $t+1$. We also reprove a stability result of Kahn and Park on the maximum number mis$_{\bigtr…
We obtain sharp lower and upper bounds for the number of maximal (under inclusion) independent sets in trees with fixed number of vertices and diameter. All extremal trees are described up to isomorphism.
For a fixed graph G, a maximal independent set is an independent set that is not a proper subset of any other independent set. P. Erdös, and independently, J. W. Moon and L. Moser, and R. E. Miller and D. E. Muller, determined the maximum number of maximal independent sets in a graph on n vertices, as well as the extremal graphs. In this paper we maximize the number of maximal independent sets of a fixed size for all graphs of order n and determine the extremal graphs. Our result generalizes the classical result.
We enumerate the independent sets of several classes of regular and almost regular graphs and compute the corresponding generating functions. We also note the relations between these graphs and other combinatorial objects and, in some cases, construct the corresponding bijections.
In this expository note we describe a proof due to A. Sapozhenko that the number of independent sets in the discrete $d$-dimensional hypercube $Q_d$ is asymptotically $2 \sqrt{e} 2^{2^{d-1}}$ as $d$ tends to infinity.
We study the existence and the number of $k$-dominating independent sets in certain graph families. While the case $k=1$ namely the case of maximal independent sets - which is originated from Erdős and Moser - is widely investigated, much less is known in general. In this paper we settle the question for trees and prove that the maximum number of $k$-dominating independent sets in $n$-vertex graphs is between $c_k\cdot\sqrt[2k]{2}^n$ and $c_k'\cdot\sqrt[k+1]{2}^n$ if $k\geq 2$, moreover the maximum number of $2$-dominating independent sets in $n$-vertex graphs is between $c\cdot 1.22^n$ and $c…
We investigate Boolean degree 1 functions for several classical association schemes, including Johnson graphs, Grassmann graphs, graphs from polar spaces, and bilinear forms graphs, as well as some other domains such as multislices (Young subgroups of the symmetric group). In some settings, Boolean degree 1 functions are also known as \textit{completely regular strength 0 codes of covering radius 1}, \textit{Cameron--Liebler line classes}, and \textit{tight sets}. We classify all Boolean degree $1$ functions on the multislice. On the Grassmann scheme $J_q(n, k)$ we show that all Boolean degree…
In this paper chain cacti are considered. First, for two specific classes of chain cacti (orto-chains and meta-chains of cycles with h vertices) the recurrence relation for independence polynomial is derived. That recurrence relation is then used in deriving explicit expressions for independence number and number of maximum independent sets for such chains. Also, the recurrence relation for total number of independent sets for such graphs is derived. Finaly, the proof is provided that orto-chains and meta-chains are the only extremal chain cacti with respect to total number of independent sets…
A set of vertices in a graph is called independent if no two vertices of the set are connected by an edge. In this paper we use the state matrix recursion algorithm, developed by Oh, to enumerate independent vertex sets in a grid graph and even further to provide the generating function with respect to the number of vertices. We also enumerate bipartite independent vertex sets in a grid graph. The asymptotic behavior of their growth rates is presented.
We study the problem of maximizing the number of independent sets in $n$-vertex $k$-chromatic $\ell$-connected graphs. First we consider maximizing the total number of independent sets in such graphs with $n$ sufficiently large, and for this problem we use a stability argument to find the unique extremal graph. We show that our result holds within the larger family of $n$-vertex $k$-chromatic graphs with minimum degree at least $\ell$, again for $n$ sufficiently large. We also maximize the number of independent sets of each fixed size in $n$-vertex 3-chromatic 2-connected graphs. We finally ad…
In [3], Hanaki defined the Terwilliger algebras of association schemes over a commutative unital ring. In this paper, we call the Terwilliger algebras of association schemes over a field $\mathbb{F}$ the Terwilliger $\mathbb{F}$-algebras of association schemes and study the Terwilliger $\mathbb{F}$-algebras of quasi-thin association schemes. As main results, we determine the $\mathbb{F}$-dimensions, the semisimplicity, the Jacobson radicals, and the algebraic structures of the Terwilliger $\mathbb{F}$-algebras of quasi-thin association schemes. We also get some results with independent interes…
We determine the maximum number of maximal independent sets of arbitrary graphs in terms of their covering numbers and we completely characterize the extremal graphs. As an application, we give a similar result for König-Egerváry graphs in terms of their matching numbers.
