Lower bounds on the obstacle number of graphs

Given a graph $G$, an {\em obstacle representation} of $G$ is a set of points in the plane representing the vertices of $G$, together with a set of connected obstacles such that two vertices of $G$ are joined by an edge if and only if the corresponding points can be connected by a segment which avoids all obstacles. The {\em obstacle number} of $G$ is the minimum number of obstacles in an obstacle representation of $G$. It is shown that there are graphs on $n$ vertices with obstacle number at least $\Omega({n}/{\log n})$

Drawing Cubic Graphs with the Four Basic Slopes

We show that every cubic graph can be drawn in the plane with straight-line edges using only the four basic slopes, {0, π/4, π/2, 3π/4}. We also prove that four slopes have this property if and only if we can draw K4 with them

Asymptotically optimal pairing strategy for Tic-Tac-Toe with numerous directions

We show that there is an m = 2n + o(n), such that, in the Maker-Breaker game played on Zd where Maker needs to put at least m of his marks consecutively in one of n given winning directions, Breaker can force a draw using a pairing strategy. This improves the result of Kruczek and Sundberg [15] who showed that such a pairing strategy exits if m ≥ 3n. A simple argument shows that m has to be at least 2n+1 if Breaker is only allowed to use a pairing strategy, thus the main term of our bound is optimal.

Obstacles, slopes and tic-tac-toe: an excursion in discrete geometry and combinatorial game theory

The minimum number of slopes used in a straight-line drawing of G is called the slope number of G. We show that every cubic graph can be drawn in the plane with straight line edges using only the four basic slopes {0, π/4, π/2,−π/4}. We also prove that four slopes have this property if and only if we can draw K4 with them. Given a graph G, an obstacle representation of G is a set of points in the plane representing the vertices of G, together with a set of obstacles (connected polygons) such that two vertices of G are joined by an edge if and only if the corresponding points can be connected by a segment which avoids all obstacles. The obstacle number of G is the minimum number of obstacles in an obstacle representation of G. We show that there are graphs on n vertices with obstacle number (n/log n). We show that there is an m = 2n + o(n), such that, in the Maker-Breaker game played on Zd where Maker needs to put at least m of his marks consecutively in one of n given winning directions, Breaker can force a draw using a pairing strategy. This improves the result of Kruczek and Sundberg who showed that such a pairing strategy exits if m ≥ 3n. A simple argument shows that m has to be at least 2n+1 if Breaker is only allowed to use a pairing strategy, thus the main term of our bound is optimal.Ph. D.Includes bibliographical referencesIncludes vitaby V S Padmini Mukkamal