On minimum $t$-claw deletion in split graphs

Abstract: For $t\geq 3$, $K_{1, t}$ is called $t$-claw. In minimum $t$-claw deletion problem (\texttt{Min-$t$-Claw-Del}), given a graph $G=(V, E)$, it is required to find a vertex set $S$ of minimum size such that $G[V\setminus S]$ is $t$-claw free. In a split graph, the vertex set is partitioned into two sets such that one forms a clique and the other forms an independent set. Every $t$-claw in a split graph has a center vertex in the clique partition. This observation motivates us to consider the minimum one-sided bipartite $t$-claw deletion problem (\texttt{Min-$t$-OSBCD}). Given a bipartite graph $G=(A \cup B, E)$, in \texttt{Min-$t$-OSBCD} it is asked to find a vertex set $S$ of minimum size such that $G[V \setminus S]$ has no $t$-claw with the center vertex in $A$. A primal-dual algorithm approximates \texttt{Min-$t$-OSBCD} within a factor of $t$. We prove that it is $\UGC$-hard to approximate with a factor better than $t$. We also prove it is approximable within a factor of 2 for dense bipartite graphs. By using these results on \texttt{Min-$t$-OSBCD}, we prove that \texttt{Min-$t$-Claw-Del} is $\UGC$-hard to approximate within a factor better than $t$, for split graphs. We also consider their complementary maximization problems and prove that they are $\APX$-complete.