On multicolor Ramsey numbers of triple system paths of length 3

Let $\mathcal{H}$ be a 3-uniform hypergraph. The multicolor Ramsey number $r_k(\mathcal{H})$ is the smallest integer $n$ such that every coloring of $\binom{[n]}{3}$ with $k$ colors has a monochromatic copy of $\mathcal{H}$. Let $\mathcal{L}$ be the loose 3-uniform path with 3 edges and $\mathcal{M}$ denote the messy 3-uniform path with 3 edges; that is, let $\mathcal{L} = \{abc, cde, efg\}$ and $\mathcal{M} = \{ abc, bcd, def\}$. In this note we prove $r_k(\mathcal{L}) < 1.55k$ and $r_k(\mathcal{M}) < 1.6k$ for $k$ sufficiently large. The former result improves on the bound $r_k( \mathcal{L}) < 1.975k + 7\sqrt{k}$, which was recently established by {\L}uczak and Polcyn.Comment: 18 pages, 3 figure

Covering and tiling hypergraphs with tight cycles

Given $3 \leq k \leq s$, we say that a $k$-uniform hypergraph $C^k_s$ is a tight cycle on $s$ vertices if there is a cyclic ordering of the vertices of $C^k_s$ such that every $k$ consecutive vertices under this ordering form an edge. We prove that if $k \ge 3$ and $s \ge 2k^2$, then every $k$-uniform hypergraph on $n$ vertices with minimum codegree at least $(1/2 + o(1))n$ has the property that every vertex is covered by a copy of $C^k_s$. Our result is asymptotically best possible for infinitely many pairs of $s$ and $k$, e.g. when $s$ and $k$ are coprime. A perfect $C^k_s$-tiling is a spanning collection of vertex-disjoint copies of $C^k_s$. When $s$ is divisible by $k$, the problem of determining the minimum codegree that guarantees a perfect $C^k_s$-tiling was solved by a result of Mycroft. We prove that if $k \ge 3$ and $s \ge 5k^2$ is not divisible by $k$ and $s$ divides $n$, then every $k$-uniform hypergraph on $n$ vertices with minimum codegree at least $(1/2 + 1/(2s) + o(1))n$ has a perfect $C^k_s$-tiling. Again our result is asymptotically best possible for infinitely many pairs of $s$ and $k$, e.g. when $s$ and $k$ are coprime with $k$ even.Comment: Revised version, accepted for publication in Combin. Probab. Compu

A hierarchy of maximal intersecting triple systems

We reach beyond the celebrated theorems of Erdȍs-Ko-Rado and Hilton-Milner, and a recent theorem of Han-Kohayakawa, and determine all maximal intersecting triples systems. It turns out that for each $n\geq 7$ there are exactly 15 pairwise non-isomorphic such systems (and 13 for $n=6$). We present our result in terms of a hierarchy of Turán numbers $\operatorname{ex}^{(s)}(n; M_2^{3})$, $s\geq 1$, where $M_2^{3}$ is a pair of disjoint triples. Moreover, owing to our unified approach, we provide short proofs of the above mentioned results (for triple systems only). The triangle $C_3$ is defined as $C_3=\{\{x_1,y_3,x_2\},\{x_1,y_2,x_3\},\{x_2,y_1,x_3\}\}$. Along the way we show that the largest intersecting triple system $H$ on $n\geq 6$ vertices, which is not a star and is triangle-free, consists of $\max\{10,n\}$ triples. This facilitates our main proof's philosophy which is to assume that $H$ contains a copy of the triangle and analyze how the remaining edges of $H$ intersect that copy

