Counting multiple graphs in generalized Tur\'an problems

Abstract

We are given graphs $H_1,\dots,H_k$ and $F$. Consider an $F$-free graph $G$ on $n$ vertices. What is the largest sum of the number of copies of $H_i$? The case $k=1$ has attracted a lot of attention. We also consider a colored variant, where the edges of $G$ are colored with $k$ colors. What is the largest sum of the number of copies of $H_i$ in color $i$? Our motivation to study this colored variant is a recent result stating that the Tur\'an number of the $r$-uniform Berge-$F$ hypergraphs is at most the quantity defined above for $k=2$, $H_1=K_r$ and $H_2=K_2$. In addition to studying these new questions, we obtain new results for generalized Tur\'an problems and also for Berge hypergraphs.