Closed Graph from a Collection of Vertices

The name of the pictureThe name of the pictureThe name of the pictureClash Royale CLAN TAG#URR8PPP











up vote
1
down vote

favorite












Say I have two types of vertices:



  • (D) vertices have two edges

  • (T) vertices have three edges

Given a collection of these vertices, is there any way to prove whether they can be joined edge-to-edge to form a closed (i.e. no free edges) graph in 3-space?



For example, say I have 3 (T) vertices and 1 (D) vertex. (Unless I've missed something obvious) there is no way to join these vertices into a closed graph in space, but I'm not able to come up with a proof. On the other hand, 4 (T) vertices and 0 (D) vertices form a simple tetrahedron.



What about higher-order examples, such as 12 (T) vertices and 4 (D) vertices? Ideally I would like to be able to construct an example of a graph in cases where they exist, at least for small collections like these, but this isn't tagged for constructive-mathematics because I don't consider construction an absolute requirement.







share|cite|improve this question



















  • Where does 3-space come in? And what exactly is a free edge? Are you wondering if it is possible to construct a graph with a given number of D and T vertices?
    – Morgan Rodgers
    Aug 2 at 6:47










  • 3-space comes in because these graphs represent something in the real world, although I guess the question is mathematically equivalent to the 2-D case as long as you allow edges to cross. And by "free edge" I mean an edge that's only connected to a vertex at one end. I think that because of the way graphs and edges are defined your rephrasing is equivalent and would be a more standard way to think about the question. The real-world analog is what lead me to phrase the question in this slightly roundabout way.
    – realityChemist
    Aug 2 at 11:42










  • @realityChemist : Oh, so 'free edge' is like what is called a 'flag' in some contexts. Actually, I un-retract my previous comment. Havel-Hakimi should give you what you want. Given a degree sequence like [3, 3, 3, 3, 2, 2] it gives you the connectivity of a graph if one can be constructed.
    – gilleain
    Aug 2 at 12:39














up vote
1
down vote

favorite












Say I have two types of vertices:



  • (D) vertices have two edges

  • (T) vertices have three edges

Given a collection of these vertices, is there any way to prove whether they can be joined edge-to-edge to form a closed (i.e. no free edges) graph in 3-space?



For example, say I have 3 (T) vertices and 1 (D) vertex. (Unless I've missed something obvious) there is no way to join these vertices into a closed graph in space, but I'm not able to come up with a proof. On the other hand, 4 (T) vertices and 0 (D) vertices form a simple tetrahedron.



What about higher-order examples, such as 12 (T) vertices and 4 (D) vertices? Ideally I would like to be able to construct an example of a graph in cases where they exist, at least for small collections like these, but this isn't tagged for constructive-mathematics because I don't consider construction an absolute requirement.







share|cite|improve this question



















  • Where does 3-space come in? And what exactly is a free edge? Are you wondering if it is possible to construct a graph with a given number of D and T vertices?
    – Morgan Rodgers
    Aug 2 at 6:47










  • 3-space comes in because these graphs represent something in the real world, although I guess the question is mathematically equivalent to the 2-D case as long as you allow edges to cross. And by "free edge" I mean an edge that's only connected to a vertex at one end. I think that because of the way graphs and edges are defined your rephrasing is equivalent and would be a more standard way to think about the question. The real-world analog is what lead me to phrase the question in this slightly roundabout way.
    – realityChemist
    Aug 2 at 11:42










  • @realityChemist : Oh, so 'free edge' is like what is called a 'flag' in some contexts. Actually, I un-retract my previous comment. Havel-Hakimi should give you what you want. Given a degree sequence like [3, 3, 3, 3, 2, 2] it gives you the connectivity of a graph if one can be constructed.
    – gilleain
    Aug 2 at 12:39












up vote
1
down vote

favorite









up vote
1
down vote

favorite











Say I have two types of vertices:



  • (D) vertices have two edges

  • (T) vertices have three edges

Given a collection of these vertices, is there any way to prove whether they can be joined edge-to-edge to form a closed (i.e. no free edges) graph in 3-space?



