A linear algorithm for the grundy number of a tree

A coloring of a graph G = (V,E) is a partition {V1, V2, . . ., Vk} of V into independent sets or color classes. A vertex v Vi is a Grundy vertex if it is adjacent to at least one vertex in each color class Vj . A coloring is a Grundy coloring if every color class contains at least one Grundy vertex, and the Grundy number of a graph is the maximum number of colors in a Grundy coloring. We derive a natural upper bound on this parameter and show that graphs with sufficiently large girth achieve equality in the bound. In particular, this gives a linear time algorithm to determine the Grundy number of a tree

Grundy Coloring & Friends, Half-Graphs, Bicliques

The first-fit coloring is a heuristic that assigns to each vertex, arriving in a specified order ?, the smallest available color. The problem Grundy Coloring asks how many colors are needed for the most adversarial vertex ordering ?, i.e., the maximum number of colors that the first-fit coloring requires over all possible vertex orderings. Since its inception by Grundy in 1939, Grundy Coloring has been examined for its structural and algorithmic aspects. A brute-force f(k)n^{2^{k-1}}-time algorithm for Grundy Coloring on general graphs is not difficult to obtain, where k is the number of colors required by the most adversarial vertex ordering. It was asked several times whether the dependency on k in the exponent of n can be avoided or reduced, and its answer seemed elusive until now. We prove that Grundy Coloring is W[1]-hard and the brute-force algorithm is essentially optimal under the Exponential Time Hypothesis, thus settling this question by the negative. The key ingredient in our W[1]-hardness proof is to use so-called half-graphs as a building block to transmit a color from one vertex to another. Leveraging the half-graphs, we also prove that b-Chromatic Core is W[1]-hard, whose parameterized complexity was posed as an open question by Panolan et al. [JCSS \u2717]. A natural follow-up question is, how the parameterized complexity changes in the absence of (large) half-graphs. We establish fixed-parameter tractability on K_{t,t}-free graphs for b-Chromatic Core and Partial Grundy Coloring, making a step toward answering this question. The key combinatorial lemma underlying the tractability result might be of independent interest

Complexity of Grundy coloring and its variants

The Grundy number of a graph is the maximum number of colors used by the greedy coloring algorithm over all vertex orderings. In this paper, we study the computational complexity of GRUNDY COLORING, the problem of determining whether a given graph has Grundy number at least $k$. We also study the variants WEAK GRUNDY COLORING (where the coloring is not necessarily proper) and CONNECTED GRUNDY COLORING (where at each step of the greedy coloring algorithm, the subgraph induced by the colored vertices must be connected). We show that GRUNDY COLORING can be solved in time $O^*(2.443^n)$ and WEAK GRUNDY COLORING in time $O^*(2.716^n)$ on graphs of order $n$. While GRUNDY COLORING and WEAK GRUNDY COLORING are known to be solvable in time $O^*(2^{O(wk)})$ for graphs of treewidth $w$ (where $k$ is the number of colors), we prove that under the Exponential Time Hypothesis (ETH), they cannot be solved in time $O^*(2^{o(w\log w)})$. We also describe an $O^*(2^{2^{O(k)}})$ algorithm for WEAK GRUNDY COLORING, which is therefore \fpt for the parameter $k$. Moreover, under the ETH, we prove that such a running time is essentially optimal (this lower bound also holds for GRUNDY COLORING). Although we do not know whether GRUNDY COLORING is in \fpt, we show that this is the case for graphs belonging to a number of standard graph classes including chordal graphs, claw-free graphs, and graphs excluding a fixed minor. We also describe a quasi-polynomial time algorithm for GRUNDY COLORING and WEAK GRUNDY COLORING on apex-minor graphs. In stark contrast with the two other problems, we show that CONNECTED GRUNDY COLORING is \np-complete already for $k=7$ colors.Comment: 24 pages, 7 figures. This version contains some new results and improvements. A short paper based on version v2 appeared in COCOON'1

A Study Of The Upper Domatic Number Of A Graph

Given a graph G we can partition the vertices of G in to k disjoint sets. We say a set A of vertices dominates another set of vertices, B, if for every vertex in B there is some adjacent vertex in A. The upper domatic number of a graph G is written as D(G) and defined as the maximum integer k such that G can be partitioned into k sets where for every pair of sets A and B either A dominates B or B dominates A or both. In this thesis we introduce the upper domatic number of a graph and provide various results on the properties of the upper domatic number, notably that D(G) is less than or equal to the maximum degree of G, as well as relating it to other well-studied graph properties such as the achromatic, pseudoachromatic, and transitive numbers

