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Welcome class! Today, we'll start by understanding Hamiltonian circuits. Can anyone explain what a Hamiltonian circuit is?
Isn't it a path that visits every vertex exactly once before returning to the starting point?
Exactly! It's important to clarify that Hamiltonian circuits differ from Eulerian circuits, which cover all edges. Now, can someone remind me what conditions make a graph Hamiltonian?
I think there are some conditions like Dirac's theorem and Ore's theorem?
Correct! These are sufficient conditions for Hamiltonian graphs. Let's delve deeper into these theorems.
Let's explore Dirac's theorem. It states that if every vertex in a connected graph has a degree of at least n/2, what can we infer?
The graph must be Hamiltonian!
Right! However, it's essential to note this condition isn't necessary. Can anyone give an example of a Hamiltonian graph that doesn't meet Dirac's condition?
How about a cycle graph with a specific number of vertices?
That's a great example! Cycle graphs are Hamiltonian, despite each vertex having a lower degree than needed by Dirac's theorem.
Now, let's discuss Ore's theorem. It states that for every pair of non-adjacent vertices u and v, the sum of their degrees must be at least n. Who can summarize that?
So it says that if non-adjacent vertices have a combined degree of at least n, then the graph is Hamiltonian?
Exactly! This condition is more flexible than Dirac's. Why do you think that flexibility is essential?
Because it allows for more graphs to potentially be Hamiltonian, even if not all vertices meet a strict degree requirement?
Well said! The flexibility can help many practical applications where we deal with dense graphs.
Let’s dive into proving Ore's theorem using contrapositive logic. If we assume a graph is non-Hamiltonian, what must we show?
We need to find at least one non-adjacent pair of vertices that do not fulfill Ore's condition.
Exactly! This approach is not constructing a Hamiltonian cycle explicitly but proving its absence leads us to Ore's condition. Can anyone think of the implications of this proof?
It helps to understand non-Hamiltonian states and how they relate to vertex pairs!
Yes! You’re grasping the core of theoretical proofs in graph theory!
Before we end, let's summarize the key aspects of Ore's and Dirac's theorems. What is the main takeaway regarding Hamiltonian graphs?
Both theorems provide sufficient conditions for a graph to be Hamiltonian, but they do so differently.
And neither condition is necessary, as there can be Hamiltonian graphs that do not satisfy them.
Excellent observations! Understanding these nuances is vital for working in graph theory.
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Ore's theorem and Dirac's theorem provide sufficient conditions for a graph to have a Hamiltonian circuit. While Dirac's theorem requires that every vertex has a degree of at least n/2, Ore's theorem proposes that for any two non-adjacent vertices, the sum of their degrees must be at least n.
In this section, we explore the conditions necessary for the existence of Hamiltonian circuits in graphs. A Hamiltonian circuit is defined as a simple circuit that visits every vertex exactly once and returns to the starting vertex. While there are known sufficient conditions, including Dirac's theorem which requires every vertex in a connected graph to have a degree of at least n/2, Ore's theorem introduces a flexible alternative: if, for every pair of non-adjacent vertices, the sum of their degrees is at least n (the total number of vertices in the graph), then the graph is Hamiltonian.
The significance of Ore's theorem lies in its contrapositive proof structure, which asserts that if a graph is non-Hamiltonian, then there exists at least one non-adjacent vertex pair for which the sum of their degrees falls short of n. To illustrate this, a supergraph H is constructed by adding edges between non-adjacent vertex pairs until a critical pair is identified—this demonstrates that these constructions lead to the conclusion that Ore's condition must hold for Hamiltonian graphs.
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So, what we will prove here we will just discuss a very high level overview of the proof of Ore’s theorem. So, what we want to argue here is the following you are given a graph which has at least 3 vertices because then only it makes that to talk about the summation of degrees of non adjacent pair of vertices. So, it is given that you take any pair of vertices u and v which are non adjacent the sum of their degrees is at least n. Then I want to argue that my graph is indeed Hamiltonian.
Ore's Theorem states a condition under which a graph will contain a Hamiltonian circuit. To prove Ore's theorem, we start by considering a graph that has at least 3 vertices. The graph must meet the condition that for any pair of vertices (u and v) that are not directly connected by an edge, the sum of their degrees must be at least equal to the total number of vertices, n. If this condition is met, we will show that the graph includes a Hamiltonian circuit, meaning it is possible to traverse every vertex exactly once before returning to the starting vertex.
Imagine a group of friends at a party where each friend can be thought of as a vertex in a graph. If two friends do not know each other (non-adjacent), the number of mutual friends they have (degree of the vertices) must be high enough (combined degree at least n) for everyone to form a larger group and guarantee a fun conversation (Hamiltonian circuit).
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And the proof will be by contrapositive that means we would not give you a concrete algorithm, by running which you can find out your Hamiltonian circuit or Hamiltonian tour but rather we will argue logically that indeed this implication is true. That means we are trying to give a non constructive proof where we are arguing proof by contrapositive.
