In this paper we consider the Markov process defined by

P1,1=1, Pn,[lscr ]=(1−λn,[lscr ]) ·Pn−1,[lscr ] +λn,[lscr ]−1 ·Pn−1,[lscr ]−1

for transition probabilities λn,[lscr ]=q[lscr ] and λn,[lscr ]=qn−1. We give closed forms for the distributions and the moments of the underlying random variables. Thereby we observe that the distributions can be easily described in terms of q-Stirling numbers of the second kind. Their occurrence in a purely time dependent Markov process allows a natural approximation for these numbers through the normal distribution. We also show that these Markov processes describe some parameters related to the study of random graphs as well as to the analysis of algorithms.

For a graph G=(V, E) on n vertices, where 3 divides n, a triangle factor is a subgraph of G, consisting of n/3 vertex disjoint triangles (complete graphs on three vertices). We discuss the problem of determining the minimal probability p=p(n), for which a random graph G∈[Gscr ](n, p) contains almost surely a triangle factor. This problem (in a more general setting) has been studied by Alon and Yuster and by Ruciński, their approach implies p=O((log n/n)1/2). Our main result is that p=O(n)−3/5) already suffices. The proof is based on a multiple use of the Janson inequality. Our approach can be extended to improve known results about the threshold for the existence of an H-factor in [Gscr ](n, p) for various graphs H.

A model for a random random-walk on a finite group is developed where the group elements that generate the random-walk are chosen uniformly and with replacement from the group. When the group is the d-cube Zd2, it is shown that if the generating set is size k then as d → ∞ with k − d → ∞ almost all of the random-walks converge to uniform in k ln (k/(k − d))/4+ρk steps, where ρ is any constant satisfying ρ > −ln (ln 2)/4.

The Turán Number T(n, k, r) is the smallest possible number of edges in a k-graph of order n such that every set of r vertices contains an edge. The limit

formula here

exists, but there is no pair (k, r) with r>k[ges ]3 for which this function could be determined as yet. We give a constructive proof of the upper bound

formula here

for every k and r with r[ges ]k[ges ]2. In the case k=6, r=11 we improve this result, refuting thereby a conjecture of Turán.

The prime factorization of a random integer has a GEM/Poisson-Dirichlet distribution as transparently proved by Donnelly and Grimmett [8]. By similarity to the arc-sine law for the mean distribution of the divisors of a random integer, due to Deshouillers, Dress and Tenenbaum [6] (see also Tenenbaum [24, II.6.2, p. 233]), – the ‘DDT theorem’ – we obtain an arc-sine law in the GEM/Poisson-Dirichlet context. In this context we also investigate the distribution of the number of components larger than ε which correspond to the number of prime factors larger than nε.

A relationship between a new and an old graph invariant is established. The first invariant is connected to the ‘sandglass conjecture’ of [1]. The second one is graph entropy, an information theoretic functional, which is already known to be relevant in several combinatorial contexts.

The lifetime of a player is defined to be the time where he gets his b-th hit, where a hit will occur with probability p. We consider the maximum statistics of N independent players. For b≠1 this is significantly more difficult than the known instance b=1. The expected value of the maximum lifetime of N players is given by logQN+(b−1)logQ logQN+ smaller order terms, where Q=1/(1−p).

In this note we give a probabilistic proof of the existence of an n-vertex graph Gn, n=1, 2, [ctdot ], such that, for some constant c>0, the edges of Gn cannot be covered by n−c log n complete bipartite subgraphs of Gn. This result improves a previous bound due to F. R. K. Chung and is the best possible up to a constant.

We show that an old but not well-known lower bound for the crossing number of a graph yields short proofs for a number of bounds in discrete plane geometry which were considered hard before: the number of incidences among points and lines, the maximum number of unit distances among n points, the minimum number of distinct distances among n points.

The cyclic tour property has previously been an equality for the expected time to complete a tour, compared with that for the reverse tour, for reversible Markov chains. We give a simple bijection to show that the equality can be extended to the distributions involved. The bijection is based on rotation of circular words.

Inequalities for martingales with bounded differences have recently proved to be very useful in combinatorics and in the mathematics of operational research and computer science. We see here that these inequalities extend in a natural way to ‘centering sequences’ with bounded differences, and thus include, for example, better inequalities for sequences related to sampling without replacement.