Clique Factors: Extremal and Probabilistic Perspectives

A K_r-factor in a graph G is a collection of vertex-disjoint copies of K_r covering the vertex set of G. In this thesis, we investigate these fundamental objects in three settings that lie at the intersection of extremal and probabilistic combinatorics. Firstly, we explore pseudorandom graphs. An n-vertex graph is said to be (p,β)-bijumbled if for any vertex sets A, B ⊆ V (G), we have e( A, B) = p| A||B| ± β√|A||B|. We prove that for any 3 ≤ r ∈ N and c > 0 there exists an ε > 0 such that any n-vertex (p, β)-bijumbled graph with n ∈ rN, δ(G) ≥ c p n and β ≤ ε p^{r −1} n, contains a K_r -factor. This implies a corresponding result for the stronger pseudorandom notion of (n, d, λ)-graphs. For the case of K_3-factors, this result resolves a conjecture of Krivelevich, Sudakov and Szabó from 2004 and it is tight due to a pseudorandom triangle-free construction of Alon. In fact, in this case even more is true: as a corollary to this result, we can conclude that the same condition of β = o( p^2n) actually guarantees that a (p, β)-bijumbled graph G contains every graph on n vertices with maximum degree at most 2. Secondly, we explore the notion of robustness for K_3-factors. For a graph G and p ∈ [0, 1], we denote by G_p the random sparsification of G obtained by keeping each edge of G independently, with probability p. We show that there exists a C > 0 such that if p ≥ C (log n)^{1/3}n^{−2/3} and G is an n-vertex graph with n ∈ 3N and δ(G) ≥ 2n/3 , then with high probability G_p contains a K_3-factor. Both the minimum degree condition and the probability condition, up to the choice of C, are tight. Our result can be viewed as a common strengthening of the classical extremal theorem of Corrádi and Hajnal, corresponding to p = 1 in our result, and the famous probabilistic theorem of Johansson, Kahn and Vu establishing the threshold for the appearance of K_3-factors (and indeed all K_r -factors) in G (n, p), corresponding to G = K_n in our result. It also implies a first lower bound on the number of K_3-factors in graphs with minimum degree at least 2n/3, which gets close to the truth. Lastly, we consider the setting of randomly perturbed graphs; a model introduced by Bohman, Frieze and Martin, where one starts with a dense graph and then adds random edges to it. Specifically, given any fixed 0 < α < 1 − 1/r we determine how many random edges one must add to an n-vertex graph G with δ(G) ≥ α n to ensure that, with high probability, the resulting graph contains a K_r -factor. As one increases α we demonstrate that the number of random edges required ‘jumps’ at regular intervals, and within these intervals our result is best-possible. This work therefore bridges the gap between the seminal work of Johansson, Kahn and Vu mentioned above, which resolves the purely random case, i.e., α = 0, and that of Hajnal and Szemerédi (and Corrádi and Hajnal for r = 3) showing that when α ≥ 1 − 1/r the initial graph already hosts the desired K_r -factor.Ein K_r -Faktor in einem Graphen G ist eine