The proof of Ore's Theorem employs a contrapositive approach, where instead of directly demonstrating that the graph is Hamiltonian under the given conditions, we will show that the absence of a Hamiltonian circuit leads to a failure of Ore's condition. In logical terms, we assert that if the graph is not Hamiltonian, then there exists at least one pair of non-adjacent vertices for which the sum of their degrees is less than n. This method does not provide a direct algorithm but rather relies on logical reasoning to confirm the theorem.
Think of this approach like a detective solving a mystery. Instead of showing who the suspect is, the detective proves that if the suspect is innocent (the graph is non-Hamiltonian), then there is at least one critical piece of evidence missing (the degree sum condition fails).
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So, we will first transform the graph G to another graph H. And intuitively what is this graph H: it is the maximal non Hamiltonian super graph of G. Namely this graph H will have my original graph G and it might have some additional edges as well we will see how those additional edges are added.
In the proof, we create a new graph H that is derived from the original graph G. This graph H is a 'maximal non-Hamiltonian supergraph', meaning it includes all the vertices from G and additional edges may be added. The goal is to continue adding edges between non-adjacent vertices of G while ensuring the resulting graph H remains non-Hamiltonian. This construction will help us establish properties that contribute to validating Ore's condition.
Consider this as a team-building exercise where you aim to strengthen connections between friends (vertices) by adding new friendships (edges). You keep adding friendships, ensuring that the team remains unconnected (non-Hamiltonian), until you reach a point where a critical friendship will guarantee everyone knows each other in the group.
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If you reach that point that means that is the saturation state and you should stop that means you should not now add the edge u and v. That means you have now identified a critical pair of non adjacent vertices u and v such that by adding the edge between u and v in the super graph you are bound to get a Hamiltonian cycle.
At a certain stage in constructing graph H, we identify a specific pair of non-adjacent vertices, u and v, such that adding an edge between them will create a Hamiltonian cycle. This indicates that the supergraph is on the verge of becoming Hamiltonian. This critical pair is essential because it shows the limits of the construction process for building a non-Hamiltonian graph.
Picture this as discovering a pivotal connection within a network. When two companies decide to partner (create an edge), they fill the last gap needed to unite all companies under one large cooperative network (complete circuit).
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So, since I have now identified my node u and v which are the critical vertices what I can now say is the following. I can say that in my super graph H, I do have a Hamiltonian path. That Hamiltonian path will start with the node u and it will end with the vertex v and it will cover all the vertices of the graph.
Given our critical vertices u and v in the supergraph H, we can form a Hamiltonian path starting from u to v, covering all vertices. Since we established that adding the edge between them would form a Hamiltonian cycle, this path demonstrates that H is not just any path but a significant one that supports the broader conclusion about the original graph's characteristics.
Think of this Hamiltonian path as creating a tour route that starts and ends at key landmarks (u and v) in a city. While the tour passes through all important sites (vertices), the absence of a direct route between the two key landmarks ensures the uniqueness of this specific journey.
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So that brings me to the end of this lecture. So, these are the references used and just to summarize: In this lecture we introduced a definition of Hamiltonian circuits and Hamiltonian path..
The lecture concludes with a summary of Ore's Theorem, highlighting that unlike Euler's conditions, there isn't a single sufficient and necessary condition for Hamiltonian circuits. The two main conditions discussed – Dirac's and Ore's condition – are sufficient for a graph to be Hamiltonian but not necessary, meaning there are graphs that satisfy Ore's condition and are Hamiltonian without fulfilling other mentioned conditions.
It's like discussing the various signs that indicate a healthy restaurant. While many healthy restaurants might have organic ingredients (Ore's condition), it doesn’t mean that every restaurant with organic produce is healthy if they also don't follow other essential health guidelines or maintain cleanliness.
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Key Concepts
Hamiltonian graphs: Graphs that contain Hamiltonian circuits.
Sufficient conditions: Conditions that, when met, guarantee the existence of Hamiltonian circuits.
See how the concepts apply in real-world scenarios to understand their practical implications.
A cycle graph with vertices A, B, C, and D exhibits a Hamiltonian circuit: A -> B -> C -> D -> A.
Consider two non-adjacent vertices in a connected graph where the degrees sum to at least n. This satisfies Ore's theorem.
Use mnemonics, acronyms, or visual cues to help remember key information more easily.
For Hamilton’s trip, every vertex must flip, to return to the start, it’s a circuit at heart.
Imagine a traveler who sets off to visit every town exactly once before returning home. This journey must be planned perfectly; it’s like finding a Hamiltonian circuit!
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Review the Definitions for terms.
Term: Hamiltonian Circuit
Definition:
A simple path in a graph that visits every vertex exactly once and returns to the starting vertex.
Term: Dirac's Theorem
Definition:
A theorem that states if a connected graph has all vertices of degree at least n/2, then it is Hamiltonian.
Term: Ore's Theorem
Definition:
A theorem stating that if for every pair of non-adjacent vertices, the sum of their degrees is at least n, then the graph is Hamiltonian.