198k views
4 votes
In which category is it guaranteed that every graph has a Hamilton circuit?

a) Complete graphs
b) Bipartite graphs
c) Tree graphs
d) Directed graphs

User Fbwnd
by
8.4k points

1 Answer

2 votes

Final answer:

In the category of complete graphs, it is guaranteed that every graph has a Hamilton circuit, as each vertex is connected to every other vertex allowing for a closed path visiting each vertex exactly once. The correct answer is A.

Step-by-step explanation:

The category in which it is guaranteed that every graph has a Hamilton circuit is complete graphs. A Hamilton circuit is a closed path that visits each vertex in the graph exactly once and returns to the starting vertex.

Why Complete Graphs Have a Hamilton Circuit

Complete graphs, denoted as Kn, where n is the number of vertices, have the distinct property that every pair of distinct vertices is connected by a unique edge. This means in a complete graph with n vertices, each vertex has an edge to every other vertex, making it trivial to construct a Hamilton circuit. You simply start at any vertex, follow through each vertex once, and return to the starting vertex to form a circuit. Such a guarantee does not exist in bipartite graphs, tree graphs, or directed graphs for various reasons.

  • Bipartite graphs can only form a Hamilton circuit if both subsets of vertices have the same number of vertices, which isn't always the case.
  • Tree graphs, being acyclic, have no path that can return to the starting point without revisiting the same node more than once, thus they cannot have a Hamilton circuit.
  • Directed graphs (digraphs) may have directed edges that make it infeasible to find a circuit that traverses all vertices exactly once and returns to the starting point.

In summary, complete graphs definitely have a Hamilton circuit due to the full interconnection of vertices, while the other structures may not.

User Chance
by
8.9k points
Welcome to QAmmunity.org, where you can ask questions and receive answers from other members of our community.

9.4m questions

12.2m answers

Categories