Sammlung von Knoten-disjunkten Kopien von K_r , die die Knotenmenge von G überdecken. Wir untersuchen diese Objekte in drei Kontexten, die an der Schnittstelle zwischen extremaler und probabilistischer Kombinatorik liegen. Zuerst untersuchen wir Pseudozufallsgraphen. Ein Graph heißt (p,β)-bijumbled, wenn für beliebige Knotenmengen A, B ⊆ V (G) gilt e( A, B) = p| A||B| ± β√|A||B|. Wir beweisen, dass es für jedes 3 ≤ r ∈ N und c > 0 ein ε > 0 gibt, so dass jeder n-Knoten (p, β)-bijumbled Graph mit n ∈ rN, δ(G) ≥ c p n und β ≤ ε p^{r −1} n, einen K_r -Faktor enthält. Dies impliziert ein entsprechendes Ergebnis für den stärkeren Pseudozufallsbegriff von (n, d, λ)-Graphen. Im Fall von K_3-Faktoren, löst dieses Ergebnis eine Vermutung von Krivelevich, Sudakov und Szabó aus dem Jahr 2004 und ist durch eine pseudozufällige K_3-freie Konstruktion von Alon bestmöglich. Tatsächlich ist in diesem Fall noch mehr wahr: als Korollar dieses Ergebnisses können wir schließen, dass die gleiche Bedingung von β = o( p^2n) garantiert, dass ein (p, β)-bijumbled Graph G jeden Graphen mit maximalem Grad 2 enthält. Zweitens untersuchen wir den Begriff der Robustheit für K_3-Faktoren. Für einen Graphen G und p ∈ [0, 1] bezeichnen wir mit G_p die zufällige Sparsifizierung von G, die man erhält, indem man jede Kante von G unabhängig von den anderen Kanten mit einer Wahrscheinlichkeit p behält. Wir zeigen, dass, wenn p ≥ C (log n)^{1/3}n^{−2/3} und G ein n-Knoten-Graph mit n ∈ 3N und δ(G) ≥ 2n/3 ist, G_pmit hoher Wahrscheinlichkeit (mhW) einen K_3-Faktor enthält. Sowohl die Bedingung des minimalen Grades als auch die Wahrscheinlichkeitsbedingung sind bestmöglich. Unser Ergebnis ist eine Verstärkung des klassischen extremalen Satzes von Corrádi und Hajnal, entsprechend p = 1 in unserem Ergebnis, und des berühmten probabilistischen Satzes von Johansson, Kahn und Vu, der den Schwellenwert für das Auftreten eines K_3-Faktors (und aller K_r -Faktoren) in G (n, p) festlegt, entsprechend G = K_n in unserem Ergebnis. Es impliziert auch eine erste untere Schranke für die Anzahl der K_3-Faktoren in Graphen mit einem minimalen Grad von mindestens 2n/3, die der Wahrheit nahe kommt. Schließlich betrachten wir die Situation von zufällig gestörten Graphen; ein Modell, bei dem man mit einem dichten Graphen beginnt und dann zufällige Kanten hinzufügt. Wir bestimmen, bei gegebenem 0 < α < 1 − 1/r, wie viele zufällige Kanten man zu einem n-Knoten-Graphen G mit δ(G) ≥ α n hinzufügen muss, um sicherzustellen, dass der resultierende Graph mhW einen K_r -Faktor enthält. Wir zeigen, dass, wenn man α erhöht, die Anzahl der benötigten Zufallskanten in regelmäßigen Abständen “springt", und innerhalb dieser Abstände unser Ergebnis bestmöglich ist. Diese Arbeit schließt somit die Lücke zwischen der oben erwähnten bahnbrechenden Arbeit von Johansson, Kahn und Vu, die den rein zufälligen Fall, d.h. α = 0, löst, und der Arbeit von Hajnal und Szemerédi (und Corrádi und Hajnal für r = 3), die zeigt, dass der ursprüngliche Graph bereits den gewünschten K_r -Faktor enthält, wenn α ≥ 1 − 1/r ist

