GATE2000-2.18

Question

Let $G$ be an undirected connected graph with distinct edge weights. Let $e_{max}$ be the edge with maximum weight and $e_{min}$ the edge with minimum weight. Which of the following statements is false?

• A. Every minimum spanning tree of $G$ must contain $e_{min}$
• B. If $e_{max}$ is in a minimum spanning tree, then its removal must disconnect $G$
• C. No minimum spanning tree contains $e_{max}$
• D. $G$ has a unique minimum spanning tree

Comments

Any example in support of c?

Answer 1

C the case should be written as "may or may not", to be true.

D will always be true as per the question saying that the graph has distinct weights.

Comments

if there is a bridge in the graph, that must be included in MST

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If in a graph there is an edge which connects a pendant vertex to the graph, then however heavy that edge may be, that edge will always be included in all MST of the graph G.

So, option (c) is wrong.

Answer 2

option a is true. e_min should be there in all MST

option b is true - if e_max there that means that is the only edge reachable to one of the incident vertices of it. Otherwise we will select lesser weight edge incident on that vertex, Hence its removal will disconnect G

we cannot infer whether c  and d are true always. sometimes they can be false

Comments

(d) is actually true. Since, edge weights are unique, minimum spanning tree can be only one.

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you are right

actually i missed out the point distinct edge

hence option c is the answer to the question since from the given data we cannot infer that

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Even if the edge weights are unique, Can't it have multiple spanning trees? Like if ST1 contains two edges with weights 4 and 3, and ST2 contains the same edges as ST1 but instead of those two edges it contains edges with weights 2 and 5 (both pairs summing up to 7). Both will have the same total edge weight sum.

I am not sure about this, is there anything wrong in my approach?

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sir it is not always true that we get unique spanning tree

its counter example is in above image

here possible mst is 5+8+10=23

and 6+7+20=23

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but in the given graph minimum spanning tree cost is not 23.

minimum spanning tree is 5+6+7 = 18

What you are commented is about there are two different spanning tree of same cost.

but they are not minimum spanning tree. MInimum spanning tree is a spanning tree with minimum cost.

Please note that option D is G has a unique minimum spanning tree

Answer 3

Only option C is False.