Maximum Independent Set when excluding an induced minor: $K_1 + tK_2$ and $tC_3 \uplus C_4$
Abstract
Dallard, Milani\v{c}, and \v{S}torgel [arXiv '22] ask if for every class excluding a fixed planar graph as an induced minor, Maximum Independent Set can be solved in polynomial time, and show that this is indeed the case when is any planar complete bipartite graph, or the 5-vertex clique minus one edge, or minus two disjoint edges. A positive answer would constitute a far-reaching generalization of the state-of-the-art, when we currently do not know if a polynomial-time algorithm exists when is the 7-vertex path. Relaxing tractability to the existence of a quasipolynomial-time algorithm, we know substantially more. Indeed, quasipolynomial-time algorithms were recently obtained for the -vertex cycle, [Gartland et al., STOC '21] and the disjoint union of triangles, [Bonamy et al., SODA '23]. We give, for every integer , a polynomial-time algorithm running in when is the friendship graph ( disjoint edges plus a vertex fully adjacent to them), and a quasipolynomial-time algorithm running in , with a single-exponential function, when is (the disjoint union of triangles and a 4-vertex cycle). The former extends a classical result on graphs excluding as an induced subgraph [Alekseev, DAM '07], while the latter extends Bonamy et al.'s result.
Keywords
Cite
@article{arxiv.2302.08182,
title = {Maximum Independent Set when excluding an induced minor: $K_1 + tK_2$ and $tC_3 \uplus C_4$},
author = {Édouard Bonnet and Julien Duron and Colin Geniet and Stéphan Thomassé and Alexandra Wesolek},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2302.08182},
year = {2026}
}
Comments
16 pages, 2 figures