On the local metric dimension of $K_5$-free graphs

Abstract

Let \( G \) be a graph with order \( n(G) \geq 5 \), local metric dimension \( \dim_l(G) \), and clique number \( \omega(G) \). In this paper, we investigate the local metric dimension of \( K_5 \)-free graphs and prove that \( \dim_l(G) \leq \lfloor\frac{2}{3}n(G)\rfloor \) when \( \omega(G) = 4 \). As a consequence of this finding, along with previous publications, we establish that if \( G \) is a \( K_5 \)-free graph, then \( \dim_l(G) \leq \lfloor\frac{2}{5}n(G)\rfloor \) when \( \omega(G) = 2 \), \( \dim_l(G) \leq \lfloor\frac{1}{2}n(G)\rfloor \) when \( \omega(G) = 3 \), and \( \dim_l(G) \leq \lfloor\frac{2}{3}n(G)\rfloor \) when \( \omega(G) = 4 \). Notably, these bounds are sharp for planar graphs. These results for graphs with a clique number less than or equal to 4 provide a positive answer to the conjecture stating that if \( n(G) \geq \omega(G) + 1 \geq 4 \), then \( \dim_l(G) \leq \left( \frac{\omega(G) - 2}{\omega(G) - 1} \right)n(G) \).