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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, ...
0 votes
0 answers
38 views

Minimal m such that m x K_n is decomposable into disjoint C_3

For a given $n$, is there a way to calculate the minimal value $m$ such that you can decompose the multigraph: $$m \times K_n$$ into disjoint 3-cycles? What about a more general result applied to ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
3 votes
1 answer
71 views

For which sets of $(n, m, k)$ does there exist an edge-labelling (using $k$ labels) on $K_n$, such that every single-labelled subgraph is $K_m$?

Or, equivalently - for what sets of $(n, m, k)$ is it possible, for a group* of $n$ people, to arrange $k$ days of "meetings", such that every day the group is split into subgroups of $m$ people, and ...
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 ...
7 votes
2 answers
370 views

Minimum covers of complete graphs by $4$-cycles

I am interested in coverings of the (edge set of the) complete graph $K_n$ by cycles of length $4$. It is clear that such coverings exist for each $n \ge 4$. I need to find the minimum number of $4$-...
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 \...
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 $v,k$, ...
6 votes
3 answers
636 views

Meeting management

A friend wants to have ten meetings of six people every day for five days with no pair of people meeting twice. Is this possible? It appears to be a question about maximal decomposition of a complete ...
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 $d$. ...