Long cycles passing through vertices in k‐connected graphs

In this article, we consider the following problem proposed by Locke and Zhang in 1991: Let G be a k‐connected graph with minimum degree d and X a set of m vertices on a cycle of G. For which values of m and k, with , must G have a cycle of length at least passing through X? Fujisawa and Yamashita solved this problem for the case and in 2008. We provide an affirmative answer to this problem for the case of and .     

2‐connected 7‐coverings of 3‐connected graphs on surfaces

An m‐covering of a graph G is a spanning subgraph of G with maximum degree at most m. In this paper, we shall show that every 3‐connected graph on a surface with Euler genus k ≥ 2 with sufficiently large representativity has a 2‐connected 7‐covering with at most 6k ? 12 vertices of degree 7. We also construct, for every surface F² with Euler genus k ≥ 2, a 3‐connected graph G on F² with arbitrarily large representativity each of whose 2‐connected 7‐coverings contains at least 6k ? 12 vertices of degree 7. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Graph Theory 43: 26–36, 2003     

Relative length of longest paths and cycles in 3‐connected graphs

For a graph G, let p(G) denote the order of a longest path in G and c(G) the order of a longest cycle in G, respectively. We show that if G is a 3‐connected graph of order n such that for every independent set {x₁, x₂, x₃, x₄}, then G satisfies c(G) ≥ p(G) ? 1. Using this result, we give several lower bounds to the circumference of a 3‐connected graph. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Graph Theory 37: 137–156, 2001     

Connectivity keeping paths in k‐connected graphs

A result of G. Chartrand, A. Kaugars, and D. R. Lick [Proc Amer Math Soc 32 (1972), 63–68] says that every finite, k‐connected graph G of minimum degree at least ?3k/2? contains a vertex x such that G?x is still k‐connected. We generalize this result by proving that every finite, k‐connected graph G of minimum degree at least ?3k/2?+m?1 for a positive integer m contains a path P of length m?1 such that G?V(P) is still k‐connected. This has been conjectured in a weaker form by S. Fujita and K. Kawarabayashi [J Combin Theory Ser B 98 (2008), 805–811]. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Graph Theory 65: 61–69, 2010.     

Long cycles in 3‐connected graphs in orientable surfaces

In this article, we apply a cutting theorem of Thomassen to show that there is a function f: N → N such that if G is a 3‐connected graph on n vertices which can be embedded in the orientable surface of genus g with face‐width at least f(g), then G contains a cycle of length at least cn, where c is a constant not dependent on g. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Graph Theory 41: 69–84, 2002     

Circuits through prescribed vertices in k‐connected k‐regular graphs

We show that every set of vertices in a k‐connected k‐regular graph belongs to some circuit. © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Graph Theory 39: 145–163, 2002     

On packing 3‐vertex paths in a graph

Let G be a connected graph and let eb(G) and λ(G) denote the number of end‐blocks and the maximum number of disjoint 3‐vertex paths Λ in G. We prove the following theorems on claw‐free graphs: (t1) if G is claw‐free and eb(G) ≤ 2 (and in particular, G is 2‐connected) then λ(G) = ⌊| V(G)|/3⌋; (t2) if G is claw‐free and eb(G) ≥ 2 then λ(G) ≥ ⌊(| V(G) | − eb(G) + 2)/3 ⌋; and (t3) if G is claw‐free and Δ^*‐free then λ(G) = ⌊| V(G) |/3⌋ (here Δ^* is a graph obtained from a triangle Δ by attaching to each vertex a new dangling edge). We also give the following sufficient condition for a graph to have a Λ‐factor: Let n and p be integers, 1 ≤ p ≤ n − 2, G a 2‐connected graph, and |V(G)| = 3n. Suppose that G − S has a Λ‐factor for every S ⊆ V(G) such that |S| = 3p and both V(G) − S and S induce connected subgraphs in G. Then G has a Λ‐factor. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Graph Theory 36: 175–197, 2001     

Subdivisions of large complete bipartite graphs and long induced paths in k‐connected graphs

It is proved that for every positive integers k, r and s there exists an integer n = n(k,r,s) such that every k‐connected graph of order at least n contains either an induced path of length s or a subdivision of the complete bipartite graph K_k,r. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Graph Theory 45: 270–274, 2004     

Vertex‐disjoint cycles containing specified vertices in a bipartite graph

A minimum degree condition is given for a bipartite graph to contain a 2‐factor each component of which contains a previously specified vertex. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Graph Theory 46: 145–166, 2004     

A local structure theorem on 5‐connected graphs

An edge of a 5‐connected graph is said to be contractible if the contraction of the edge results in a 5‐connected graph. Let x be a vertex of a 5‐connected graph. We prove that if there are no contractible edges whose distance from x is two or less, then either there are two triangles with x in common each of which has a distinct degree five vertex other than x, or there is a specified structure called a K₄^?‐configuration with center x. As a corollary, we show that if a 5‐connected graph on n vertices has no contractible edges, then it has 2n/5 vertices of degree 5. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Graph Theory 60: 99–129, 2009     