For example, say I have 3 (T) vertices and 1 (D) vertex. (Unless I've missed something obvious) there is no way to join these vertices into a closed graph in space, but I'm not able to come up with a proof. On the other hand, 4 (T) vertices and 0 (D) vertices form a simple tetrahedron.



What about higher-order examples, such as 12 (T) vertices and 4 (D) vertices? Ideally I would like to be able to construct an example of a graph in cases where they exist, at least for small collections like these, but this isn't tagged for constructive-mathematics because I don't consider construction an absolute requirement.







share|cite|improve this question











Say I have two types of vertices:



  • (D) vertices have two edges

  • (T) vertices have three edges

Given a collection of these vertices, is there any way to prove whether they can be joined edge-to-edge to form a closed (i.e. no free edges) graph in 3-space?



For example, say I have 3 (T) vertices and 1 (D) vertex. (Unless I've missed something obvious) there is no way to join these vertices into a closed graph in space, but I'm not able to come up with a proof. On the other hand, 4 (T) vertices and 0 (D) vertices form a simple tetrahedron.



What about higher-order examples, such as 12 (T) vertices and 4 (D) vertices? Ideally I would like to be able to construct an example of a graph in cases where they exist, at least for small collections like these, but this isn't tagged for constructive-mathematics because I don't consider construction an absolute requirement.









share|cite|improve this question










share|cite|improve this question




share|cite|improve this question









asked Aug 1 at 20:40









realityChemist

1585




1585











  • Where does 3-space come in? And what exactly is a free edge? Are you wondering if it is possible to construct a graph with a given number of D and T vertices?
    – Morgan Rodgers
    Aug 2 at 6:47










  • 3-space comes in because these graphs represent something in the real world, although I guess the question is mathematically equivalent to the 2-D case as long as you allow edges to cross. And by "free edge" I mean an edge that's only connected to a vertex at one end. I think that because of the way graphs and edges are defined your rephrasing is equivalent and would be a more standard way to think about the question. The real-world analog is what lead me to phrase the question in this slightly roundabout way.
    – realityChemist
    Aug 2 at 11:42










  • @realityChemist : Oh, so 'free edge' is like what is called a 'flag' in some contexts. Actually, I un-retract my previous comment. Havel-Hakimi should give you what you want. Given a degree sequence like [3, 3, 3, 3, 2, 2] it gives you the connectivity of a graph if one can be constructed.
    – gilleain
    Aug 2 at 12:39
















  • Where does 3-space come in? And what exactly is a free edge? Are you wondering if it is possible to construct a graph with a given number of D and T vertices?
    – Morgan Rodgers
    Aug 2 at 6:47










  • 3-space comes in because these graphs represent something in the real world, although I guess the question is mathematically equivalent to the 2-D case as long as you allow edges to cross. And by "free edge" I mean an edge that's only connected to a vertex at one end. I think that because of the way graphs and edges are defined your rephrasing is equivalent and would be a more standard way to think about the question. The real-world analog is what lead me to phrase the question in this slightly roundabout way.
    – realityChemist
    Aug 2 at 11:42










  • @realityChemist : Oh, so 'free edge' is like what is called a 'flag' in some contexts. Actually, I un-retract my previous comment. Havel-Hakimi should give you what you want. Given a degree sequence like [3, 3, 3, 3, 2, 2] it gives you the connectivity of a graph if one can be constructed.
    – gilleain
    Aug 2 at 12:39















Where does 3-space come in? And what exactly is a free edge? Are you wondering if it is possible to construct a graph with a given number of D and T vertices?
– Morgan Rodgers
Aug 2 at 6:47




Where does 3-space come in? And what exactly is a free edge? Are you wondering if it is possible to construct a graph with a given number of D and T vertices?
– Morgan Rodgers
Aug 2 at 6:47












3-space comes in because these graphs represent something in the real world, although I guess the question is mathematically equivalent to the 2-D case as long as you allow edges to cross. And by "free edge" I mean an edge that's only connected to a vertex at one end. I think that because of the way graphs and edges are defined your rephrasing is equivalent and would be a more standard way to think about the question. The real-world analog is what lead me to phrase the question in this slightly roundabout way.
– realityChemist
Aug 2 at 11:42




