Given a set of $n$ colored points $P \subset \mathbb{R}^d$ we wish to store $P$ such that, given some query region $Q$, we can efficiently report the colors of the points appearing in the query region, along with their frequencies. This is the \emph{color frequency reporting} problem. We study the case where query regions $Q$ are axis-aligned boxes or dominance ranges. If $Q$ contains $k$ colors, the main goal is to achieve ``strictly output sensitive'' query time $O(f(n) + k)$. Firstly, we show that, for every $s \in \{ 2, \dots, n \}$, there exists a simple $O(ns\log_s n)$ size data structure for points in $\mathbb{R}^2$ that allows frequency reporting queries in $O(\log n + k\log_s n)$ time. Secondly, we give a lower bound for the weighted version of the problem in the arithmetic model of computation, proving that with $O(m)$ space one can not achieve query times better than $Ω\left(ϕ\frac{\log (n / ϕ)}{\log (m / n)}\right)$, where $ϕ$ is the number of possible colors. This means that our data structure is near-optimal. We extend these results to higher dimensions as well. Thirdly, we present a transformation that allows us to reduce the space usage of the aforementioned data structure to $O(n(s ϕ)^\varepsilon \log_s n)$. Finally, we give an $O(n^{1+\varepsilon} + m \log n + K)$-time algorithm that can answer $m$ dominance queries in $\mathbb{R}^2$ with total output complexity $K$, while using only linear working space. new version for submission to DMTCS journal
Stijn Cambie, Jan Goedgebeur, Jorik Jooken, Tibo Van den Eede
Abstract
For integers $k,g,d$, a $(k;g,d)$-cage (or simply girth-diameter cage) is a smallest $k$-regular graph of girth $g$ and diameter $d$ (if it exists). The order of a $(k;g,d)$-cage is denoted by $n(k;g,d)$. We determine asymptotic lower and upper bounds for the ratio between the order and the diameter of girth-diameter cages as the diameter goes to infinity. We also prove that this ratio can be computed in constant time for fixed $k$ and $g$. We theoretically determine the exact values $n(3;g,d)$, and count the number of corresponding girth-diameter cages, for $g \in \{4,5\}$. Moreover, we design and implement an exhaustive graph generation algorithm and use it to determine the exact order of several open cases and obtain -- often exhaustive -- sets of the corresponding girth-diameter cages. The largest case we generated and settled with our algorithm is a $(3;7,35)$-cage of order 136. 23 pages
Saúl A. Blanco, Mikhail P. Golubyatnikov, Elena V. Konstantinova, Natalia V. Maslova, Luka A. Nikiforov
Abstract
The cubic pancake graphs are Cayley graphs over the symmetric group $\mathrm{Sym}_n$ generated by three prefix reversals. There is the following open problem: characterize all the sets of three prefix reversals that generate $\mathrm{Sym}_n$. As the largest prefix reversal of length $n$ is always included in a triple, we give a complete solution of the problem when any of the two smallest or the two largest lengths but $n$ are included in a triple of prefix reversals. Moreover, some conditions implying a triple of prefix reversals does not generate $\mathrm{Sym}_n$ are considered. Computational results on the diameter and the girth of some cubic pancake graphs are presented, and conjectures for future research are formulated. 26 pages, 4 tables, 3 figures, 27 references
For a sequence of tasks, each with a positive integer period, the pinwheel scheduling problem involves finding a valid schedule in the sense that the schedule performs one task per day and each task is performed at least once every consecutive days of its period. It had been conjectured by Chan and Chin (1993) that there exists a valid schedule for any sequence of tasks with density, the sum of the reciprocals of each period, at most $\frac{5}{6}$. Recently, Kawamura (2024, in press) settled this conjecture affirmatively. In this paper we consider an extended version with real periods proposed by Kawamura, in which a valid schedule must perform each task $i$ having a real period~$a_{i}$ at least $l$ times in any $\lceil l a_{i} \rceil$ consecutive days for all positive integer $l$. We show that any sequence of tasks such that the periods take three distinct real values and the density is at most $\frac{5}{6}$ admits a valid schedule. We hereby conjecture that the conjecture of Chan and Chin is true also for real periods.
