Graph Theory Definitions.

There are a lot of definitions to keep track of in graph theory. Here is a glossary of the terms we have already used and will soon encounter.

Graph

A collection of vertices, some of which are connected by edges. More precisely, a pair of sets \(V\) and \(E\) where \(V\) is a set of vertices and \(E\) is a set of 2-element subsets of \(V\text{.}\)

Adjacent

Two vertices are adjacent if they are connected by an edge. Two edges are adjacent if they share a vertex.

Bipartite graph

A graph for which it is possible to divide the vertices into two disjoint sets such that there are no edges between any two vertices in the same set.

Complete bipartite graph

A bipartite graph for which every vertex in the first set is adjacent to every vertex in the second set.

Complete graph

A graph in which every pair of vertices is adjacent.

Connected

A graph is connected if there is a path from any vertex to any other vertex.

Chromatic number

The minimum number of colors required in a proper vertex coloring of the graph.

Cycle

A path (see below) that starts and stops at the same vertex, but contains no other repeated vertices.

Degree of a vertex

The number of edges incident to a vertex.

Euler path

A walk which uses each edge exactly once.

Euler circuit

An Euler path which starts and stops at the same vertex.

Multigraph

A multigraph is just like a graph but can contain multiple edges between two vertices as well as single edge loops (that is an edge from a vertex to itself).

Path

A path is a walk that doesn't repeat any vertices (or edges) except perhaps the first and last. If a path starts and ends at the same vertex, it is called a cycle.

Planar

A graph which can be drawn (in the plane) without any edges crossing.

Subgraph

We say that \(H\) is a subgraph of \(G\) if every vertex and edge of \(H\) is also a vertex or edge of \(G\text{.}\) We say \(H\) is an induced subgraph of \(G\) if every vertex of \(H\) is a vertex of \(G\) and each pair of vertices in \(H\) are adjacent in \(H\) if and only if they are adjacent in \(G\text{.}\)

Tree

A connected graph with no cycles. (If we remove the requirement that the graph is connected, the graph is called a forest.) The vertices in a tree with degree 1 are called leaves.

Vertex coloring

An assignment of colors to each of the vertices of a graph. A vertex coloring is proper if adjacent vertices are always colored differently.

Walk

A sequence of vertices such that consecutive vertices (in the sequence) are adjacent (in the graph). A walk in which no edge is repeated is called a trail, and a trail in which no vertex is repeated (except possibly the first and last) is called a path.

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