There has been interest recently in maximizing the number of independent sets in graphs. For example, the Kahn-Zhao theorem gives an upper bound on the number of independent sets in a $d$-regular graph. Similarly, it is a corollary of the Kruskal-Katona theorem that the lex graph has the maximum number of independent sets in a graph of fixed size and order. In this paper we solve two equivalent problems. The first is: what $3$-uniform hypergraph on a ground set of size $n$, having at least $t$ edges, has the most $2$-independent sets? Here a $2$--independent set is a subset of vertices contain…
In this paper, we study the average size of independent (vertex) sets of a graph. This invariant can be regarded as the logarithmic derivative of the independence polynomial evaluated at $1$. We are specifically concerned with extremal questions. The maximum and minimum for general graphs are attained by the empty and complete graph respectively, while for trees we prove that the path minimises the average size of independent sets and the star maximises it. While removing a vertex does not always decrease the average size of independent sets, we prove that there always exists a vertex for whic…
We introduce a new method for encoding permutations as weighted independent sets in a family of graphs we call cores. The encoding allows us to enumerate (1324, 2143)-, (1234, 1324, 2143)-, (1234, 1324, 1432, 3214)-avoiding permutations with respect to their number of "boundary points" and the size of the independent set in the graph they correspond to.
In this paper independent sets of closure operations are introduced. We characterize minimal keys and antikeys of closure operations in terms of independent sets. We establish an expression on the connection between minimal keys and antikeys of closure operations based on independent sets. We construct two combinatorial algorithms for finding all minimal keys and all antikeys of a given closure operation based on independent sets. We estimate the time complexity of these algorithms. Finally, we give an NP-complete problem concerning nonkeys of closure operations.
An independent set A is maximal if it is not a proper subset of an independent set, while A is maximum if it has a maximum size. The problem of whether a graph has a pair of disjoint maximal independent sets was introduced by C. Berge in early 70's. The class of graphs for which every induced subgraph admits two disjoint maximal independent sets was characterized in (Shaudt, 2015). It is known that deciding whether a graph has two disjoint maximal independent sets is a NP-complete problem (Henning et al., 2009). In this paper, we are focused on finding conditions ensuring the existence of two …
Miller and Muller (1960) and independently Moon and Moser (1965) determined the maximum number of maximal independent sets in an $n$-vertex graph. We give a new and simple proof of this result.
Association Schemes and coherent configurations (and the related Bose-Mesner algebra and coherent algebras) are well known in combinatorics with many applications. In the 1990s, Mesner and Bhattacharya introduced a three-dimensional generalisation of association schemes which they called an association scheme on triples (AST) and constructed examples of several families of ASTs. Many of their examples used 2-transitive permutation groups: the non-trivial ternary relations of the ASTs were sets of ordered triples of pairwise distinct points of the underlying set left invariant by the group; and…
Association schemes form one of the main objects of algebraic combinatorics, classically defined on finite sets. In this paper we define association schemes on arbitrary, possibly uncountable sets with a measure. We study operator realizations of the adjacency algebras of schemes and derive simple properties of these algebras. To develop a theory of general association schemes, we focus on schemes on topological Abelian groups where we can employ duality theory and the machinery of harmonic analysis. We construct translation association schemes on such groups using the language of spectrally d…
We revisit Sapozhenko's classic proof on the asymptotics of the number of independent sets in the discrete hypercube $\{0,1\}^d$ and Galvin's follow-up work on weighted independent sets. We combine Sapozhenko's graph container methods with the cluster expansion and abstract polymer models, two tools from statistical physics, to obtain considerably sharper asymptotics and detailed probabilistic information about the typical structure of (weighted) independent sets in the hypercube. These results refine those of Korshunov and Sapozhenko and Galvin, and answer several questions of Galvin.
The present note is a strengthening of a recent paper by K. Takazawa and Y. Yokoi (A generalized-polymatroid approach to disjoint common independent sets in two matroids, Discrete Mathematics (2019)). For given two matroids on $E$, under the same assumption in their paper to guarantee the existence of a partition of $E$ into $k$ common independent sets of the two matroids, we show that there exists a nearly uniform partition $\mathcal{P}$ of $E$ into $k$ common independent sets, where the difference of the cardinalities of any two sets in $\mathcal{P}$ is at most one.
The main purpose of this paper is to prove the uniqueness of a graph attaining the maximum of the number of independent sets over all $k$-regular graphs on $n$ vertices for $2k|n$.
In this article we present a class of codes with few weights arising from special type of linear sets. We explicitly show the weights of such codes, their weight enumerator and possible choices for their generator matrices. In particular, our construction yields also to linear codes with three weights and, in some cases, to almost MDS codes. The interest for these codes relies on their applications to authentication codes and secret schemes, and their connections with further objects such as association schemes and graphs.
In this article, I present a conjecture on the number of independent sets on graph covers. I also show that the conjecture implies that the partition function of a binary pairwise attractive model is greater than that of the Bethe approximation.
For constant $r$ and arbitrary $n$, it was known that in the graph $K_r^n$ any independent set of size close to the maximum is close to some independent set of maximum size. We prove that this statement holds for arbitrary $r$ and $n$.
The number of maximal independent sets of the n-cycle graph C_n is known to be the nth term of the Perrin sequence. The action of the automorphism group of C_n on the family of these maximal independent sets partitions this family into disjoint orbits, which represent the non-isomorphic (i.e., defined up to a rotation and a reflection) maximal independent sets. We provide exact formulas for the total number of orbits and the number of orbits having a given number of isomorphic representatives. We also provide exact formulas for the total number of unlabeled (i.e., defined up to a rotation) max…