Entropy and Graphs

The entropy of a graph is a functional depending both on the graph itself and on a probability distribution on its vertex set. This graph functional originated from the problem of source coding in information theory and was introduced by J. K\"{o}rner in 1973. Although the notion of graph entropy has its roots in information theory, it was proved to be closely related to some classical and frequently studied graph theoretic concepts. For example, it provides an equivalent definition for a graph to be perfect and it can also be applied to obtain lower bounds in graph covering problems. In this thesis, we review and investigate three equivalent definitions of graph entropy and its basic properties. Minimum entropy colouring of a graph was proposed by N. Alon in 1996. We study minimum entropy colouring and its relation to graph entropy. We also discuss the relationship between the entropy and the fractional chromatic number of a graph which was already established in the literature. A graph $G$ is called \emph{symmetric with respect to a functional $F_G(P)$} defined on the set of all the probability distributions on its vertex set if the distribution $P^*$ maximizing $F_G(P)$ is uniform on $V(G)$. Using the combinatorial definition of the entropy of a graph in terms of its vertex packing polytope and the relationship between the graph entropy and fractional chromatic number, we prove that vertex transitive graphs are symmetric with respect to graph entropy. Furthermore, we show that a bipartite graph is symmetric with respect to graph entropy if and only if it has a perfect matching. As a generalization of this result, we characterize some classes of symmetric perfect graphs with respect to graph entropy. Finally, we prove that the line graph of every bridgeless cubic graph is symmetric with respect to graph entropy.Comment: 89 pages, 4 figures, MMath Thesi

A Unified Framework for Integer Programming Formulation of Graph Matching Problems

Graph theory has been a powerful tool in solving difficult and complex problems arising in all disciplines. In particular, graph matching is a classical problem in pattern analysis with enormous applications. Many graph problems have been formulated as a mathematical program then solved using exact, heuristic and/or approximated-guaranteed procedures. On the other hand, graph theory has been a powerful tool in visualizing and understanding of complex mathematical programming problems, especially integer programs. Formulating a graph problem as a natural integer program (IP) is often a challenging task. However, an IP formulation of the problem has many advantages. Several researchers have noted the need for natural IP formulation of graph theoretic problems. The aim of the present study is to provide a unified framework for IP formulation of graph matching problems. Although there are many surveys on graph matching problems, however, none is concerned with IP formulation. This paper is the first to provide a comprehensive IP formulation for such problems. The framework includes variety of graph optimization problems in the literature. While these problems have been studied by different research communities, however, the framework presented here helps to bring efforts from different disciplines to tackle such diverse and complex problems. We hope the present study can significantly help to simplify some of difficult problems arising in practice, especially in pattern analysis

Jogos combinatórios em grafos: jogo Timber e jogo de Coloração

Studies three competitive combinatorial games. The timber game is played in digraphs, with each arc representing a domino, and the arc direction indicates the direction in which it can be toppled, causing a chain reaction. The player who topples the last domino is the winner. A P-position is an orientation of the edges of a graph in which the second player wins. If the graph has cycles, then the graph has no P-positions and, for this reason, timber game is only interesting when played in trees. We determine the number of P-positions in three caterpillar families and a lower bound for the number of P-positions in any caterpillar. Moreover, we prove that a tree has P-positions if, and only if, it has an even number of edges. In the coloring game, Alice and Bob take turns properly coloring the vertices of a graph, Alice trying to minimize the number of colors used, while Bob tries to maximize them. The game chromatic number is the smallest number of colors that ensures that the graph can be properly colored despite of Bob's intention. We determine the game chromatic number for three forest subclasses (composed by caterpillars), we present two su cient conditions and two necessary conditions for any caterpillar to have game chromatic number equal to 4. In the marking game, Alice and Bob take turns selecting the unselected vertices of a graph, and Alice tries to ensure that for some integer k, every unselected vertex has at most k − 1 neighbors selected. The game coloring number is the smallest k possible. We established lower and upper bounds for the Nordhaus-Gaddum type inequality for the number of P-positions of a caterpillar, the game chromatic and coloring numbers in any graph.Estudo de três jogos combinatórios competitivos. O jogo timber é jogado em digrafos, sendo que cada arco representa um dominó, e o sentido do arco indica o sentido em que o mesmo pode ser derrubado, causando um efeito em cadeia. O jogador que derrubar o último dominó é o vencedor. Uma P-position é uma orientação das arestas de um grafo na qual o segundo jogador ganha. Se o grafo possui ciclos, então não há P-positions e, por este motivo, o jogo timber só é interessante quando jogado em árvores. Determinamos o número de P-positions em três famílias de caterpillars e um limite inferior para o número de P-positions em uma caterpillar qualquer. Além disto, provamos que uma árvore qualquer possui P-positions se, e somente se, possui quantidade par de arestas. No jogo de coloração, Alice e Bob se revezam colorindo propriamente os vértices de um grafo, sendo que Alice tenta minimizar o número de cores, enquanto Bob tenta maximizá-lo. O número cromático do jogo é o menor número de cores que garante que o grafo pode ser propriamente colorido apesar da intenção de Bob. Determinamos o número cromático do jogo para três subclasses de orestas (compostas por caterpillars), apresentamos duas condições su cientes e duas condições necessárias para qualquer caterpillar ter número cromático do jogo igual a 4. No jogo de marcação, Alice e Bob selecionam alternadamente os vértices não selecionados de um grafo, e Alice tenta garantir que para algum inteiro k, todo vértice não selecionado tem no máximo k − 1 vizinhos selecionados. O número de coloração do jogo é o menor k possível. Estabelecemos limites inferiores e superiores para a relação do tipo Nordhaus-Gaddum referente ao número de P-positions de uma caterpillar, aos números cromático e de coloração do jogo em um grafo qualquer