A bipartite graph with non-unimodal independent set sequence

We show that the independent set sequence of a bipartite graph need not be unimodal

Two problems on independent sets in graphs

Let $i_t(G)$ denote the number of independent sets of size $t$ in a graph $G$. Levit and Mandrescu have conjectured that for all bipartite $G$ the sequence $(i_t(G))_{t \geq 0}$ (the {\em independent set sequence} of $G$) is unimodal. We provide evidence for this conjecture by showing that is true for almost all equibipartite graphs. Specifically, we consider the random equibipartite graph $G(n,n,p)$, and show that for any fixed $p\in(0,1]$ its independent set sequence is almost surely unimodal, and moreover almost surely log-concave except perhaps for a vanishingly small initial segment of the sequence. We obtain similar results for $p=\tilde{\Omega}(n^{-1/2})$. We also consider the problem of estimating $i(G)=\sum_{t \geq 0} i_t(G)$ for $G$ in various families. We give a sharp upper bound on the number of independent sets in an $n$-vertex graph with minimum degree $\delta$, for all fixed $\delta$ and sufficiently large $n$. Specifically, we show that the maximum is achieved uniquely by $K_{\delta, n-\delta}$, the complete bipartite graph with $\delta$ vertices in one partition class and $n-\delta$ in the other. We also present a weighted generalization: for all fixed $x>0$ and $\delta >0$, as long as $n=n(x,\delta)$ is large enough, if $G$ is a graph on $n$ vertices with minimum degree $\delta$ then $\sum_{t \geq 0} i_t(G)x^t \leq \sum_{t \geq 0} i_t(K_{\delta, n-\delta})x^t$ with equality if and only if $G=K_{\delta, n-\delta}$.Comment: 15 pages. Appeared in Discrete Mathematics in 201

On some varieties associated with trees

This article considers some affine algebraic varieties attached to finite trees and closely related to cluster algebras. Their definition involves a canonical coloring of vertices of trees into three colors. These varieties are proved to be smooth and to admit sometimes free actions of algebraic tori. Some results are obtained on their number of points over finite fields and on their cohomology.Comment: 37 pages, 7 figure

On the Enumeration of Certain Weighted Graphs

We enumerate weighted graphs with a certain upper bound condition. We also compute the generating function of the numbers of these graphs, and prove that it is a rational function. In particular, we show that if the given graph is a bipartite graph, then its generating function is of the form $\frac{p(x)}{(1-x)^{m+1}}$, where $m$ is the number of vertices of the graph and $p(x)$ is a polynomial of degree at most $m$.Comment: 25 page