We prove that any quasirandom dense large graph in which all degrees are equal and even can be decomposed into any given collection of two-factors (2-regular spanning subgraphs). A special case of this result gives a new solution to the Oberwolfach problem.
The Oberwolfach problem, posed by Ringel in 1967, asks for a decomposition of $K_{2n+1}$ into edge-disjoint copies of a given $2$-factor. We show that this can be achieved for all large $n$. We actually prove a significantly more general result, whic
h allows for decompositions into more general types of factors. In particular, this also resolves the Hamilton-Waterloo problem for large $n$.
The concept of a $1$-rotational factorization of a complete graph under a finite group $G$ was studied in detail by Buratti and Rinaldi. They found that if $G$ admits a $1$-rotational $2$-factorization, then the involutions of $G$ are pairwise conjug
ate. We extend their result by showing that if a finite group $G$ admits a $1$-rotational $k=2^nm$-factorization where $ngeq 1$, and $m$ is odd, then $G$ has at most $m(2^n-1)$ conjugacy classes containing involutions. Also, we show that if $G$ has exactly $m(2^n-1)$ conjugacy classes containing involutions, then the product of a central involution with an involution in one conjugacy class yields an involution in a different conjugacy class. We then demonstrate a method of constructing a $1$-rotational $2n$-factorization under $G times mathbb{Z}_n$ given a $1$-rotational $2$-factorization under a finite group $G$. This construction, given a $1$-rotational solution to the Oberwolfach problem $OP(a_{infty},a_1, a_2 cdots, a_n)$, allows us to find a solution to $OP(2a_{infty}-1,^2a_1, ^2a_2cdots, ^2a_n)$ when the $a_i$s are even ($i eq infty$), and $OP(p(a_{infty}-1)+1, ^pa_1, ^pa_2 cdots, ^pa_n)$ when $p$ is an odd prime, with no restrictions on the $a_i$s.
In this paper, we find a strong new restriction on the structure of CI-groups. We show that, if $R$ is a generalised dihedral group and if $R$ is a CI-group, then for every odd prime $p$ the Sylow $p$-subgroup of $R$ has order $p$, or $9$. Consequent
ly, any CI-group with quotient a generalised dihedral group has the same restriction, that for every odd prime $p$ the Sylow $p$-subgroup of the group has order $p$, or $9$. We also give a counter example to the conjecture that every BCI-group is a CI-group.
Suppose we have a network that is represented by a graph $G$. Potentially a fire (or other type of contagion) might erupt at some vertex of $G$. We are able to respond to this outbreak by establishing a firebreak at $k$ other vertices of $G$, so that
the fire cannot pass through these fortified vertices. The question that now arises is which $k$ vertices will result in the greatest number of vertices being saved from the fire, assuming that the fire will spread to every vertex that is not fully behind the $k$ vertices of the firebreak. This is the essence of the {sc Firebreak} decision problem, which is the focus of this paper. We establish that the problem is intractable on the class of split graphs as well as on the class of bipartite graphs, but can be solved in linear time when restricted to graphs having constant-bounded treewidth, or in polynomial time when restricted to intersection graphs. We also consider some closely related problems.
Classical questions in extremal graph theory concern the asymptotics of $operatorname{ex}(G, mathcal{H})$ where $mathcal{H}$ is a fixed family of graphs and $G=G_n$ is taken from a `standard increasing sequence of host graphs $(G_1, G_2, dots)$, most
often $K_n$ or $K_{n,n}$. Inverting the question, we can instead ask how large $e(G)$ can be with respect to $operatorname{ex}(G,mathcal{H})$. We show that the standard sequences indeed maximize $e(G)$ for some choices of $mathcal{H}$, but not for others. Many interesting questions and previous results arise very naturally in this context, which also, unusually, gives rise to sensible extremal questions concerning multigraphs and non-uniform hypergraphs.