On the Existence and Construction of Some Non-Divisible t- Steiner Quintuple Systems of Balanced Incomplete Block Designs

Authors

  • Anthony A. Isaac Department of Statistics, Akwa Ibom State University, Ikot Akpaden, Mkpat Enin L. G. Area, Akwa Ibom State

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.83080/rejost.vol6no4.294

Keywords:

Balanced incomplete block design, Divisibility theorem, Quintuple designs, t-Steiner systems

Abstract

This study investigates the existence and construction of some non-divisible t-Steiner quintuple systems of balanced incomplete block designs (BIBDs). Design tuples of the parameters t-(n, p, λ)  for  t and λ varied,  and n, the order,  and p, the cardinality, kept constant at eleven (11) and five (5) respectively were generated and tested using the divisibility theorem. The design tuples that satisfied the divisibility theorem were classified as Divisible Designs while those that did not satisfy the divisibility theorem were classified as non-divisible designs. Interest was on the group of non-divisible designs and the interest was to ascertain if all non-divisible designs do not exist in line with the divisibility theorem.  In order to obtain the result, some divisible designs were constructed and their incidence matrices shown. These incidence matrices were then observed to also serve as the incidence matrices of the non-divisible designs. The results showed that some non-divisible design tuples exist. The result further showed that there exist structural relationships between the Divisible and some Non-divisible designs.

         Views | Downloads: 116 / 13

References

Akra, U. P., Bassey, E. E., Umondak, U. J., Etim, A. C., Isaac, A. A. & Akpan, U. A. (2024). On the selection of optimal balanced incomplete block designs using different types of designs. African Journal of Mathematics and Statistics Studies, 7(3), 179–189. https: //doi.org/10.52589-/AJMSS-MKIJMNKX.

Akra, U. P., Michael, I. T., Isaac, A. A., Etim, A. C. & Akpan, U. A (2025): Transforming Unreplicated Factorial Designs into Replicated Structures through Factor Projection. IPS Journal of Physical Sciences 2 (2), 81-89. https: //doi.org-/10.54117/ijps.v2i2.14.

Akra, U P., Isaac, A. A., Francis, R. E. & Tim, I. M., (2025): D-Optimality – Based Approach for Solving Second –Order Response Surface Response Surface Methodology Problem. Scientia. Technology, Science and Society 2 (9), 94-104. https://-doi.org/10.59324/stss.2025.-2(9).09

Akra, U P., Isaac, A. A., Michael, I.T., Akpan, U. B., and Akpan, S. S (2025): On A-Optimility Design for Solving Second-Order Response Surface Design Problems. Fudma Journal of Sciences; 9 (4), 275-279. https://doi.org/10.33003/fjs-2025-0904-3331

Akra, U. P., Isaac, A. A., Michael, I. T., Akpan, U. B. & Umondak, U. O. J. (2025). Concept of Isomorphisms and Automorphisms of a Balanced Incomplete Block Design. Scientia. Technology, Science and Society, 2(5), 118 – 124. https://doi.org/10.59324/ stss.2025.2(5)-.10

Akra, U. P., Ntekim, O. E., Robinson, G. S. & Etim, A. C. (2023). Evaluation of some algebraic structures in balanced incomplete block design. African Journal of Mathematics and Statistics Studies, 6(4), 34–43.

Akra, U. P., Isaac, A. A., Michael, I. T. & Akpan, U. A (2026). Exploration of Finite Group Approach in Balanced Incomplete Block Design. Academy Journal of Science and Engineering (AJSE), 20(1), 118 – 124. https://doi.org/10.5281/Zen-edo.19987241

Anthony, E. (2018). The modified balanced confounded design algorithm for constructing N-point D-optimal global designs. International Journal of Statistics and Applied Mathematics, 3 (2), 326–330.

Bose, R. C. (1939). On the construction of balanced incomplete block designs. Annals Eugenics, 353-399.

Bose, R. C. (1942). On some new series of balanced incomplete block designs. Bulletin Calcutta Mathematics Society, 34, 17-31.

Colbourn, C. J. & Rosa, A. (1999). Triple System, Oxford Science Publications.

Colbourn, C. J. & Mathon, R. (2006). Steiner systems, The CRC Handbook of combinatorial designs, edited by C.J. Colbourn, J.H. Dinitz, CRC Press.

Earl, K. & Dale, M. (1976). t- Designs on Hypergraphs, Discrete Maths (15) 263 -296.

Fisher, R. A. (1940). An examination of the different possible solutions of a problem in incomplete blocks. Annals of Eugenics, 10, 52–75. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-1809.1940.tb02226.x.

Hanani, H. (1972). On balanced incomplete block designs with blocks having five elements. Journal of Combinatorial Theory, 12, 184 – 201.

