Distance-k Domination Number in Triangular Matchstick Graphs

Abstract

A distance-k dominating set of a graph is a set of vertices such that every vertex lies within distance k of some vertex in the set; its minimum size is the distance-k domination number gamma_k. We study gamma_k for triangular matchstick graphs T_d. Harris et al. (2020) claimed two upper bounds for the cases k=1 and k=2. These bounds are shown to be incorrect and are replaced by a corrected general upper bound for gamma_k(T_d) obtained by refining their tiling method. For k=1 and d=7q+beta, where 0 <= beta <= 6, we further sharpen this construction and prove gamma(T_{7q+beta}) <= 3.5q^2+(beta+4.5)q+(beta-1). Finally, we determine the radius of T_d as r_d = ceil(2d/3), which implies gamma_k(T_d)=1 whenever k >= r_d.