3-space comes in because these graphs represent something in the real world, although I guess the question is mathematically equivalent to the 2-D case as long as you allow edges to cross. And by "free edge" I mean an edge that's only connected to a vertex at one end. I think that because of the way graphs and edges are defined your rephrasing is equivalent and would be a more standard way to think about the question. The real-world analog is what lead me to phrase the question in this slightly roundabout way.
– realityChemist
Aug 2 at 11:42












@realityChemist : Oh, so 'free edge' is like what is called a 'flag' in some contexts. Actually, I un-retract my previous comment. Havel-Hakimi should give you what you want. Given a degree sequence like [3, 3, 3, 3, 2, 2] it gives you the connectivity of a graph if one can be constructed.
– gilleain
Aug 2 at 12:39




@realityChemist : Oh, so 'free edge' is like what is called a 'flag' in some contexts. Actually, I un-retract my previous comment. Havel-Hakimi should give you what you want. Given a degree sequence like [3, 3, 3, 3, 2, 2] it gives you the connectivity of a graph if one can be constructed.
– gilleain
Aug 2 at 12:39










1 Answer
1






active

oldest

votes

















up vote
2
down vote













Claim: A graph comprised of exactly $t$ vertices of degree $3$ and $d$ vertices of degree $2$ and no other vertices exists if and only if the following conditions are met:



  • $t$ is even

  • $t+dgeq 4$

or



  • $t=0,d=3$

A sketch of an proof:



The condition that $t$ must be even is seen immediately from the handshaking lemma. That $t=0,d=3$ works is seen from the example $K_3$. That no other graphs with less than four vertices works is obvious.



What remains is to show that every other can be created. We do this by induction. $K_4$, $C_4$, and the diamond graph $K_4-e$ work as examples for base cases.



Given a graph with $t$ vertices of degree three and $d$ vertices of degree $2$, we may increase the number of vertices of degree $2$ by one by replacing any edge $u,v$ with two new edges and a vertex between them: $u,x,x,v$, as pictured below:



enter image description here



becomes:



enter image description here



For increasing the number of vertices of degree $3$ by two, we may take any two distinct edges and replace them both like above with the additional step of connecting the two newly created vertices, as pictured below:



enter image description here



becomes



enter image description here



(Note: we merely require the edges be distinct, but they may share a vertex if desired. They cannot share two vertices since otherwise the edges would not have been distinct in the first place.)



It should be clear that the newly created graphs using either of these modifications will be a graph with the desired number of vertices of degree $3$ and $2$ and the degrees of the vertices from the original graph are unchanged by the process.



It follows by induction then that every choice of $t,d$ possible where $t$ is even and $t+dgeq 4$ leads to the construction of a graph with $t$ vertices of degree $3$ and $d$ vertices of degree $2$ with no other vertices.




As an example of the ideas above being put into action, you ask about $d=4,t=12$. The following graph was created using $C_4$ as a base, and repeatedly applying the modifications described in the induction argument. (you can even see exactly the order in which they were applied if you note how the vertices are labeled, since I just used the default names for the vertices as they were created)



This is of course not the only example of a graph with $d=4$ and $t=12$ but it should hopefully highlight how such a construction could occur.



enter image description here






share|cite|improve this answer























  • Upon closer inspection, the condition that the two edges in the induction step for increasing $t$ must not share any vertices is unnecessary. Any choice of two distinct edges suffices. As an aside, through careful wording, one can even show that not only can such a graph exist, but you can even show that such a graph can be both planar (drawable in 2d with no crossing edges) and connected as well.
    – JMoravitz
    Aug 2 at 23:49










Your Answer




StackExchange.ifUsing("editor", function ()
return StackExchange.using("mathjaxEditing", function ()
StackExchange.MarkdownEditor.creationCallbacks.add(function (editor, postfix)
StackExchange.mathjaxEditing.prepareWmdForMathJax(editor, postfix, [["$", "$"], ["\\(","\\)"]]);
);
);
, "mathjax-editing");

