Equitable partition of graphs into induced forests

An equitable partition of a graph $G$ is a partition of the vertex-set of $G$ such that the sizes of any two parts differ by at most one. We show that every graph with an acyclic coloring with at most $k$ colors can be equitably partitioned into $k-1$ induced forests. We also prove that for any integers $d\ge 1$ and $k\ge 3^{d-1}$, any $d$-degenerate graph can be equitably partitioned into $k$ induced forests. Each of these results implies the existence of a constant $c$ such that for any $k \ge c$, any planar graph has an equitable partition into $k$ induced forests. This was conjectured by Wu, Zhang, and Li in 2013.Comment: 4 pages, final versio

Planar Graph Coloring with Forbidden Subgraphs: Why Trees and Paths Are Dangerous

We consider the problem of coloring a planar graph with the minimum number of colors such that each color class avoids one or more forbidden graphs as subgraphs. We perform a detailed study of the computational complexity of this problem. We present a complete picture for the case with a single forbidden connected (induced or non-induced) subgraph. The 2-coloring problem is NP-hard if the forbidden subgraph is a tree with at least two edges, and it is polynomially solvable in all other cases. The 3-coloring problem is NP-hard if the forbidden subgraph is a path, and it is polynomially solvable in all other cases. We also derive results for several forbidden sets of cycles

Planar Ramsey graphs

We say that a graph $H$ is planar unavoidable if there is a planar graph $G$ such that any red/blue coloring of the edges of $G$ contains a monochromatic copy of $H$, otherwise we say that $H$ is planar avoidable. I.e., $H$ is planar unavoidable if there is a Ramsey graph for $H$ that is planar. It follows from the Four-Color Theorem and a result of Gon\c{c}alves that if a graph is planar unavoidable then it is bipartite and outerplanar. We prove that the cycle on $4$ vertices and any path are planar unavoidable. In addition, we prove that all trees of radius at most $2$ are planar unavoidable and there are trees of radius $3$ that are planar avoidable. We also address the planar unavoidable notion in more than two colors

Planar graph coloring avoiding monochromatic subgraphs: trees and paths make things difficult

We consider the problem of coloring a planar graph with the minimum number of colors such that each color class avoids one or more forbidden graphs as subgraphs. We perform a detailed study of the computational complexity of this problem

Proper Coloring of Geometric Hypergraphs

We study whether for a given planar family F there is an m such that any finite set of points can be 3-colored such that any member of F that contains at least m points contains two points with different colors. We conjecture that if F is a family of pseudo-disks, then m=3 is sufficient. We prove that when F is the family of all homothetic copies of a given convex polygon, then such an m exists. We also study the problem in higher dimensions

Proper coloring of geometric hypergraphs

We study whether for a given planar family F there is an m such that any finite set of points can be 3-colored such that any member of F that contains at least m points contains two points with different colors. We conjecture that if F is a family of pseudo-disks, then m = 3 is sufficient. We prove that when F is the family of all homothetic copies of a given convex polygon, then such an m exists. We also study the problem in higher dimensions. © Balázs Keszegh and Dömötör Pálvölgyi

Proper Coloring of Geometric Hypergraphs

We study whether for a given planar family F there is an m such that any finite set of points can be 3-colored so that anymember ofF that contains at leastm points contains two points with different colors. We conjecture that if F is a family of pseudo-disks, then such an m exists. We prove this in the special case when F is the family of all homothetic copies of a given convex polygon. We also study the problem in higher dimensions

Colorings of oriented planar graphs avoiding a monochromatic subgraph

For a fixed simple digraph $F$ and a given simple digraph $D$, an $F$-free $k$-coloring of $D$ is a vertex-coloring in which no induced copy of $F$ in $D$ is monochromatic. We study the complexity of deciding for fixed $F$ and $k$ whether a given simple digraph admits an $F$-free $k$-coloring. Our main focus is on the restriction of the problem to planar input digraphs, where it is only interesting to study the cases $k \in \{2,3\}$. From known results it follows that for every fixed digraph $F$ whose underlying graph is not a forest, every planar digraph $D$ admits an $F$-free $2$-coloring, and that for every fixed digraph $F$ with $\Delta(F) \ge 3$, every oriented planar graph $D$ admits an $F$-free $3$-coloring. We show in contrast, that - if $F$ is an orientation of a path of length at least $2$, then it is NP-hard to decide whether an acyclic and planar input digraph $D$ admits an $F$-free $2$-coloring. - if $F$ is an orientation of a path of length at least $1$, then it is NP-hard to decide whether an acyclic and planar input digraph $D$ admits an $F$-free $3$-coloring