English

Online size Ramsey numbers: Path vs $C_4$

Combinatorics 2022-12-15 v2

Abstract

Given two graphs GG and HH, a size Ramsey game is played on the edge set of KNK_\mathbb{N}. In every round, Builder selects an edge and Painter colours it red or blue. Builder's goal is to force Painter to create a red copy of GG or a blue copy of HH as soon as possible. The online (size) Ramsey number r~(G,H)\tilde r(G,H) is the number of rounds in the game provided Builder and Painter play optimally. We prove that r~(C4,Pn)2n2\tilde r(C_4,P_n)\le 2n-2 for every n8n\ge 8. The upper bound matches the lower bound obtained by J. Cyman, T. Dzido, J. Lapinskas, and A. Lo, so we get r~(C4,Pn)=2n2\tilde r(C_4,P_n)=2n-2 for n8n\ge 8. Our proof for n13n\le 13 is computer assisted. The bound r~(C4,Pn)2n2\tilde r(C_4,P_n)\le 2n-2 solves also the "all cycles vs. PnP_n" game for n8n\ge 8 - it implies that it takes Builder 2n22n-2 rounds to force Painter to create a blue path on nn vertices or any red cycle.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.2211.12204,
  title  = {Online size Ramsey numbers: Path vs $C_4$},
  author = {Grzegorz Adamski and Małgorzata Bednarska-Bzdęga},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2211.12204},
  year   = {2022}
}

Comments

28 pages, refactored code

R2 v1 2026-06-28T06:34:53.312Z