Number of cliques in graphs with a forbidden subdivision

We prove that for all positive integers $t$, every $n$-vertex graph with no $K_t$-subdivision has at most $2^{50t}n$ cliques. We also prove that asymptotically, such graphs contain at most $2^{(5+o(1))t}n$ cliques, where $o(1)$ tends to zero as $t$ tends to infinity. This strongly answers a question of D. Wood asking if the number of cliques in $n$-vertex graphs with no $K_t$-minor is at most $2^{ct}n$ for some constant $c$.Comment: 10 pages; to appear in SIAM J. Discrete Mat

A chain theorem for sequentially 33-rank-connected graphs with respect to vertex-minors

Tutte (1961) proved the chain theorem for $3$-connected graphs with respect to minors, which states that every $3$-connected graph $G$ has a $3$-connected minor with one vertex fewer than $G$, unless $G$ is a wheel graph. Bouchet (1987) proved an analog for prime graphs with respect to vertex-minors. We present a chain theorem for higher connectivity with respect to vertex-minors, showing that every sequentially $3$-rank-connected graph $G$ has a sequentially $3$-rank-connected vertex-minor with one vertex fewer than $G$, unless $|V(G)|\leq 12$.Comment: 21 page