Determine all n-vertex simple graphs G such that every induced subgraph of G with 3 vertices has eit

Damon Stokes

Damon Stokes

Answered question

2022-06-25

Determine all n-vertex simple graphs G such that every induced subgraph of G with 3 vertices has either 1 or 2 edges.
Let n 5. Determine all n-vertex simple graphs G such that every induced subgraph of G with 3 vertices has either 1 or 2 edges.
One thing I could understand is that there is no triangle in the graph.

Answer & Explanation

scipionhi

scipionhi

Beginner2022-06-26Added 25 answers

Step 1
Suppose a vertex v of the graph G has degree at least 3. No pair of vertices adjacent to v can be joined (or they would form a triangle with v) but then the induced subgraph on three of the vertices adjacent to v has no edges.
Step 2
So every vertex has degree 1 or 2. Since G is simple it is either a single chain or a single cycle. The first,third and fifth vertex of a chain of length at least 5 have no joining edges and so the only solution is a cycle of length 5.
preityk7t

preityk7t

Beginner2022-06-27Added 6 answers

Step 1
There is only one such graph: a simple cycle with 5 vertices and 5 edges.
Every simple graph with 6 vertices has either a complete induced subgraph or an empty induced subgraph with 3 vertices. So your n is necessarily = 5.
Let n = 5. The graph must have a simple path of length 2: a b c. The other two vertices are d,e. Then d is connected either to a or to c. WLOG a d.
Step 2
Same for e: it must be connected to a or d. If e a, then the induced subgraph {e,b,d} must be empty, a contradiction. So c e. Thus we have a path d a b c e. But edges d b , b e are forbidden and the induced subgraph {d,b,e} cannot be empty. Hence we have d e and we have a cycle d a b c e d. Any other edge between these vertices gives a complete subgraph with 3 vertices. So the graph is the cycle with 5 vertices.

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