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UoL CS Notes

Graphs - 1

COMP108 Lectures

Undirected Graphs

An undirected graph $G=(V,E)$ consists of a set of vertices $V$ and a set of edges $E$. Each edge is an unordered pair of vertices.

Unordered means that $\{b,c\}$ and $\{c,b\}$ refer to the same edge.

graph LR
a((a)) --- b((b))
a --- e((e))
a --- c((c))
a --- d((d))
b --- d
b --- c
b --- f
d --- e
e --- f

Terminology

For the following graph:

graph LR
u((u)) --- w((w))
u --- x((x))
u ---|e| v((v))
w --- v
  • $u$ and $v$ are adjacent and are neighbours of each-other.
  • $u$ and $v$ are endpoints of $e$.
  • $e$ is said to be incident with $u$ and $v$.
  • $e$ is said to connect $u$ and $v$.

The degree of a vertex $v$, denoted by $\deg(v)$, is the number of edges incident with it.

A loop contributes twice to the degree.

The degree of a graph is the maximum degree over all vertices.

Simple Graphs

An undirected graph is simple if:

  • There is at most one edge between two vertices.
    • No self loops.

Multigraphs

  • Allows more than one edge between two verices.

Directed Graphs

A directed graph $G(V,E)$ consists of the same as a directed graph. Each edge is an ordered pair of vertices.

Ordered means that the order of each pair of vertices refers to their direction.

graph LR
a((a)) --> b((b))
a --> e((e))
a --> c((c))
a --> d((d))
b --> d
b --> c
b --> f
d --> e
e --> f

This can be useful in referring to one-way paths.

Terminology

  • A vertex is connected to another if there is a path from $a$ to $b$.
  • In-degree of a vertex $v$ - The number of edges leading to $v$.
  • Out-degree of a vertex $v$ - The number of edges leading away from $v$.

    The sum of the in and out degrees should always be equal and the same as two times the number of edges.

Example

There is an example on an undirected graph which proves:

The number of vertices with odd degree must be even.