In a recent paper, Francis, Illickan, Jose and Rajendraprasad showed that every $n$-vertex plane graph $G$ has (under some natural restrictions) a vertex-partition into two sets $V_1$ and $V_2$ such that each $V_i$ is \emph{dominating} (every vertex of $G$ contains a vertex of $V_i$ in its closed neighbourhood) and \emph{face-hitting} (every face of $G$ is incident to a vertex of $V_i$). Their proof works by considering a supergraph $G'$ of $G$ that has certain properties, and among all such graphs, taking one that has the fewest edges. As such, their proof is not algorithmic. Their proof also relies on the 4-color theorem, for which a quadratic-time algorithm exists, but it would not be easy to implement. In this paper, we give a new proof that every $n$-vertex plane graph $G$ has (under the same restrictions) a vertex-partition into two dominating face-hitting sets. Our proof is constructive, and requires nothing more complicated than splitting a graph into 2-connected components, finding an ear decomposition, and computing a perfect matching in a 3-regular plane graph. For all these problems, linear-time algorithms are known and so we can find the vertex-partition in linear time. Preliminary version appeared at SOFSEM 2026
We consider partially ordered sets of combinatorial structures under consecutive orders, meaning that two structures are related when one embeds in the other such that `consecutive' elements remain consecutive in the image. Given such a partially ordered set, we may ask decidability questions about its avoidance sets: subsets defined by a finite number of forbidden substructures. Two such questions ask, given a finite set of structures, whether its avoidance set is well quasi-ordered (i.e. contains no infinite antichains) or atomic (i.e. cannot be expressed as the union of two proper subsets). Extending some recent new approaches, we will establish a general framework, which enables us to answer these problems for a wide class of combinatorial structures, including graphs, digraphs and collections of relations.
We consider the permutation analogue of Penney's game for words. Two players, in order, each choose a permutation of length $k\ge3$; then a sequence of independent random values from a continuous distribution is generated, until the relative order of the last $k$ numbers coincides with one of the chosen permutations, making that player the winner. We compute the winning probabilities for all pairs of permutations of length 3 and some pairs of length 4, showing that, as in the original version for words, the game is non-transitive. Our proofs introduce new bijections for consecutive patterns in permutations. We also give some formulas to compute the winning probabilities more generally, and conjecture a winning strategy for the second player when $k$ is arbitrary.
Kyle Celano, Abigail Ollson, Niraj Velankar, Jun Yan
Abstract
We prove an Erdős--Szekeres type result for finite words over $\mathbb{N}$ with repeated values. Specifically, we define a \emph{repeat} in a word to be an occurrence of a value which is not its first occurrence. We define an occurrence of a \emph{pattern} $π$ in a word $w$ to be a (not necessarily consecutive) subword of $w$ that is order isomorphic to $π$. In this note, we show that every word with $kn^6+1$ repeats contains one of the following patterns: $0^{k+2}$, $0011\cdots nn$, $nn\cdots1100$, $012 \cdots n012 \cdots n$, $012 \cdots nn\cdots 210$, $n\cdots 210012\cdots n$, $n\cdots 210n\cdots 210$. Moreover, when $k=1$, we show that this is best possible by constructing a word with $n^6$ repeats that does not contain any of these patterns. 11 pages, 9 figures
A permutation $π$ is said to avoid a chain $(σ:τ)$ of patterns if $π$ avoids $σ$ and $π^2$ avoids $τ.$ In this paper, we define a notion of pattern avoidance for compositions of positive integers and use that idea to enumerate permutations of length $n$ that avoid the chain $(312,321:σ)$ for any pattern $σ\in \bigcup_{m\geq 1} S_m$. We also enumerate those permutations that avoid the chain $(312,4321:σ)$ for any $σ\in S_3.$
Pin permutations play an important role in the structural study of permutation classes, most notably in relation to simple permutations and well-quasi-ordering, and in enumerative consequences arising from these. In this paper, we continue our study of pin classes, which are permutation classes that comprise all the finite subpermutations contained in an infinite pin permutation. We show that there is a phase transition at $μ\approx 3.28277$: there are uncountably many different pin classes whose growth rate is equal to $μ$, yet only countably many below $μ$. Furthermore, by showing that all pin classes with growth rate less than $μ$ are essentially defined by pin permutations that possess a periodic structure, we classify the set of growth rates of pin classes up to $μ$. 23 pages, 6 figures
Pamela E. Harris, J. Carlos Martínez Mori, Alexander N. Wilson
Abstract
We develop a circular-street argument, in the style of Pollak, to obtain a new proof that there are $C_n = \frac{1}{n+1}\binom{2n}{n}$ weakly increasing parking functions of length $n \geq 1$, where $C_n$ is the $n$th Catalan number.
