Partitioning a graph into degenerate subgraphs

TL;DR

This paper develops an efficient algorithm to partition graphs with bounded maximum degree into degenerate subgraphs and proves NP-completeness for certain partitioning problems, extending classical theorems and resolving open questions.

Contribution

It provides a linear-time algorithm for specific graph partitions and establishes NP-completeness for others, generalizing Brooks' theorem and vertex arboricity results.

Findings

Linear-time algorithm for $(p_1, o, p_s)$-partitioning under certain conditions

NP-completeness of $(p, q)$-partitionability for specific parameters

Resolution of an open problem on partitioning graphs into prescribed degeneracy subgraphs

Abstract

Let $G = (V, E)$ be a connected graph with maximum degree $k\geq 3$ distinct from $K_{k+1}$. Given integers $s \geq 2$ and $p_1,\ldots,p_s\geq 0$, $G$ is said to be $(p_1, \dots, p_s)$-partitionable if there exists a partition of $V$ into sets~$V_1,\ldots,V_s$ such that $G[V_i]$ is $p_i$-degenerate for $i\in\{1,\ldots,s\}$. In this paper, we prove that we can find a $(p_1, \dots, p_s)$-partition of $G$ in $O(|V| + |E|)$-time whenever $1\geq p_1, \dots, p_s \geq 0$ and $p_1 + \dots + p_s \geq k - s$. This generalizes a result of Bonamy et al. (MFCS, 2017) and can be viewed as an algorithmic extension of Brooks' theorem and several results on vertex arboricity of graphs of bounded maximum degree. We also prove that deciding whether $G$ is $(p, q)$-partitionable is $\mathbb{NP}$-complete for every $k \geq 5$ and pairs of non-negative integers $(p, q)$ such that $(p, q) \not = (1, 1)$ and $p + q = k - 3$. This resolves an open problem of Bonamy et al. (manuscript, 2017). Combined with results of Borodin, Kostochka and Toft (\emph{Discrete Mathematics}, 2000), Yang and Yuan (\emph{Discrete Mathematics}, 2006) and Wu, Yuan and Zhao (\emph{Journal of Mathematical Study}, 1996), it also settles the complexity of deciding whether a graph with bounded maximum degree can be partitioned into two subgraphs of prescribed degeneracy.