Additive structures and randomness in combinatorics

Arithmetic Combinatorics, Combinatorial Number Theory, Structural Additive Theory and Additive Number Theory are just some of the terms used to describe the vast field that sits at the intersection of Number Theory and Combinatorics and which will be the focus of this thesis. Its contents are divided into two main parts, each containing several thematically related results. The first part deals with the question under what circumstances solutions to arbitrary linear systems of equations usually occur in combinatorial structures..The properties we will be interested in studying in this part relate to the solutions to linear systems of equations. A first question one might ask concerns the point at which sets of a given size will typically contain a solution. We will establish a threshold and also study the distribution of the number of solutions at that threshold, showing that it converges to a Poisson distribution in certain cases. Next, Van der Waerden’s Theorem, stating that every finite coloring of the integers contains monochromatic arithmetic progression of arbitrary length, is by some considered to be the first result in Ramsey Theory. Rado generalized van der Waerden’s result by characterizing those linear systems whose solutions satisfy a similar property and Szemerédi strengthened it to a statement concerning density rather than colorings. We will turn our attention towards versions of Rado’s and Szemerédi’s Theorem in random sets, extending previous work of Friedgut, Rödl, Rucin´ski and Schacht in the case of the former and of Conlon, Gowers and Schacht for the latter to include a larger variety of systems and solutions. Lastly, Chvátal and Erdo¿s suggested studying Maker-Breaker games. These games have deep connections to the theory of random structures and we will build on work of Bednarska and Luczak to establish the threshold for how much a large variety of games need to be biased in favor of the second player. These include games in which the first player wants to occupy a solution to some given linear system, generalizing the van der Waerden games introduced by Beck. The second part deals with the extremal behavior of sets with interesting additive properties. In particular, we will be interested in bounds or structural descriptions for sets exhibiting some restrictions with regards to either their representation function or their sumset. First, we will consider Sidon sets, that is sets of integers with pairwise unique differences. We will study a generalization of Sidon sets proposed very recently by Kohayakawa, Lee, Moreira and Rödl, where the pairwise differences are not just distinct, but in fact far apart by a certain measure. We will obtain strong lower bounds for such infinite sets using an approach of Cilleruelo. As a consequence of these bounds, we will also obtain the best current lower bound for Sidon sets in randomly generated infinite sets of integers of high density. Next, one of the central results at the intersection of Combinatorics and Number Theory is the Freiman–Ruzsa Theorem stating that any finite set of integers of given doubling can be efficiently covered by a generalized arithmetic progression. In the case of particularly small doubling, more precise structural descriptions exist. We will first study results going beyond Freiman’s well-known 3k–4 Theorem in the integers. We will then see an application of these results to sets of small doubling in finite cyclic groups. Lastly, we will turn our attention towards sets with near-constant representation functions. Erdo¿s and Fuchs established that representation functions of arbitrary sets of integers cannot be too close to being constant. We will first extend the result of Erdo¿s and Fuchs to ordered representation functions. We will then address a related question of Sárközy and Sós regarding weighted representation function.La combinatòria aritmètica, la teoria combinatòria dels nombres, la teoria additiva estructural i la teoria additiva de nombres són alguns dels termes que es fan servir per descriure una branca extensa i activa que es troba en la intersecció de la teoria de nombres i de la combinatòria, i que serà el motiu d'aquesta tesi doctoral. La primera part tracta la qüestió de sota quines circumstàncies es solen produir solucions a sistemes lineals d’equacions arbitràries en estructures additives. Una primera pregunta que s'estudia es refereix al punt en que conjunts d’una mida determinada contindran normalment una solució. Establirem un llindar i estudiarem també la distribució del nombre de solucions en aquest llindar, tot demostrant que en certs casos aquesta distribució convergeix a una distribució de Poisson. El següent tema de la tesis es relaciona amb el teorema de Van der Waerden, que afirma que cada coloració finita dels nombres enters conté una progressió aritmètica monocromàtica de longitud arbitrària. Aquest es considera el primer resultat en la teoria de Ramsey. Rado va generalitzar el resultat de van der Waerden tot caracteritzant en aquells sistemes lineals les solucions de les quals satisfan una propietat similar i Szemerédi la va reforçar amb una versió de densitat del resultat. Centrarem la nostra atenció cap a versions del teorema de Rado i Szemerédi en conjunts aleatoris, ampliant els treballs anteriors de Friedgut, Rödl, Rucinski i Schacht i de Conlon, Gowers i Schacht. Per últim, Chvátal i Erdos van suggerir estudiar estudiar jocs posicionals del tipus Maker-Breaker. Aquests jocs tenen una connexió profunda amb la teoria de les estructures aleatòries i ens basarem en el treball de Bednarska i Luczak per establir el llindar de la quantitat que necessitem per analitzar una gran varietat de jocs en favor del segon jugador. S'inclouen jocs en què el primer jugador vol ocupar una solució d'un sistema lineal d'equacions donat, generalitzant els jocs de van der Waerden introduïts per Beck. La segona part de la tesis tracta sobre el comportament extrem dels conjunts amb propietats additives interessants. Primer, considerarem els conjunts de Sidon, és a dir, conjunts d’enters amb diferències úniques quan es consideren parelles d'elements. Estudiarem una generalització dels conjunts de Sidons proposats recentment per Kohayakawa, Lee, Moreira i Rödl, en que les diferències entre parelles no són només diferents, sinó que, en realitat, estan allunyades una certa proporció en relació a l'element més gran. Obtindrem límits més baixos per a conjunts infinits que els obtinguts pels anteriors autors tot usant una construcció de conjunts de Sidon infinits deguda a Cilleruelo. Com a conseqüència d'aquests límits, obtindrem també el millor límit inferior actual per als conjunts de Sidon en conjunts infinits generats aleatòriament de nombres enters d'alta densitat. A continuació, un dels resultats centrals a la intersecció de la combinatòria i la teoria dels nombres és el teorema de Freiman-Ruzsa, que afirma que el conjunt suma d'un conjunt finit d’enters donats pot ser cobert de manera eficient per una progressió aritmètica generalitzada. En el cas de que el conjunt suma sigui de mida petita, existeixen descripcions estructurals més precises. Primer estudiarem els resultats que van més enllà del conegut teorema de Freiman 3k-4 en els enters. Llavors veurem una aplicació d’aquests resultats a conjunts de dobles petits en grups cíclics finits. Finalment, dirigirem l’atenció cap a conjunts amb funcions de representació gairebé constants. Erdos i Fuchs van establir que les funcions de representació de conjunts arbitraris d’enters no poden estar massa a prop de ser constants. Primer estendrem el resultat d’Erdos i Fuchs a funcions de representació ordenades. A continuació, abordarem una pregunta relacionada de Sárközy i Sós sobre funció de representació ponderada

