Isolation game on graphs

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Brešar, Boštjan, Dravec, Tanja, Johnston, Daniel P., Kuenzel, Kirsti, Rall, Douglas F.
Format: Preprint
Published: 2024
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author Brešar, Boštjan
Dravec, Tanja
Johnston, Daniel P.
Kuenzel, Kirsti
Rall, Douglas F.
author_facet Brešar, Boštjan
Dravec, Tanja
Johnston, Daniel P.
Kuenzel, Kirsti
Rall, Douglas F.
contents Given a graph $G$ and a family of graphs $\cal F$, an $\cal F$-isolating set, as introduced by Caro and Hansberg, is any set $S\subset V(G)$ such that $G - N[S]$ contains no member of $\cal F$ as a subgraph. In this paper, we introduce a game in which two players with opposite goals are together building an $\cal F$-isolating set in $G$. Following the domination games, Dominator (Staller) wants that the resulting $\cal F$-isolating set obtained at the end of the game, is as small (as big) as possible, which leads to the graph invariant called the game $\cal F$-isolation number, denoted $ι_{\rm g}(G,\cal F)$. We prove that the Continuation Principle holds in the $\cal F$-isolation game, and that the difference between the game $\cal F$-isolation numbers when either Dominator or Staller starts the game is at most $1$. Considering two arbitrary families of graphs $\cal F$ and $\cal F'$, we find relations between them that ensure $ι_{\rm g}(G,{\cal{F}}') \leq ι_{\rm g}(G,{\cal{F}})$ for any graph $G$. A special focus is given on the isolation game, which takes place when ${\cal F}=\{K_2\}$. We prove that $ι_{\rm g}(G,\{K_2\})\le |V(G)|/2$ for any graph $G$, and conjecture that $\lceil 3|V(G)|/7\rceil$ is the actual (sharp) upper bound. We prove that the isolation game on a forest when Dominator has the first move never lasts longer than the one in which Staller starts the game. Finally, we prove good lower and upper bounds on the game isolation numbers of paths $P_n$, which lead to the exact values $ι_{\rm g}(P_n,\{K_2\})=\left\lfloor\frac{2n+2}{5}\right\rfloor$ when $n \equiv i \pmod 5$ and $i \in \{1,2,3\}$.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2409_14180
institution arXiv
publishDate 2024
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Isolation game on graphs
Brešar, Boštjan
Dravec, Tanja
Johnston, Daniel P.
Kuenzel, Kirsti
Rall, Douglas F.
Combinatorics
05C57, 05C05
Given a graph $G$ and a family of graphs $\cal F$, an $\cal F$-isolating set, as introduced by Caro and Hansberg, is any set $S\subset V(G)$ such that $G - N[S]$ contains no member of $\cal F$ as a subgraph. In this paper, we introduce a game in which two players with opposite goals are together building an $\cal F$-isolating set in $G$. Following the domination games, Dominator (Staller) wants that the resulting $\cal F$-isolating set obtained at the end of the game, is as small (as big) as possible, which leads to the graph invariant called the game $\cal F$-isolation number, denoted $ι_{\rm g}(G,\cal F)$. We prove that the Continuation Principle holds in the $\cal F$-isolation game, and that the difference between the game $\cal F$-isolation numbers when either Dominator or Staller starts the game is at most $1$. Considering two arbitrary families of graphs $\cal F$ and $\cal F'$, we find relations between them that ensure $ι_{\rm g}(G,{\cal{F}}') \leq ι_{\rm g}(G,{\cal{F}})$ for any graph $G$. A special focus is given on the isolation game, which takes place when ${\cal F}=\{K_2\}$. We prove that $ι_{\rm g}(G,\{K_2\})\le |V(G)|/2$ for any graph $G$, and conjecture that $\lceil 3|V(G)|/7\rceil$ is the actual (sharp) upper bound. We prove that the isolation game on a forest when Dominator has the first move never lasts longer than the one in which Staller starts the game. Finally, we prove good lower and upper bounds on the game isolation numbers of paths $P_n$, which lead to the exact values $ι_{\rm g}(P_n,\{K_2\})=\left\lfloor\frac{2n+2}{5}\right\rfloor$ when $n \equiv i \pmod 5$ and $i \in \{1,2,3\}$.
title Isolation game on graphs
topic Combinatorics
05C57, 05C05
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2409.14180