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Given $G$ a regular graph on $n$ vertices, denote $\alpha(G)>1$ to be independence number.

Denote $\Gamma(G)$ to be collection of possible subset of independent vertices in $G$ of cardinality $\alpha(G)-1$.

To each $\gamma\in\Gamma(G)$, assign number $N(\gamma)$ reflecting number of ways $\gamma$ could be extended by an additional vertex so that augmented subset remains independent (attains cardinality number $\alpha(G)$).

Denote $N(G)=\max_{\gamma\in\Gamma(G)}N(\gamma)$.

Denote $M(G)$ to be maximum number of disjoint independent sets of $G$ that attain cardinality $\alpha(G)$ (that is each subset in $M(G)$ should be disjoint with cardinality $\alpha(G)$).

Easy to observe that $M(G)\leq\frac{|V|}{\alpha(G)}$.

Given fixed real $r>3$ (example $3.00002$), is there a graph (family) such that $$M(G)>|V|^{\frac{r-1}{f(r)}}>|V|^{\frac{1}{f(r)}}> \max(N(G),\alpha(G))$$ where $|V|$ is vertex number with some function $f(r)\geq r$?

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  • $\begingroup$ Your notion $\ f(\alpha(G)\ N(G))\ :=\ \max(\alpha(G)\ N(G)),\ $ and similar functions $\ f(\alpha(G)\ N(G))\ $ introduce an interesting internal pressure to the graphs, and it should lead to a whole subtopic. $\endgroup$ Jan 25, 2015 at 21:27
  • $\begingroup$ Turbo, about def. of $\ M(G).\ $ Is $\ M(G)\ $ the maximal cardinality of a family of pairwise disjoint independent sets of cardinality $\ \alpha(G)\ $? -- so we would have $\ M(G)\ \le\ \binom n{\alpha(G)}\ $ (where $\ n\ $ is the number of vertices). $\endgroup$ Jan 27, 2015 at 5:41
  • $\begingroup$ Thank you. But at least what I called my small EXAMPLE was fine, I was not confused at that stage. $\endgroup$ Jan 27, 2015 at 6:11
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    $\begingroup$ I think that only my accidental conclusion was wrong (a result of a mistaken thinking at that moment--my concentration gave up when I mixed the general definition and the peculiarities of my construction). Another equivalent formulation: $\ m:=M(G)\ $ is the largest integer such that there exists $\ W\subseteq V\ $ such that $\ |W|=\alpha(G)\cdot m\ $ and W is a union of $\ m\ $ maximal independent sets (i.e. od independent sets $\ J\subseteq V\ $ such that $\ |J|=\alpha(G)$). $\endgroup$ Jan 27, 2015 at 9:42
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    $\begingroup$ Yes, as an upper bound. These are trivially equivalent (sorry to inertially waste time on my talking). $\endgroup$ Jan 27, 2015 at 9:50

3 Answers 3

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Take $G = K_n$ the complete graph on $n$ vertices. Then $\alpha(G) = 1<N(G) = n$.

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    $\begingroup$ Consider $K_n$ with an additional isolated vertex. Or if you want a connected graph connect this vertex to some vertex of the complete graph. $\endgroup$ Jan 25, 2015 at 8:14
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EXAMPLE (small)

Let $\ A\ $ be a 5-element set. Let $\ V:=\binom A2.\ $ Let the set of edges be

$$E\ :=\ \left\{\left\{u\ v\right\}\in \binom V2\ :\ |u\cap v|=1\right\}$$

Then, for $\ G:=(V\ E),\ $ we have:

  • $\ \alpha(G)=2$
  • $\ N(G)=3$
  • $\ M(G)=5$

Thus the answer to all three parts of question 1 is YES--there is a single requested example (it's a regular graph, with $\ \alpha(G)>1$).

