Independence and k-domination in graphs

Abstract

A subset S of vertices of a graph G is k-dominating if every vertex not in S has at least k neighbours in S. The k-domination number γ _k (G) is the minimum cardinality of a k-dominating set of G, and α(G) denotes the cardinality of a maximum independent set of G. Brook's well-known bound for the chromatic number χ and the inequality α(G)≥n(G)/χ(G) for a graph G imply that α(G)≥n(G)/Δ(G) when G is non-regular and α(G)≥n(G)/(Δ(G)+1) otherwise. In this paper, we present a new proof of this property and derive some bounds on γ _k (G). In particular, we show that, if G is connected with δ(G)≥k then γ _k (G)≤(Δ(G)−1)α(G) with the exception of G being a cycle of odd length or the complete graph of order k+1. Finally, we characterize the connected non-regular graphs G satisfying equality in these bounds and present a conjecture for the regular case.

Keywords:

• k-domination
• independent set
• chromatic number
• maximum degree

2000 AMS Subject Classification :

• 05C69

Acknowledgement

We thank the anonymous referees whose remarks helped in improving the content of the paper.