Zero and total forcing dense graphs

Randy Davila, Michael Henning, Ryan Pepper

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

If S is a set of colored vertices in a simple graph G, then one may allow a colored vertex with exactly one non-colored neighbor to force its non-colored neighbor to become colored. If by iteratively applying this color change rule, all of the vertices in G become colored, then S is a zero forcing set of G. The minimum cardinality of a zero forcing set in G, written Z(G), is the zero forcing number of G. If in addition, S induces a subgraph of G without isolated vertices, then S is a total forcing set of G. The total forcing number of G, written Ft(G), is the minimum cardinality of a total forcing set in G. In this paper we introduce, and study, the notion of graphs for which all vertices are contained in some minimum zero forcing set, or some minimum total forcing set; we call such graphs ZF-dense and TF-dense, respectively. A graph is ZTF-dense if it is both ZF-dense and TF-dense. We determine various classes of ZTF-dense graphs, including among others, cycles, complete multipartite graphs of order at least three that are not stars, wheels, n-dimensional hypercubes, and diamond-necklaces. We show that no tree of order at least three is ZTF-dense. We show that if G and H are connected graphs of order at least two that are both ZF-dense, then the join G + H of G and H is ZF-dense.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1-16
Number of pages16
JournalDiscussiones Mathematicae - Graph Theory
DOIs
Publication statusAccepted/In press - 2021

Keywords

  • ZF-dense
  • Zero forcing number
  • Zero forcing sets

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Discrete Mathematics and Combinatorics
  • Applied Mathematics

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Zero and total forcing dense graphs'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this