Hanani, H. (1960). The existence and construction of balanced incomplete block designs, Annals of Mathematics and Statistics. 32, 361-386.

Ho, Y. S. & Mendelsohn, N. S. (1974). Inequalities for t-designs with repeated blocks, equations Mathematica, A (10), 212-222.

Isaac, A. A., Akpan, S. S., & Akra, U. P. (2026). On the Construction of t-Steiner Quintuple Systems of Balanced Incomplete Block Designs. Scientia. Technology, Science and Society, 3(4), 97-109. DOI: 10.59324/stss.2026.3(4).08

Isaac, A. A., Akra, U. P., and Akpan, S.S. (2025a): On Whether A t- Steiner Quintuple System of Balanced Incomplete Block Design is a Group, Ring or Field Algebra. Fudma Journal of Sciences, 9(2),246-251. https://doi.org/10.33003/-fjs-2025-0912-4082.

Isaac, A. A., Akra, U. P. & Akpan, S. S. (2025b): A New Procedure for Constructing N-Point D-Optimal Symmetric and Asymmetric Designs. African Journal of Mathematics and Statistics Studies 8(4), 150-161. DOI: https://doi.org/10.52589-/AJMSSE9WW0NZJ

Isaac, A. A., & George, E. U. (2025). Analysis of the Average Study Time of Akwa Ibom State University Students and the Factors affecting it. IPS Journal of Physical Sciences, 2(2), 90–100. https://doi.org/-10.54117/ijps.v2i2.13

Isaac A. A., Tim, I. M., Ikpang, I. N. & Nsikak, S. (2017): On the Goodness of Four Types of Organic Fertilizers Using the Split Plot Design and the Two-Way Block Design with Interactions. American Journal of Applied Mathematics and Statistics. 2017; 5(4):136-144. Doi: 10.12691/ajams-5-4-4

Jungnickel, D. & Tonchev, V. D. (2019). Counting Steiner triple systems with classical parameters and prescribed rank. Discrete Mathematics, 162, 10 – 33.

Jungnickel, D., Magliveras, S., Tonchev, V. & Wasserman, A. (2019). The Classification of Steiner triple systems on 27 points with 3 – rank. Designs, codes and Crtptography. 24(87), 832 -839.

Keevash, P. (2014). The existence of designs. Annals of Mathematics, 181(2), 1011–1103. https://doi.org/10.4007/annals.201-5.181.2.4

Kirkman, T. P. (1857). On a problem in combinations. Cambridge and Dublin Mathematics Journal, 2, 191–204.

Michael, I. T., Ikpang, N. & Isaac, A. A. (2017). Goodness of fit test, a Chi-squared approach to fitting of a normal distribution to the weights of students of Akwa Ibom State University, Nigeria; Asian Journal of Natural and Applied Sciences, 6 (4), 107 -113.

Michael, I. T., Isaac, A. A. & Etim, A (2025): Fitting a Normal Distribution to the heights of Akwa Ibom State University Students Using Chi-square: Asian Journal of Probability and Statistics, 27 (5), 42-49. https//doi.org/10.9734/ajpas/2025/v27i5753

Moura, L. (2022). Steiner Triple Systems. School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of Ottawa.

Muffat, A. J., Akra, U. P., Uto, N. P., Isaac, A. A., Isaac, Etim, A. C., & Akpan, U. A (2025): Evaluating the Validity of Constructing Balanced Incomplete Block Design Using Galois Field Multiplication. FUDMA Journal of Sciences, Vol. 9 No. 12, December (Special Issue), 702 – 705. DOI: https://doi.org/10.330-03/fjs-2025-0912-4496.

Steiner, J. (1939). Kombinatorische, Aufgab J. Reine Angew. Mathematics Journal, 45, 181-182.

Umoren, M. U. & Isaac, A. A. (2010). Constructing N-point D-optimal designs from balanced confounded designs. Icastor Journal of Mathematical Sciences, 4(2), 183–196.

Usen, J. E., Ikpang, O. I., Santos, M. D., Isaac, A. A., MacGeorge, G. C. & Ekpety, M.F (2021): Statistical Quality Control Charts Based on Hyper-Geometrically Distributed Data Asian J. Probab. Stat 11 (4), 24-34. https://doi.org/10.9734/AJPAS/2021/v11i430272.

Wilson, R. M. (1973). The necessary conditions for t-designs are sufficient for something. Utilitas Mathematics, 4, 207–215.

Downloads

Published

2026-05-30

How to Cite

Isaac, A. A. (2026). On the Existence and Construction of Some Non-Divisible t- Steiner Quintuple Systems of Balanced Incomplete Block Designs. Researchers Journal of Science and Technology, 6(4), 35–44. https://doi.org/10.83080/rejost.vol6no4.294