GATE CSE 2009 | Question: 3

Question

Which one of the following is TRUE for any simple connected undirected graph with more than $2$ vertices?

• A.    No two vertices have the same degree.
• B.    At least two vertices have the same degree.
• C.    At least three vertices have the same degree.
• D.    All vertices have the same degree.

Comments

Although people have given very good answer but same thing could be proved using graphic sequence.

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How?

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Previous year question concept used here:

https://gateoverflow.in/26647/gate1991-16-b

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Means repeated?

Answer 1

answer = option (B)

There are $n$ vertices and at least $\left(n-1\right)$ edges. So, for each vertex, degree should range from $1$ (since graph is connected) to $\left(n-1\right)$ (since graph is simple).

But we have $n$ such vertices- filling $n$ things with $\left(n-1\right)$ numbers.

$\bigg \lceil \frac{n}{n-1} \bigg\rceil = \lceil 1.\sim \rceil = 2$ 

So, at least $2$ of them must be equal (pigeonhole principle).

Comments

https://gateoverflow.in/26647/gate1991-16-b

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Take a connected graph of 4 vertices and 5 edges ... U will get B as answer ...

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Every graph with n$\geq$2 has a spanning tree T.

In this spanning Tree  T of a graph, we do have an open path which covers all vertices of G.

The terminal vertices of a path are of degree one hence the proof.

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we can't represent any degree sequence where all degrees are unique. at least on degree should be repeated which means at least two vertices have same degree.

Answer 2

Now concentrate on two vertices suppose there is no edge between then it has degree 0 each ,when edge is present then 1 each..now if you with the edges a bit you will come to the conclusion that atleast two vertices have same degree

Answer 3

Simpler way:-

Let’s take n=3.

Since it’s mentioned in question that, any simple connected undirected graph with more than 2 vertices in fig 1, it’s disconnected. So it’s wrong.

In Fig 2, we can see that only two edges are enough for connectivity. So Option B, i,e At least two vertices have the same degree is TRUE. 

Rest of the options are automatically false using this example. 

Comments

Very nice explanation.

Answer 4

lets take graph with 3 vertices , v1,v2,v3 , now assign different degree to each vertices for d(v1)=0 , d(v2)=1 ,d(v3)=2 , now use handshaking theoram that is 2*edge=sum of degree of each vertices , which also conclude that sum of degrees of vertices should be even

 

now , add each  degree of each vertices that is = 0+1+2 =3(which is not even) to make this even u have to make v3=1 , or v1=1,v2=1,v3=2 or v1=0,v2=0,v3=0 and so many possibilities

now if some people argue for v1=2,v2=3,v3=5 , for that we cant tale such example for 3 vertices graph because simple graph(no loop and parallel edges) is given