Topics in Graph Theory: Extremal Intersecting Systems, Perfect Graphs, and Bireflexive Graphs

In this thesis we investigate three different aspects of graph theory. Firstly, we consider interesecting systems of independent sets in graphs, and the extension of the classical theorem of Erdos, Ko and Rado to graphs. Our main results are a proof of an Erdos-Ko-Rado type theorem for a class of trees, and a class of trees which form counterexamples to a conjecture of Hurlberg and Kamat, in such a way that extends the previous counterexamples given by Baber. Secondly, we investigate perfect graphs - specifically, edge modification aspects of perfect graphs and their subclasses. We give some alternative characterisations of perfect graphs in terms of edge modification, as well as considering the possible connection of the critically perfect graphs - previously studied by Wagler - to the Strong Perfect Graph Theorem. We prove that the situation where critically perfect graphs arise has no analogue in seven different subclasses of perfect graphs (e.g. chordal, comparability graphs), and consider the connectivity of a bipartite reconfiguration-type graph associated to each of these subclasses. Thirdly, we consider a graph theoretic structure called a bireflexive graph where every vertex is both adjacent and nonadjacent to itself, and use this to characterise modular decompositions as the surjective homomorphisms of these structures. We examine some analogues of some graph theoretic notions and define a “dual” version of the reconstruction conjecture

Intersection theorems for t-valued functions

AbstractThis paper investigates the maximum possible size of families ℱ of t-valued functions on an n-element set S = {1, 2, . . . , n}, assuming any two functions of ℱ agree in sufficiently many places. More precisely, given a family ℬ of k-element subsets of S, it is assumed for each pair h, g ∈ ℱ that there exists a B in ℬ such that h = g on B. If ℬ is ‘not too large’ it is shown that the maximal families have tn−k members

Some of my Favourite Problems in Number Theory, Combinatorics, and Geometry

To the memor!l of m!l old friend Professor George Sved.I heard of his untimel!l death while writing this paper