StackExchange.ready(function()
var channelOptions =
tags: "".split(" "),
id: "69"
;
initTagRenderer("".split(" "), "".split(" "), channelOptions);

StackExchange.using("externalEditor", function()
// Have to fire editor after snippets, if snippets enabled
if (StackExchange.settings.snippets.snippetsEnabled)
StackExchange.using("snippets", function()
createEditor();
);

else
createEditor();

);

function createEditor()
StackExchange.prepareEditor(
heartbeatType: 'answer',
convertImagesToLinks: true,
noModals: false,
showLowRepImageUploadWarning: true,
reputationToPostImages: 10,
bindNavPrevention: true,
postfix: "",
noCode: true, onDemand: true,
discardSelector: ".discard-answer"
,immediatelyShowMarkdownHelp:true
);



);








 

draft saved


draft discarded


















StackExchange.ready(
function ()
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fmath.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f2869499%2fclosed-graph-from-a-collection-of-vertices%23new-answer', 'question_page');

);

Post as a guest






























1 Answer
1






active

oldest

votes








1 Answer
1






active

oldest

votes









active

oldest

votes






active

oldest

votes








up vote
2
down vote













Claim: A graph comprised of exactly $t$ vertices of degree $3$ and $d$ vertices of degree $2$ and no other vertices exists if and only if the following conditions are met:



  • $t$ is even

  • $t+dgeq 4$

or



  • $t=0,d=3$

A sketch of an proof:



The condition that $t$ must be even is seen immediately from the handshaking lemma. That $t=0,d=3$ works is seen from the example $K_3$. That no other graphs with less than four vertices works is obvious.



What remains is to show that every other can be created. We do this by induction. $K_4$, $C_4$, and the diamond graph $K_4-e$ work as examples for base cases.



Given a graph with $t$ vertices of degree three and $d$ vertices of degree $2$, we may increase the number of vertices of degree $2$ by one by replacing any edge $u,v$ with two new edges and a vertex between them: $u,x,x,v$, as pictured below:



enter image description here



becomes:



enter image description here



For increasing the number of vertices of degree $3$ by two, we may take any two distinct edges and replace them both like above with the additional step of connecting the two newly created vertices, as pictured below:



enter image description here



becomes



enter image description here



(Note: we merely require the edges be distinct, but they may share a vertex if desired. They cannot share two vertices since otherwise the edges would not have been distinct in the first place.)



It should be clear that the newly created graphs using either of these modifications will be a graph with the desired number of vertices of degree $3$ and $2$ and the degrees of the vertices from the original graph are unchanged by the process.



It follows by induction then that every choice of $t,d$ possible where $t$ is even and $t+dgeq 4$ leads to the construction of a graph with $t$ vertices of degree $3$ and $d$ vertices of degree $2$ with no other vertices.




As an example of the ideas above being put into action, you ask about $d=4,t=12$. The following graph was created using $C_4$ as a base, and repeatedly applying the modifications described in the induction argument. (you can even see exactly the order in which they were applied if you note how the vertices are labeled, since I just used the default names for the vertices as they were created)



This is of course not the only example of a graph with $d=4$ and $t=12$ but it should hopefully highlight how such a construction could occur.



enter image description here






share|cite|improve this answer























  • Upon closer inspection, the condition that the two edges in the induction step for increasing $t$ must not share any vertices is unnecessary. Any choice of two distinct edges suffices. As an aside, through careful wording, one can even show that not only can such a graph exist, but you can even show that such a graph can be both planar (drawable in 2d with no crossing edges) and connected as well.
    – JMoravitz
    Aug 2 at 23:49














up vote
2
down vote













Claim: A graph comprised of exactly $t$ vertices of degree $3$ and $d$ vertices of degree $2$ and no other vertices exists if and only if the following conditions are met:



  • $t$ is even

  • $t+dgeq 4$

or



  • $t=0,d=3$

A sketch of an proof:



The condition that $t$ must be even is seen immediately from the handshaking lemma. That $t=0,d=3$ works is seen from the example $K_3$. That no other graphs with less than four vertices works is obvious.



