Search arXiv⌕ Search
Home/Archive/arXiv

arXiv · 2508.17785

Zero blocking numbers of graphs with complexity results

Hau-Yi Lin·Wu-Hsiung Lin·Gerard Jennhwa Chang
View original source ↗Read source document ↗Export metadata ↓

Abstract

For a graph $G$ in which vertices are either black or white, a zero forcing process is an iterative vertex color changing process such that the only white neighbor of a black vertex becomes black in the next time step. A zero forcing set is an initial subset of black vertices in a zero forcing process ultimately expands to include all vertices of the graph; otherwise we call its complement a zero blocking set. The zero blocking number $B(G)$ of $G$ is the minimum size of a zero blocking set. This paper determines zero blocking numbers of the union and the join of two graphs. It also determines all minimum zero blocking sets of hypercubes. Finally, a linear-time algorithm for the zero blocking numbers of trees is given.

Explore related subjects

math.CO

Keep this discovery

Explore connections, maps & timelines

BibTeXRIS

Hau-Yi Lin, Wu-Hsiung Lin, Gerard Jennhwa Chang. 2025-08-25. Zero blocking numbers of graphs with complexity results. https://arxiv.org/abs/2508.17785

Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.

KEEP EXPLORING

Related papers

arXiv2026

On nut graphs with two vertex and three edge orbits

Nut graphs are graphs whose adjacency matrix is singular with one-dimensional null space spanned by a vector with no zero entries. In a recent paper, Bašić, Fowler and Pisanski proved that the automorphism group of a nut graph has more orbits on the edge set than on the vertex set. They classified all orders for which a vertex-transitive nut graph with precisely two edge orbits exists, and conjectured that a nut graph with two vertex and three edge orbits exists for each non-prime order $n \ge 9$. Motivated by this conjecture, we introduce a very general construction that provides graphs with the desired symmetry properties, and we determine some sufficient spectral and structural conditions under which they are nut graphs. The construction yields infinite families of examples and confirms the above conjecture for all odd non-prime orders up to $2\,500$ and for at least $99.8$ percent of all odd non-prime orders up to a million. Finally, we present some additional interesting examples of nut graphs with two vertex and three edge orbits that do not arise from this construction.

math.CO↗
arXiv2026

On vertex-minimal simplicial maps to the sphere

For positive integers $n,d$, let $λ(n,d)$ be the minimal number of vertices of a triangulation of the $n$-sphere which admits a degree $d$ simplicial map onto the boundary of the $(n+1)$-simplex. We show that for $h=\lfloor\frac{n+1}2\rfloor$, the function $λ(n,d)^h$ has linear order of growth in $d$, answering a question of O. Musin. All triangulations we obtained are isomorphic to boundaries of convex polytopes in $\mathbb{R}^{n+1}$.

math.CO↗