Quasi-Complete Latin Squares: Construction and Randomization

Abstract

SUMMARY A general method for constructing quasi-complete Latin squares based on groups is given. This method leads to a relatively straightforward way of counting the number of inequivalent quasi-complete Latin squares of side at most 9. Randomization of such designs is discussed, and an explicit construction for valid randomization sets of quasi-complete Latin squares whose side is an odd prime power is given. It is shown that, contrary to common belief, randomization using a subset of all possible quasi-complete Latin squares may be valid while that using the whole set is not.