Related papers: Matching adjacent cards
We define the ``shift-match number'' for a binary string and we compute the probability of occurrence of a given string as a subsequence in longer strings in terms of its shift-match number. We thus prove that the string matching…
We consider the problem of counting the number of possible sets of rankings (called ranking patterns) generated by unfolding models of codimension one. We express the ranking patterns as slices of the braid arrangement and show that all…
A famous (and hard) chess problem asks what is the maximum number of safe squares possible in placing $n$ queens on an $n\times n$ board. We examine related problems from placing $n$ rooks. We prove that as $n\to\infty$, the probability…
This survey paper deals with upper and lower bounds on the number of $k$-matchings in regular graphs on $N$ vertices. For the upper bounds we recall the upper matching conjecture which is known to hold for perfect matchings. For the lower…
We initiate the study of the hat guessing number of a graph where the adversary is only allowed to provide a proper coloring of the graph. This is the largest number $q$ for which there is a guessing strategy on each vertex that only…
A 4-regular matchstick graph is a planar unit-distance graph whose vertices have all degree 4. Examples of 4-regular matchstick graphs are currently known for all number of vertices $\geq$ 52 except for 53, 55, 56, 58, 59, 61, and 62. In…
We show that the problem of counting perfect matchings remains #P-complete even if we restrict the input to very dense graphs, proving the conjecture in [5]. Here "dense graphs" refer to bipartite graphs of bipartite independence number…
It is proved that for $n \geq 6$, the number of perfect matchings in a simple connected cubic graph on $2n$ vertices is at most $4 f_{n-1}$, with $f_n$ being the $n$-th Fibonacci number. The unique extremal graph is characterized as well.…
Recently Wilson [Ann. Appl. Probab. 14 (2004) 274--325] introduced an important new technique for lower bounding the mixing time of a Markov chain. In this paper we extend Wilson's technique to find lower bounds of the correct order for…
We determine all graphs whose matching polynomials have at most five distinct zeros. As a consequence, we find new families of graphs which are determined by their matching polynomial.
Mathematics has been used in the exploration and enumeration of juggling patterns. In the case when we catch and throw one ball at a time the number of possible juggling patterns is well-known. When we are allowed to catch and throw any…
Consider a 4-player version of Matching Pennies where a team of three players competes against the Devil. Each player simultaneously says "Heads" or "Tails". The team wins if all four choices match; otherwise the Devil wins. If all team…
We study games in which every action requires planning and preparation. Moreover, before players act, they can revise their plans based on partially revealing information that they receive on their adversary's preparations. In turn, we…
We study parallel comparison-based algorithms for finding all equivalence classes of a set of $n$ elements, where sorting according to some total order is not possible. Such scenarios arise, for example, in applications, such as in…
In this paper, we consider the average size of independent edge sets, also called matchings, in a graph. We characterize the extremal graphs for the average size of matchings in general graphs and trees. In addition, we obtain inequalities…
A matching queue is described via a graph $G$ together with a matching policy. Specifically, to each node in the graph there is a corresponding arrival process of items which can either be queued, or matched with queued items in neighboring…
We consider a natural model of random knotting- choose a knot diagram at random from the finite set of diagrams with n crossings. We tabulate diagrams with 10 and fewer crossings and classify the diagrams by knot type, allowing us to…
We study the set of all determinants of adjacency matrices of graphs with a given number of vertices.
In this expository article, we discuss the rank-derangement problem, which asks for the number of permutations of a deck of cards such that each card is replaced by a card of a different rank. This combinatorial problem arises in computing…
Games often incorporate random elements in the form of dice or shuffled card decks. This randomness is a key contributor to the player experience and the variety of game situations encountered. There is a tension between a level of…