Obstructions to within a few vertices or edges of acyclic

Finite obstruction sets for lower ideals in the minor order are guaranteed to exist by the Graph Minor Theorem. It has been known for several years that, in principle, obstruction sets can be mechanically computed for most natural lower ideals. In this paper, we describe a general-purpose method for finding obstructions by using a bounded treewidth (or pathwidth) search. We illustrate this approach by characterizing certain families of cycle-cover graphs based on the two well-known problems: $k$-{\sc Feedback Vertex Set} and $k$-{\sc Feedback Edge Set}. Our search is based on a number of algorithmic strategies by which large constants can be mitigated, including a randomized strategy for obtaining proofs of minimality.Comment: 16 page

An Introduction to Combinatorics via Cayley\u27s Theorem

In this paper, we explore some of the methods that are often used to solve combinatorial problems by proving Cayley’s theorem on trees in multiple ways. The intended audience of this paper is undergraduate and graduate mathematics students with little to no experience in combinatorics. This paper could also be used as a supplementary text for an undergraduate combinatorics course

Enumerating spanning trees

In 1889 Arthur Cayley stated his well-known and widely used theorem that there are n° - 2 trees on n labeled vertices [6, p. 70]. Since he originally stated it, the theorem has received much attention: people have proved it in many different ways. In this paper we consider three of these proofs. The first is an algebraic . result using Kirchhoff s Matrix Tree theorem. The second proof shows a one-to-one correspondence between trees on labeled vertices and sequences known as Prufer codes. The final proof involves degree sequences and multinomial coefficients. In addition, we extend each of these three proofs to find a result for the number·of spanning trees on the complete bipartite graph, and extend the first two results to count the number of spanning trees on the complete tripartite graph. We conclude with a brief generalization to the number of spanning trees on the complete k-partite graph

Planar graphs : a historical perspective.

The field of graph theory has been indubitably influenced by the study of planar graphs. This thesis, consisting of five chapters, is a historical account of the origins and development of concepts pertaining to planar graphs and their applications. The first chapter serves as an introduction to the history of graph theory, including early studies of graph theory tools such as paths, circuits, and trees. The second chapter pertains to the relationship between polyhedra and planar graphs, specifically the result of Euler concerning the number of vertices, edges, and faces of a polyhedron. Counterexamples and generalizations of Euler\u27s formula are also discussed. Chapter III describes the background in recreational mathematics of the graphs of K5 and K3,3 and their importance to the first characterization of planar graphs by Kuratowski. Further characterizations of planar graphs by Whitney, Wagner, and MacLane are also addressed. The focus of Chapter IV is the history and eventual proof of the four-color theorem, although it also includes a discussion of generalizations involving coloring maps on surfaces of higher genus. The final chapter gives a number of measurements of a graph\u27s closeness to planarity, including the concepts of crossing number, thickness, splitting number, and coarseness. The chapter conclused with a discussion of two other coloring problems - Heawood\u27s empire problem and Ringel\u27s earth-moon problem

Applications of Rapidly Mixing Markov Chains to Problems in Graph Theory

In this dissertation the results of Jerrum and Sinclair on the conductance of Markov chains are used to prove that almost all generalized Steinhaus graphs are rapidly mixing and an algorithm for the uniform generation of 2 - (4k + 1,4,1) cyclic Mendelsohn designs is developed

The number of connected sparsely edged uniform hypergraphs

AbstractCertain families of d-uniform hypergraphs are counted. In particular, the number of connected d-uniform hypergraphs with r vertices and r + k hyperedges, where k = o(log r/ log log r), is found

Constructive analysis of two dimensional Fermi systems at finite temperature

We consider a dilute Fermion system in continuum two spatial dimensions with short-range interaction. We prove nonperturbatively that at low temperature the renormalized perturbation expansion has non-zero radius of convergence. The convergence radius shrinks when the energy scale goes to the infrared cutoff. The shrinking rate of the convergence radius is established to be dependent of the sign of the coupling constant by a detailed analysis of the so-called ladder contributions. We prove further that the self-energy of the model is uniformly of C1, in the analytic domain of the theory. The proofs are based on renormalization of the Fermi surface and multiscale analysis employing mathematical renormalization group technique. Tree expansion is introduced to reorganize perturbation expansion nicely. Finally we apply these techniques to construct a half-filled Hubbard model on honeycomb bilayer lattice with local interaction