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55 votes
21 answers
14k views

Linear algebra proofs in combinatorics?

Simple linear algebra methods are a surprisingly powerful tool to prove combinatorial results. Some examples of combinatorial theorems with linear algebra proofs are the (weak) perfect graph theorem, ...
23 votes
2 answers
3k views

Is there a 7-regular graph on 50 vertices with girth 5? What about 57-regular on 3250 vertices?

The following problem is homework of a sort -- but homework I can't do! The following problem is in Problem 1.F in Van Lint and Wilson: Let $G$ be a graph where every vertex has degree $d$. ...
David E Speyer's user avatar
11 votes
5 answers
489 views

What are efficient pooling designs for RT-PCR tests?

I realize this is long, but hopefully I think it may be worth the reading for people interested in combinatorics and it might prove important to Covid-19 testing. Slightly reduced in edit. The ...
Benoît Kloeckner's user avatar
4 votes
2 answers
216 views

Is the domination number of a combinatorial design determined by the design parameters?

Let $D$ be a $(v,k,\lambda)$-design. By the domination number of $D$ I mean the domination number $\gamma(L(D))$ of the bipartite incidence graph of $D$. Is $\gamma(L(D))$ determined only by $v,k$, ...
Felix Goldberg's user avatar
4 votes
3 answers
663 views

Does an $(x, bx)$-biregular graph always contain a $x$-regular bipartite subgraph?

I guess a discrete-mathematics-related question is still welcome in MO since I was new to the community and learned from this amazing past post. The following claim is a simplified and abstract form ...
Yungchen Jen's user avatar
4 votes
1 answer
69 views

Balancing out edge multiplicites in a graph

Let $G$ be a multigraph with maximum edge multiplicity $t$ and minimum edge multiplicity $1$ (so that there is at least one 'ordinary' edge). Is there some simple graph $H$ such that the $t$-fold ...
Peter Dukes's user avatar
  • 1,071
1 vote
0 answers
80 views

Bounds for smallest non-trivial designs

Given $s>t\ge 2$, let $N(s,t)$ be the smallest integer $n>s$ such that there exists an “$(n;s;t;1)$-design” (i.e., a collection of $s$-subsets $e_1,\dots,e_m$ of $[n]:=\{1,\dots,n\}$, such that ...
Zach Hunter's user avatar
  • 2,874
0 votes
0 answers
90 views

Steiner-like systems with large edges and many intersections

Let $l\geq 3$ be an integer. Is there $n\in\mathbb{N}$ and a hypergraph $H=(\{1,\ldots,n\},E)$ with the following properties? for all $e\in E$ we have $|e| \geq l$ $e_1\neq e_2 \in E \implies |e_1 \...
Dominic van der Zypen's user avatar