In generalisation of the beta law obtained under the GEM/Poisson–Dirichlet distribution in Hirth [12] we undertake here an analogous construction which results in the Dirichlet law. Our proof makes use of Hoppe's Pólya-like urn model in population genetics.

The maximal zero-free intervals for chromatic polynomials of graphs are precisely (−∞, 0), (0, 1), (1, 32/27]. We also investigate the distribution of zeros of chromatic polynomials in various classes of graphs closed under minors. For example, the zeros of chromatic polynomials of graphs of tree-width at most k consist of 0, 1 and a dense subset of the interval (32/27, k].

We explore the ‘Hausdorff dimension at infinity’ for self-affine carpets defined on the square lattice. This notion of dimension (due to Barlow and Taylor), which is the correct notion from a probabilistic perspective, differs for these sets from more ‘naive’ indices of fractal dimension.

Assemblies are labelled combinatorial objects that can be decomposed into components. Examples of assemblies include set partitions, permutations and random mappings. In addition, a distribution from population genetics called the Ewens sampling formula may be treated as an assembly. Each assembly has a size n, and the sum of the sizes of the components sums to n. When the uniform distribution is put on all assemblies of size n, the process of component counts is equal in distribution to a process of independent Poisson variables Zi conditioned on the event that a weighted sum of the independent variables is equal to n. Logarithmic assemblies are assemblies characterized by some θ > 0 for which i[ ]Zi → θ. Permutations and random mappings are logarithmic assemblies; set partitions are not a logarithmic assembly. Suppose b = b(n) is a sequence of positive integers for which b/n → β ε (0, 1]. For logarithmic assemblies, the total variation distance db(n) between the laws of the first b coordinates of the component counting process and of the first b coordinates of the independent processes converges to a constant H(β). An explicit formula for H(β) is given for β ε (0, 1] in terms of a limit process which depends only on the parameter θ. Also, it is shown that db(n) → 0 if and only if b/n → 0, generalizing results of Arratia, Barbour and Tavaré for the Ewens sampling formula. Local limit theorems for weighted sums of the Zi are used to prove these results.

We show that there are almost surely only finitely many times at which there are at least four ‘tied’ favourite edges for a simple random walk. This (partially) answers a question of Erdős and Révész.

Let G be a loopless 2-connected graph whose largest cycle has c edges, and whose largest bond has c* edges. We show that |E(G)| [les ] ½cc*.

Certain convergent search algorithms can be turned into chaotic dynamic systems by renormalisation back to a standard region at each iteration. This allows the machinery of ergodic theory to be used for a new probabilistic analysis of their behaviour. Rates of convergence can be redefined in terms of various entropies and ergodic characteristics (Kolmogorov and Rényi entropies and Lyapunov exponent). A special class of line-search algorithms, which contains the Golden-Section algorithm, is studied in detail. Their associated dynamic systems exhibit a Markov partition property, from which invariant measures and ergodic characteristics can be computed. A case is made that the Rényi entropy is the most appropriate convergence criterion in this environment.

Let Q be a stochastic matrix and I be the identity matrix. We show by a direct combinatorial approach that the coefficients of the characteristic polynomial of the matrix I−Q are log-concave. We use this fact to prove a new bound for the second-largest eigenvalue of Q.

An [n, k, r]-partite graph is a graph whose vertex set, V, can be partitioned into n pairwise-disjoint independent sets, V1, …, Vn, each containing exactly k vertices, and the subgraph induced by Vi ∪ Vj contains exactly r independent edges, for 1 [les ] i < j [les ] n. An independent transversal in an [n, k, r]-partite graph is an independent set, T, consisting of n vertices, one from each Vi. An independent covering is a set of k pairwise-disjoint independent transversals. Let t(k, r) denote the maximal n for which every [n, k, r]-partite graph contains an independent transversal. Let c(k, r) be the maximal n for which every [n, k, r]-partite graph contains an independent covering. We give upper and lower bounds for these parameters. Furthermore, our bounds are constructive. These results improve and generalize previous results of Erdo″s, Gyárfás and Łuczak [5], for the case of graphs.