Forbidden subgraphs and 2-factors in 3/2-tough graphs

Abstract

A graph $G$ is $H$-free if it has no induced subgraph isomorphic to $H$, where $H$ is a graph. In this paper, we show that every $\frac{3}{2}$-tough $(P_4\cup P_{10})$-free graph has a 2-factor. The toughness condition of this result is sharp. Moreover, for any $\epsilon >0$ there exists a $(2-\epsilon )$-tough $2P_5$-free graph without a 2-factor. This implies that the graph $P_4\cup P_{10}$ is best possible for a forbidden subgraph in a sense.

16 pages, 3 figures