General Construction

Now let $\ |A|=3\cdot k-1\ $ for an arbitrary $\ k\ge 2.\ $ Let $\ V:=\binom A k\ $ and $$E\ :=\ \left\{\left\{u\ v\right\}\in \binom V2\ :\ 1\le |u\cap v|<k \right\}$$

Then

  • $\ \alpha(G)=2$
  • $\ N(G)=\binom{2\cdot k-1}k$

PROOFS

The independent sets in my example are pairwise disjont $k$-subsets of the $(3\cdot k-1)$-set A. Thus the maximal independent sets are exactly pairs of two disjoint $k$-sets, hence

$$\alpha(G)\ =\ 2$$

REMARK 1   Every(!) $\ (\alpha(G)-1)$-independent set is contained in the same maximal number $\ N(G)\ $ of the maximal independent sets.

Next, in the case of this (general) example, the independent $(\alpha(G)-1)$-sets are simply $1$-element sets, where the single element is an arbitrary $k$-set $\ X.\ $ You may extend such an independent set $\ \{A\}\ $ by selecting any $\ k$-subset $\ Y\subseteq A\setminus X.\ $ This shows that:

$$N(G)\ := \binom{2\cdot k-1}k$$

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  • $\begingroup$ Could you tell me what does oic mean? $\endgroup$ Jan 25, 2015 at 12:15
  • $\begingroup$ I think your count for $M(G)$ is off. $M(G)$ is a collection of subsets with each subset disjoint having cardinality exactly $\alpha(G)$. $\endgroup$
    – Turbo
    Jan 25, 2015 at 12:31
  • $\begingroup$ I fixed $\ M(G)$--now it's perfect! (every k-subset is used). In particulat the small example got improved as the result. $\endgroup$ Jan 25, 2015 at 14:57
  • $\begingroup$ This general (:-) example is done; it's time for a more dramatic one, hey! $\endgroup$ Jan 25, 2015 at 15:37
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    $\begingroup$ Perhaps. This and variations were on my mind, but I wanted to finish first step to answer properly on your question. Just to establish the $\ \LaTeX\ $ phrases was hard to me (I am slow). Now wider possibilities are open. $\endgroup$ Jan 25, 2015 at 20:43
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It occurs to me that the complement is much easier to consider.

Then $M(G)$ is the number of disjoint maximum cliques, $\alpha (G)$ is the clique number and $N(G)$ is whatever.

If we start from a cubic graph, let's say $K_4$, and blow-up every vertex into a triangle at each step, then in the resulting graph the maximum size of a clique is always 3 and the only triangles are blowed-up vertices from the previous graph. So, let $G_n$ be the graph from $K_4$ by blowing up all vertices $n$ times. Then $$ |V(G_n)| = 3^n \cdot 4$$ $$ M(G_n) = |V(G_{n-1})| = 3^{n-1} \cdot 4$$ And $N(G)$ is the maximum number of possible ways of extending a single edge into a triangle, which is 1 since the triangles in $G_n$ are disjoint. So, by taking the complement

$$ M(G_n^c) = |V|/3 > |V|^{(r-1)/f(r)} > |V|^{1/f(r)} > \max \{N(G_n^c), \alpha(G_n^c)\} = \max \{ 1, 3\} = 3$$

I don't think the conditions on $r$ and $f(r)$ actually matters anyway, once you obtain linear number of $M(G)$ and bounded size of $N(G)$ and $\alpha(G)$. I started with dense regular graphs if it helps you. I hope my abuse of notations between complement and the original graph does not bother you.

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  • $\begingroup$ something seems incorrect. Let me carefully check. $\endgroup$
    – Turbo
    Jan 31, 2015 at 3:32
  • $\begingroup$ I know for a fact $M(G)$ cannot be arbitrarily big compared to $N(G),\alpha(G)$. $\endgroup$
    – Turbo
    Jan 31, 2015 at 3:34
  • $\begingroup$ If you did not understand the construction then point out where you missed. The graph does not have a single pair of triangles sharing an edge. $\endgroup$
    – Seok
    Jan 31, 2015 at 3:57
  • $\begingroup$ Can you show some pictures? $\endgroup$
    – Turbo
    Jan 31, 2015 at 4:40
  • $\begingroup$ Define blow up please. $\endgroup$
    – Turbo
    Jan 31, 2015 at 5:24

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