What remains is to show that every other can be created. We do this by induction. $K_4$, $C_4$, and the diamond graph $K_4-e$ work as examples for base cases.



Given a graph with $t$ vertices of degree three and $d$ vertices of degree $2$, we may increase the number of vertices of degree $2$ by one by replacing any edge $u,v$ with two new edges and a vertex between them: $u,x,x,v$, as pictured below:



enter image description here



becomes:



enter image description here



For increasing the number of vertices of degree $3$ by two, we may take any two distinct edges and replace them both like above with the additional step of connecting the two newly created vertices, as pictured below:



enter image description here



becomes



enter image description here



(Note: we merely require the edges be distinct, but they may share a vertex if desired. They cannot share two vertices since otherwise the edges would not have been distinct in the first place.)



It should be clear that the newly created graphs using either of these modifications will be a graph with the desired number of vertices of degree $3$ and $2$ and the degrees of the vertices from the original graph are unchanged by the process.



It follows by induction then that every choice of $t,d$ possible where $t$ is even and $t+dgeq 4$ leads to the construction of a graph with $t$ vertices of degree $3$ and $d$ vertices of degree $2$ with no other vertices.




As an example of the ideas above being put into action, you ask about $d=4,t=12$. The following graph was created using $C_4$ as a base, and repeatedly applying the modifications described in the induction argument. (you can even see exactly the order in which they were applied if you note how the vertices are labeled, since I just used the default names for the vertices as they were created)



This is of course not the only example of a graph with $d=4$ and $t=12$ but it should hopefully highlight how such a construction could occur.



enter image description here






share|cite|improve this answer























  • Upon closer inspection, the condition that the two edges in the induction step for increasing $t$ must not share any vertices is unnecessary. Any choice of two distinct edges suffices. As an aside, through careful wording, one can even show that not only can such a graph exist, but you can even show that such a graph can be both planar (drawable in 2d with no crossing edges) and connected as well.
    – JMoravitz
    Aug 2 at 23:49












up vote
2
down vote










up vote
2
down vote









Claim: A graph comprised of exactly $t$ vertices of degree $3$ and $d$ vertices of degree $2$ and no other vertices exists if and only if the following conditions are met:



  • $t$ is even

  • $t+dgeq 4$

or



  • $t=0,d=3$

A sketch of an proof:



The condition that $t$ must be even is seen immediately from the handshaking lemma. That $t=0,d=3$ works is seen from the example $K_3$. That no other graphs with less than four vertices works is obvious.



What remains is to show that every other can be created. We do this by induction. $K_4$, $C_4$, and the diamond graph $K_4-e$ work as examples for base cases.



Given a graph with $t$ vertices of degree three and $d$ vertices of degree $2$, we may increase the number of vertices of degree $2$ by one by replacing any edge $u,v$ with two new edges and a vertex between them: $u,x,x,v$, as pictured below:



enter image description here



becomes:



enter image description here



For increasing the number of vertices of degree $3$ by two, we may take any two distinct edges and replace them both like above with the additional step of connecting the two newly created vertices, as pictured below:



enter image description here



becomes



enter image description here



(Note: we merely require the edges be distinct, but they may share a vertex if desired. They cannot share two vertices since otherwise the edges would not have been distinct in the first place.)



It should be clear that the newly created graphs using either of these modifications will be a graph with the desired number of vertices of degree $3$ and $2$ and the degrees of the vertices from the original graph are unchanged by the process.



It follows by induction then that every choice of $t,d$ possible where $t$ is even and $t+dgeq 4$ leads to the construction of a graph with $t$ vertices of degree $3$ and $d$ vertices of degree $2$ with no other vertices.




As an example of the ideas above being put into action, you ask about $d=4,t=12$. The following graph was created using $C_4$ as a base, and repeatedly applying the modifications described in the induction argument. (you can even see exactly the order in which they were applied if you note how the vertices are labeled, since I just used the default names for the vertices as they were created)



This is of course not the only example of a graph with $d=4$ and $t=12$ but it should hopefully highlight how such a construction could occur.



enter image description here






share|cite|improve this answer















Claim: A graph comprised of exactly $t$ vertices of degree $3$ and $d$ vertices of degree $2$ and no other vertices exists if and only if the following conditions are met:



  • $t$ is even

  • $t+dgeq 4$

or



  • $t=0,d=3$

A sketch of an proof:



The condition that $t$ must be even is seen immediately from the handshaking lemma. That $t=0,d=3$ works is seen from the example $K_3$. That no other graphs with less than four vertices works is obvious.