Extremal Problems on the Hypercube

PhDThe hypercube, Qd, is a natural and much studied combinatorial object, and we discuss various extremal problems related to it. A subgraph of the hypercube is said to be (Qd; F)-saturated if it contains no copies of F, but adding any edge forms a copy of F. We write sat(Qd; F) for the saturation number, that is, the least number of edges a (Qd; F)-saturated graph may have. We prove the upper bound sat(Qd;Q2) < 10 2d, which strongly disproves a conjecture of Santolupo that sat(Qd;Q2) = �� 1 4 + o(1) d2d��1. We also prove upper bounds on sat(Qd;Qm) for general m.Given a down-set A and an up-set B in the hypercube, Bollobás and Leader conjectured a lower bound on the number of edge-disjoint paths between A and B in the directed hypercube. Using an unusual form of the compression argument, we confirm the conjecture by reducing the problem to a the case of the undirected hypercube. We also prove an analogous conjecture for vertex-disjoint paths using the same techniques, and extend both results to the grid. Additionally, we deal with subcube intersection graphs, answering a question of Johnson and Markström of the least r = r(n) for which all graphs on n vertices may be represented as subcube intersection graph where each subcube has dimension exactly r. We also contribute to the related area of biclique covers and partitions, and study relationships between various parameters linked to such covers and partitions. Finally, we study topological properties of uniformly random simplicial complexes, employing a characterisation due to Korshunov of almost all down-sets in the hypercube as a key tool

One More Turán Number and Ramsey Number for the Loose 3-Uniform Path of Length Three

Let P denote a 3-uniform hypergraph consisting of 7 vertices a, b, c, d, e, f, g and 3 edges {a, b, c}, {c, d, e}, and {e, f, g}. It is known that the r-color Ramsey number for P is R(P; r) = r + 6 for r ≤ 9. The proof of this result relies on a careful analysis of the Turán numbers for P. In this paper, we refine this analysis further and compute the fifth order Turán number for P, for all n. Using this number for n = 16, we confirm the formula R(P; 10) = 16