MathDB
Graph construction given degrees

Source: Austrian-Polish 1985, Problem 2

July 5, 2015
graph theoryvertex degreecombinatorics

Problem Statement

Suppose that n8n\ge 8 persons P1,P2,,PnP_1,P_2,\dots,P_n meet at a party. Assume that PkP_k knows k+3k+3 persons for k=1,2,,n6k=1,2,\dots,n-6. Further assume that each of Pn5,Pn4,Pn3P_{n-5},P_{n-4},P_{n-3} knows n2n-2 persons, and each of Pn2,Pn1,PnP_{n-2},P_{n-1},P_n knows n1n-1 persons. Find all integers n8n\ge 8 for which this is possible.
(It is understood that "to know" is a symmetric nonreflexive relation: if PiP_i knows PjP_j then PjP_j knows PiP_i; to say that PiP_i knows pp persons means: knows pp persons other than herself/himself.)