What remains is to show that every other can be created. We do this by induction. $K_4$, $C_4$, and the diamond graph $K_4-e$ work as examples for base cases.



Given a graph with $t$ vertices of degree three and $d$ vertices of degree $2$, we may increase the number of vertices of degree $2$ by one by replacing any edge $u,v$ with two new edges and a vertex between them: $u,x,x,v$, as pictured below:



enter image description here



becomes:



enter image description here



For increasing the number of vertices of degree $3$ by two, we may take any two distinct edges and replace them both like above with the additional step of connecting the two newly created vertices, as pictured below:



enter image description here



becomes



enter image description here



(Note: we merely require the edges be distinct, but they may share a vertex if desired. They cannot share two vertices since otherwise the edges would not have been distinct in the first place.)



It should be clear that the newly created graphs using either of these modifications will be a graph with the desired number of vertices of degree $3$ and $2$ and the degrees of the vertices from the original graph are unchanged by the process.



It follows by induction then that every choice of $t,d$ possible where $t$ is even and $t+dgeq 4$ leads to the construction of a graph with $t$ vertices of degree $3$ and $d$ vertices of degree $2$ with no other vertices.




As an example of the ideas above being put into action, you ask about $d=4,t=12$. The following graph was created using $C_4$ as a base, and repeatedly applying the modifications described in the induction argument. (you can even see exactly the order in which they were applied if you note how the vertices are labeled, since I just used the default names for the vertices as they were created)



This is of course not the only example of a graph with $d=4$ and $t=12$ but it should hopefully highlight how such a construction could occur.



enter image description here







share|cite|improve this answer















share|cite|improve this answer



share|cite|improve this answer








edited Aug 2 at 23:51


























answered Aug 1 at 22:03









JMoravitz

44k33481




44k33481











  • Upon closer inspection, the condition that the two edges in the induction step for increasing $t$ must not share any vertices is unnecessary. Any choice of two distinct edges suffices. As an aside, through careful wording, one can even show that not only can such a graph exist, but you can even show that such a graph can be both planar (drawable in 2d with no crossing edges) and connected as well.
    – JMoravitz
    Aug 2 at 23:49
















  • Upon closer inspection, the condition that the two edges in the induction step for increasing $t$ must not share any vertices is unnecessary. Any choice of two distinct edges suffices. As an aside, through careful wording, one can even show that not only can such a graph exist, but you can even show that such a graph can be both planar (drawable in 2d with no crossing edges) and connected as well.
    – JMoravitz
    Aug 2 at 23:49















Upon closer inspection, the condition that the two edges in the induction step for increasing $t$ must not share any vertices is unnecessary. Any choice of two distinct edges suffices. As an aside, through careful wording, one can even show that not only can such a graph exist, but you can even show that such a graph can be both planar (drawable in 2d with no crossing edges) and connected as well.
– JMoravitz
Aug 2 at 23:49




Upon closer inspection, the condition that the two edges in the induction step for increasing $t$ must not share any vertices is unnecessary. Any choice of two distinct edges suffices. As an aside, through careful wording, one can even show that not only can such a graph exist, but you can even show that such a graph can be both planar (drawable in 2d with no crossing edges) and connected as well.
– JMoravitz
Aug 2 at 23:49












 

draft saved


draft discarded


























 


draft saved


draft discarded














StackExchange.ready(
function ()
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fmath.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f2869499%2fclosed-graph-from-a-collection-of-vertices%23new-answer', 'question_page');

);

Post as a guest













































































Comments

Popular posts from this blog

What is the equation of a 3D cone with generalised tilt?

Color the edges and diagonals of a regular polygon

Relationship between determinant of matrix and determinant of adjoint?