An Italian dominating function, abbreviated IDF, of $G$ is a function $f \colon V(G) \rightarrow \{0, 1, 2\}$ satisfying the condition that for every vertex $v \in V(G)$ with $f(v)=0$, we have $\sum_{u \in N(v)} f(u) \ge 2$. That is, either $v$ is adjacent to at least one vertex $u$ with $f(u) = 2$, or to at least two vertices $x$ and $y$ with $f(x) = f(y) = 1$. The Italian domination number, denoted $\gamma_I$(G), is the minimum weight of an IDF in $G$. In this thesis, we use operations that join two trees with a single edge in order to build trees with unique $\gamma_I$-functions.

An Italian dominating function on a graph $G = (V,E)$ is a function such that $f : V \to \{0,1,2\}$, and for each vertex $v \in V$ for which $f(v) = 0$, we have $\sum_{u\in N(v)}f(u) \geq 2$. The weight of an Italian dominating function is $f(V) = \sum_{v\in V(G)}f(v)$. The minimum weight of all such functions on a graph $G$ is called the Italian domination number of $G$. In this thesis, we will consider Italian domination in various types of products of a graph $G$ with the complete graph $K_2$. We will find the value of the Italian domination number for ladders, specific families of prisms, mobius ladders and related products including categorical products $G\times K_2$ and lexicographic products $G\cdot K_2$. Finally, we will conclude with open problems.

A perfect Italian dominating function on a graph G is a function f:V(G)→{0,1,2} satisfying the condition that for every vertex u with f(u)=0, the total weight of f assigned to the neighbors of u is exactly two. The weight of a perfect Italian dominating function is the sum of the weights of the vertices. The perfect Italian domination number of G, denoted γ Ip (G), is the minimum weight of a perfect Italian dominating function of G. We show that if G is a tree on n≥3 vertices, then γ Ip (G)≤[Formula presented]n, and for each positive integer n≡0(mod5) there exists a tree of order n for which equality holds in the bound.

An Italian dominating function on a graph G with vertex set V(G) is a function f: V(G) → { 0 , 1 , 2 } having the property that for every vertex v with f(v) = 0 , at least two neighbors of v are assigned 1 under f or at least one neighbor of v is assigned 2 under f. The weight of an Italian dominating function f is the sum of the values assigned to all the vertices under f. The Italian domination number of G, denoted by γI(G) , is the minimum weight of an Italian dominating of G. It is known that if G is a connected graph of order n≥ 3 , then γI(G)≤34n. Further, if G has minimum degree at least 2, then γI(G)≤23n. In this paper, we characterize the connected graphs achieving equality in these bounds. In addition, we prove Nordhaus–Gaddum inequalities for the Italian domination number.

Let $G$ be any graph and let $\overline{G}$ be its complement. The complementary prism of $G$ is formed from the disjoint union of a graph $G$ and its complement $\overline{G}$ by adding the edges of a perfect matching between the corresponding vertices of $G$ and $\overline{G}$. An Italian dominating function on a graph $G$ is a function such that $f \, : \, V \to \{ 0,1,2 \}$ and for each vertex $v \in V$ for which $f(v)=0$, it holds that $\sum_{u \in N(v)} f(u) \geq 2$. The weight of an Italian dominating function is the value $f(V)=\sum_{u \in V(G)}f(u)$. The minimum weight of all such functions on $G$ is called the Italian domination number. In this thesis we will study Italian domination in complementary prisms. First we will present an error found in one of the references. Then we will define the small values of the Italian domination in complementary prisms, find the value of the Italian domination number in specific families of graphs complementary prisms, and conclude with future problems.