On the algorithmic complexity of twelve covering and independence parameters of graphs

The definitions of four previously studied parameters related to total coverings and total matchings of graphs can be restricted, thereby obtaining eight parameters related to covering and independence, each of which has been studied previously in some form. Here we survey briefly results concerning total coverings and total matchings of graphs, and consider the aforementioned 12 covering and independence parameters with regard to algorithmic complexity. We survey briefly known results for several graph classes, and obtain new NP-completeness results for the minimum total cover and maximum minimal total cover problems in planar graphs, the minimum maximal total matching problem in bipartite and chordal graphs, and the minimum independent dominating set problem in planar cubic graphs

Offensive alliances in cubic graphs

An offensive alliance in a graph $\Gamma=(V,E)$ is a set of vertices $S\subset V$ where for every vertex $v$ in its boundary it holds that the majority of vertices in $v$'s closed neighborhood are in $S$. In the case of strong offensive alliance, strict majority is required. An alliance $S$ is called global if it affects every vertex in $V\backslash S$, that is, $S$ is a dominating set of $\Gamma$. The global offensive alliance number $\gamma_o(\Gamma)$ (respectively, global strong offensive alliance number $\gamma_{\hat{o}}(\Gamma)$) is the minimum cardinality of a global offensive (respectively, global strong offensive) alliance in $\Gamma$. If $\Gamma$ has global independent offensive alliances, then the \emph{global independent offensive alliance number} $\gamma_i(\Gamma)$ is the minimum cardinality among all independent global offensive alliances of $\Gamma$. In this paper we study mathematical properties of the global (strong) alliance number of cubic graphs. For instance, we show that for all connected cubic graph of order $n$, $$\frac{2n}{5}\le \gamma_i(\Gamma)\le \frac{n}{2}\le \gamma_{\hat{o}}(\Gamma)\le \frac{3n}{4} \le \gamma_{\hat{o}}({\cal L}(\Gamma))=\gamma_{o}({\cal L}(\Gamma))\le n,$$ where ${\cal L}(\Gamma)$ denotes the line graph of $\Gamma$. All the above bounds are tight