2011Discussiones Mathematicae Graph TheoryRequires access

On Fulkerson conjecture

Jean Fouquet, Jean-Marie Vanherpe

Open publisher page 15 citations

Abstract

If $G$ is a bridgeless cubic graph, Fulkerson conjectured that we can find $6$ perfect matchings (a {\em Fulkerson covering}) with the property that every edge of $G$ is contained in exactly two of them. A consequence of the Fulkerson conjecture would be that every bridgeless cubic graph has $3$ perfect matchings with empty intersection (this problem is known as the Fan Raspaud Conjecture). A {\em FR-triple} is a set of $3$ such perfect matchings. We show here how to derive a Fulkerson covering from two FR-triples. Moreover, we give a simple proof that the Fulkerson conjecture holds true for some classes of well known snarks.

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What this paper is about

If $G$ is a bridgeless cubic graph, Fulkerson conjectured that we can find $6$ perfect matchings (a {\em Fulkerson covering}) with the property that every edge of $G$ is contained in exactly two of them. A consequence of the Fulkerson conjecture would be that every bridgeless cubic graph has $3$ perfect matchings with empty intersection (this problem is known as the Fan Raspaud Conjecture). A {\em FR-triple} is a set of $3$ such perfect matchings. We show here how to derive a Fulkerson covering from two FR-triples. Moreover, we give a simple proof that the Fulkerson conjecture holds true for some classes of well known snarks.

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Available abstract

If $G$ is a bridgeless cubic graph, Fulkerson conjectured that we can find $6$ perfect matchings (a {\em Fulkerson covering}) with the property that every edge of $G$ is contained in exactly two of them. A consequence of the Fulkerson conjecture would be that every bridgeless cubic graph has $3$ perfect matchings with empty intersection (this problem is known as the Fan Raspaud Conjecture). A {\em FR-triple} is a set of $3$ such perfect matchings. We show here how to derive a Fulkerson covering from two FR-triples. Moreover, we give a simple proof that the Fulkerson conjecture holds true for some classes of well known snarks.

Key concepts: Mathematics, Conjecture, Combinatorics, Discrete mathematics

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