Complexity results for generating subgraphs

Abstract: A graph G is well-covered if all its maximal independent sets are of the same cardinality. Assume that a weight function w is defined on its vertices. Then G is w-well-covered if all maximal independent sets are of the same weight. For every graph G, the set of weight functions w such that G is w-well-covered is a vector space, denoted WCW(G). Let B be a complete bipartite induced subgraph of G on vertex sets of bipartition B_X and B_Y. Then B is generating if there exists an independent set S such that S \cup B_X and S \cup B_Y are both maximal independent sets of G. A relating edge is a generating subgraph in the restricted case that B = K_{1,1}. Deciding whether an input graph G is well-covered is co-NP-complete. Therefore finding WCW(G) is co-NP-hard. Deciding whether an edge is relating is co-NP-complete. Therefore, deciding whether a subgraph is generating is co-NP-complete as well. In this article we discuss the connections among these problems, provide proofs for NP-completeness for several restricted cases, and present polynomial characterizations for some other cases.