We define a class of partially labeled trees and use them to find simple proofs for two recent enumeration results of Colin Defant concerning stack-sorting preimages of permutation classes. 7 pages, 5 figures
We consider a 2-player permutation game inspired by the celebrated Erdős-Szekeres Theorem. The game depends on two positive integer parameters $a$ and $b$ and we determine the winner and give a winning strategy when $a \geq b$ and $b \in \left\{2,3,4,5\right\}$. 18 pages
Emily Downing, Elizabeth Hartung, Cody Lucido, Aaron Williams
Abstract
Two $k$-ary Fibonacci recurrences are $a_k(n) = a_k(n-1) + k \cdot a_k(n-2)$ and $b_k(n) = k \cdot b_k(n-1) + b_k(n-2)$. We provide a simple proof that $a_k(n)$ is the number of $k$-regular words over $[n] = \{1,2,\ldots,n\}$ that avoid patterns $\{121, 123, 132, 213\}$ when using base cases $a_k(0) = a_k(1) = 1$ for any $k \geq 1$. This was previously proven by Kuba and Panholzer in the context of Wilf-equivalence for restricted Stirling permutations, and it creates Simion and Schmidt's classic result on the Fibonacci sequence when $k=1$, and the Jacobsthal sequence when $k=2$. We complement this theorem by proving that $b_k(n)$ is the number of $k$-regular words over $[n]$ that avoid $\{122, 213\}$ with $b_k(0) = b_k(1) = 1$ for any~$k \geq 2$. Finally, we conjecture that $|Av^{2}_{n}(\underline{121}, 123, 132, 213)| = a_1(n)^2$ for $n \geq 0$. That is, vincularizing the Stirling pattern in Kuba and Panholzer's Jacobsthal result gives the Fibonacci-squared numbers. 20 pages, submitted to special journal issue for Permutation Patterns 2023 (PP23) in DMTCS
Chadi Bsila, Caroline E. Cox, Anna S. Hugo, Lindsey A. Styron, Yan Zhuang
Abstract
A desarrangement is a permutation whose first ascent is even. Desarrangements were introduced in the 1980s by Jacques Désarménien, who proved that they are in bijection with derangements. We revisit the study of desarrangements, focusing on two themes: the refined enumeration of desarrangements with respect to permutation statistics, and pattern avoidance in desarrangements. Our main results include generating function formulas for counting desarrangements by the number of descents, peaks, valleys, double ascents, and double descents, as well as a complete enumeration of desarrangements avoiding a prescribed set of length 3 patterns. We find new interpretations of the Catalan, Fine, Jacobsthal, and Fibonacci numbers in terms of pattern-avoiding desarrangements. 28 pages
Nonnesting permutations are permutations of the multiset $\{1,1,2,2,\dots,n,n\}$ that avoid subsequences of the form $abba$ for any $a\neq b$. These permutations have recently been studied in connection to noncrossing (also called quasi-Stirling) permutations, which are those that avoid subsequences of the form $abab$, and in turn generalize the well-known Stirling permutations. Inspired by the work by Archer et al. on pattern avoidance in noncrossing permutations, we consider the analogous problem in the nonnesting case. We enumerate nonnesting permutations that avoid each set of two or more patterns of length 3, as well as those that avoid some sets of patterns of length 4. We obtain closed formulas and generating functions, some of which involve unexpected appearances of the Catalan and Fibonacci numbers. Our proofs rely on decompositions, recurrences, and bijections. to be published in DMTCS. Nature of replacement: formatting
We initiate a systematic study of pattern avoidance in rectangulations. We give a formal definition of such patterns and investigate rectangulations that avoid $\top$-like patterns - the pattern $\top$ and its rotations. For every $L \subseteq \{\top, \, \vdash, \, \bot, \, \dashv \}$ we enumerate $L$-avoiding rectangulations, both weak and strong. In particular, we show $\top$-avoiding weak rectangulations are enumerated by Catalan numbers and construct bijections to several Catalan structures. Then, we prove that $\top$-avoiding strong rectangulations are in bijection with several classes of inversion sequences, among them $I(010,101,120,201)$ and $I(011,201)$ - which leads to a solution of the conjecture that these classes are Wilf-equivalent. Finally, we show that $\{\top, \bot\}$-avoiding strong rectangulations are in bijection with recently introduced rushed Dyck paths. 30 pages, 21 figures
This work concerns a construction of pattern-avoiding inversion sequences from right to left we call the generating tree growing on the left. We first apply this construction to inversion sequences avoiding 201 and 210, resulting in a new way of computing their generating function. We then use a slightly modified construction to compute the generating function of inversion sequences avoiding 010 and 102, which was only conjectured before. These generating functions are algebraic in both instances. We end by discussing how the generating tree growing on the left can be applied in a more general setting. 23 pages, 3 figures, 1 table
Hertzsprung patterns, recently introduced by Anders Claesson, are subsequences of a permutation contiguous in both positions and values, and can be seen as a subclass of bivincular patterns. This paper investigates Hertzsprung patterns within involutions, where additional structural constraints introduce new challenges. We present a general formula for enumerating occurrences of these patterns in involutions. We also analyze specific cases to derive the distribution of all Hertzsprung patterns of lengths two and three. 15 pages
We study a family of maps from $S_n \to S_n$ we call fixed point homing shuffles. These maps generalize a few known problems such as Conway's Topswops, and a card shuffling process studied by Gweneth McKinley. We show that the iterates of these homing shuffles always converge, and characterize the set $U_n$ of permutations that no homing shuffle sorts. We also study a homing shuffle that sorts anything not in $U_n$, and find how many iterations it takes to converge in the worst case. Updated formatting to fit with DMTCS requirements
, Christoph Haase, Dieter Rautenbach