Asymptotic enumeration of sparse 2‐connected graphs

We determine an asymptotic formula for the number of labelled 2‐connected (simple) graphs on n vertices and m edges, provided that m ‐ n →∞ and m = O(nlog n) as n →∞. This is the entire range of m not covered by previous results. The proof involves determining properties of the core and kernel of random graphs with minimum degree at least 2. The case of 2‐edge‐connectedness is treated similarly. We also obtain formulae for the number of 2‐connected graphs with given degree sequence for most (“typical”) sequences. Our main result solves a problem of Wright from 1983. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Random Struct. Alg., 2013     

Every longest circuit of a 3‐connected,K3,3‐minor free graph has a chord

Carsten Thomassen conjectured that every longest circuit in a 3‐connected graph has a chord. We prove the conjecture for graphs having no K_3,3 minor, and consequently for planar graphs. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Graph Theory 58: 293–298, 2008     

Connected subgraphs with small degree sums in 3‐connected planar graphs

It is well‐known that every planar graph has a vertex of degree at most five. Kotzig proved that every 3‐connected planar graph has an edge xy such that deg(x) + deg (y) ≤ 13. In this article, considering a similar problem for the case of three or more vertices that induce a connected subgraph, we show that, for a given positive integer t, every 3‐connected planar graph G with |V(G)| ≥ t has a connected subgraph H of order t such that Σ_x∈V(H) deg_G(x) ≤ 8t − 1. As a tool for proving this result, we consider decompositions of 3‐connected planar graphs into connected subgraphs of order at least t and at most 2t − 1. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Graph Theory 30: 191–203, 1999     

Counting 5‐connected planar triangulations

Let t_n be the number of rooted 5‐connected planar triangulations with 2n faces. We find t_n exactly for small n, as well as an asymptotic formula for n → ∞. Our results are found by compositions of lower connectivity maps whose faces are triangles or quadrangles. We also find the asymptotic number of cyclically 5‐edge connected cubic planar graphs. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Graph Theory 38: 18–35, 2001     

Hamiltonian N2‐locally connected claw‐free graphs

A graph G is N₂‐locally connected if for every vertex ν in G, the edges not incident with ν but having at least one end adjacent to ν in G induce a connected graph. In 1990, Ryjá?ek conjectured that every 3‐connected N₂‐locally connected claw‐free graph is Hamiltonian. This conjecture is proved in this note. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Graph Theory 48: 142–146, 2005     

On the distance function of a connected graph

An axiomatic characterization of the distance function of a connected graph is given in this note. The triangle inequality is not contained in this characterization.     

Cycles passing through k + 1 vertices in k‐connected graphs

In this article, we prove the following theorem. Let k ≥ 3 be an integer, G be a k‐connected graph with minimum degree d and X be a set of k + 1 vertices on a cycle. Then G has a cycle of length at least min {2d,|V(G)|} passing through X. This result gives the positive answer to the Question posed by Locke [8]. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Graph Theory 58:179–190, 2008     

Solution of a conjecture of Volkmann on longest paths through an arc in strongly connected in‐tournaments

An in‐tournament is an oriented graph such that the negative neighborhood of every vertex induces a tournament. Let m = 4 or m = 5 and let D be a strongly connected in‐tournament of order such that each arc belongs to a directed path of order at least m. In 2000, Volkmann showed that if D contains an arc e such that the longest directed path through e consists of exactly m vertices, then e is the only arc of D with that property. In this article we shall see that this proposition is true for , thereby validating a conjecture of Volkmann. Furthermore, we prove that if we ease the restrictions on the order of D to , the in‐tournament D in question has at most two such arcs. In doing so, we also give a characterization of the in‐tournaments with exactly two such arcs. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Graph Theory 60: 130–148, 2009     

Total domination in 2‐connected graphs and in graphs with no induced 6‐cycles

A set S of vertices in a graph G is a total dominating set of G if every vertex of G is adjacent to some vertex in S. The minimum cardinality of a total dominating set of G is the total domination number γ_t(G) of G. It is known [J Graph Theory 35 (2000), 21–45] that if G is a connected graph of order n > 10 with minimum degree at least 2, then γ_t(G) ≤ 4n/7 and the (infinite family of) graphs of large order that achieve equality in this bound are characterized. In this article, we improve this upper bound of 4n/7 for 2‐connected graphs, as well as for connected graphs with no induced 6‐cycle. We prove that if G is a 2‐connected graph of order n > 18, then γ_t(G) ≤ 6n/11. Our proof is an interplay between graph theory and transversals in hypergraphs. We also prove that if G is a connected graph of order n > 18 with minimum degree at least 2 and no induced 6‐cycle, then γ_t(G) ≤ 6n/11. Both bounds are shown to be sharp. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Graph Theory 60: 55–79, 2009