Joins of paths and cycles of equal order with sigma chromatic number 2

Abstract

For a simple connected graph [Formula: see text] let [Formula: see text] be a coloring of [Formula: see text] where two adjacent vertices may be assigned the same color. Let [Formula: see text] be the sum of colors of neighbors of any vertex [Formula: see text] The coloring [Formula: see text] is a sigma coloring of [Formula: see text] if for any two adjacent vertices [Formula: see text] [Formula: see text] The least number of colors required in a sigma coloring of [Formula: see text] is the sigma chromatic number of [Formula: see text] and is denoted by [Formula: see text] A sigma coloring of a graph is a neighbor-distinguishing type of coloring and it is known that the sigma chromatic number of a graph is bounded above by its chromatic number. It is also known that for a path [Formula: see text] and a cycle [Formula: see text] where [Formula: see text] [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] if [Formula: see text] is even. Let [Formula: see text] the join of the graphs [Formula: see text], where [Formula: see text] or [Formula: see text] [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] is not an odd cycle for any [Formula: see text]. It has been shown that if [Formula: see text] for [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] then [Formula: see text]. In this study, we give necessary and sufficient conditions under which [Formula: see text] where [Formula: see text] is the join of copies of [Formula: see text] and/or [Formula: see text] for the same value of [Formula: see text]. Let [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] be positive integers with [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] In this paper, we show that [Formula: see text] if and only if [Formula: see text] or [Formula: see text] is odd, [Formula: see text] is even and [Formula: see text]; and [Formula: see text] if and only if [Formula: see text] is even and [Formula: see text] We also obtain necessary and sufficient conditions on [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text], so that [Formula: see text] for [Formula: see text] where [Formula: see text] or [Formula: see text] other than the cases [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text]