On the decompositions of complete graphs into cycles and stars on the same number of edges

Abstract

Let Cm and Sm denote a cycle and a star on m edges, respectively. We investigate the decomposition of the complete graphs, Kn, into cycles and stars on the same number of edges. We give an algorithm that determines values of n, for a given value of m, where Kn is {Cm, Sm}-decomposable. We show that the obvious necessary condition is sufficient for such decom- positions to exist for different values of m.