Eulerian path
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In the mathematical field of graph theory, an Eulerian path is a path in a graph which visits each edge exactly once. Similarly, an Eulerian circuit is an Eulerian path which starts and ends on the same vertex. They were first discussed by Leonhard Euler while solving the famous Seven Bridges of Königsberg problem in 1736. Mathematically the problem can be stated like this:
- Given the graph on the right, is it possible to construct a path (or a cycle, i.e. a path starting and ending on the same vertex) which visits each edge exactly once?
Graphs which allow the construction of so called Eulerian cycles are called Eulerian graphs. Euler observed that a necessary condition for the existence of Eulerian cycles is that all vertices in the graph have an even degree, and that for an Eulerian path either all, or all but two, vertices have an even degree; this means the Königsberg graph is not Eulerian.
Carl Hierholzer published the first complete characterization of Eulerian graphs in 1873, by proving that in fact the Eulerian graphs are exactly the graphs which are connected and where every vertex has an even degree.
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[edit] Definition
An Eulerian path, Eulerian trail or Euler walk in an undirected graph is a path that uses each edge exactly once. If such a path exists, the graph is called traversable.
An Eulerian cycle, Eulerian circuit or Euler tour in an undirected graph is a cycle that uses each edge exactly once. If such a cycle exists, the graph is called Eulerian or unicursal.
For directed graphs path has to be replaced with directed path and cycle with directed cycle.
The definition and properties of Eulerian paths, cycles and graphs are valid for multigraphs as well.
[edit] Notes
Some people reserve the terms path and cycle to mean non-self-intersecting path and cycle. A (potentially) self-intersecting path is known as a trail or an open walk; and a (potentially) self-intersecting cycle, a circuit or a closed walk. That is why it is best to use the terms Eulerian trail and Eulerian circuit to avoid any potential confusion.
[edit] Properties
- A connected undirected graph is Eulerian if and only if every graph vertex has even degree.
- An undirected graph is Eulerian if it is connected and can be decomposed into edge-disjoint cycles.
- If an undirected graph G is Eulerian then its line graph L(G) is Eulerian too.
- A directed graph is Eulerian if it is connected and every vertex has equal in degree and out degree.
- A directed graph is Eulerian if it is connected and can be decomposed into arc-disjoint directed cycles.
- An undirected graph is traversable if it is connected and at most two vertices in the graph are of odd degree.
[edit] Constructing Eulerian paths and cycles
Consider a graph known to have all edges in the same component and at most two vertices of odd degree. We can construct an Eulerian path (not a cycle) out of this graph by using Fleury's algorithm, which dates to 1883. We start with a vertex of odd degree—if the graph has none, then start with any vertex. At each step we move across an edge whose deletion does not result in more than one connected component, unless we have no choice, then we delete that edge. At the end of the algorithm there are no edges left, and the sequence of edges we moved across forms an Eulerian cycle if the graph has no vertices of odd degree or an Eulerian path if there are two vertices of odd degree.
The definition of a Hamiltonian path is very similar (a Hamiltonian path visits every vertex exactly once, while an Eulerian path visits every edge exactly once). In practice, however, it is much more difficult to construct a Hamiltonian path or determine whether a graph is Hamiltonian, as that problem is NP-complete.
[edit] Counting Eulerian circuits in digraphs
The number of Eulerian circuits in digraphs can be calculated using the so called BEST-theorem, named after de Bruijn, van Aardenne-Ehrenfest, Smith and Tutte.
Given an Eulerian digraph G := (V, E), the number of non-equivalent Eulerian circuits in the graph is
or equivalently
with C any cofactor of the Laplacian matrix of G.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- Euler Archive's page containing some information and scan of Euler's paper as mentioned in References below.
- Discussion of early mentions of Fleury's algorithm
[edit] References
- Euler, L., "Solutio problematis ad geometriam situs pertinentis", Comment. Academiae Sci. I. Petropolitanae 8 (1736), 128-140.
- Hierholzer, C., "Über die Möglichkeit, einen Linienzug ohne Wiederholung und ohne Unterbrechnung zu umfahren", Mathematische Annalen 6 (1873), 30-32.
- Lucas, E., Récréations Mathématiques IV, Paris, 1921.
- Fleury, "Deux problemes de geometrie de situation", Journal de mathematiques elementaires (1883), 257-261.
