Interesting graph theory problem

In summary, the conversation discusses a problem involving a graph G of n elements where adding a missing vertex v creates a complete subgraph with s elements. The goal is to prove that the number of edges in G must be greater than or equal to a specific formula involving binomial coefficients. The speaker is unsure if this is the right forum for discussing this type of problem and is looking for help, suggesting starting with a small s and an example to find a path towards a proof.
  • #1
alejopelaez
1
0
I have the following problem, suppose we have a graph G of n elements, with the property that if we add one missing vertex v, we will get a complete subgraph with s elements K_s of G, in which v belongs to G'. In other words every subgraph of s elements of G is almost a complete graph except for at most one missing vertex. (s is fixed btw).

The problem is to prove that |E(G)| >= C(n,2) - C(n-s+2,2), |E(G)| is the number of edges of G. C(n,k) is the binomial coeficient.

I am not sure if this is the appropiate forum for this kind of questions, but couldn't find any adequate subforum.

Any help is appreciated.
 
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  • #2
You have to show that you already must have a certain number of edges for otherwise the condition cannot hold. I would start with small s and an example to see how a path to a proof could look like.
 

1. What is graph theory?

Graph theory is a branch of mathematics that deals with the study of graphs, which are mathematical structures used to model pairwise relationships between objects. It has applications in various fields such as computer science, social sciences, and operations research.

2. What makes a graph theory problem interesting?

An interesting graph theory problem is usually one that involves finding a solution to a real-world problem by using graph theory concepts and techniques. It can also be a problem that has multiple solutions or requires creative thinking to solve.

3. Can you give an example of an interesting graph theory problem?

One example of an interesting graph theory problem is the "Seven Bridges of Königsberg" problem, which asks if it is possible to walk through all seven bridges in the city of Königsberg without crossing any bridge more than once. This problem was solved by Leonhard Euler in 1735 and is considered to be the birth of graph theory.

4. What skills are needed to solve graph theory problems?

Solving graph theory problems requires a strong understanding of graph theory concepts such as vertices, edges, paths, and cycles. It also requires analytical and problem-solving skills to approach the problem in a systematic and logical way.

5. Are there any real-life applications of graph theory problems?

Yes, graph theory has various real-life applications such as in network analysis, transportation planning, social network analysis, and computer algorithms. For example, graph theory is used in GPS navigation systems to find the shortest route between two locations.

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