Paper 3, Section II, F

Graph Theory | Part II, 2013

Let GG be a graph of order nn and average degree dd. Let AA be the adjacency matrix of GG and let xn+c1xn−1+c2xn−2+⋯+cnx^{n}+c_{1} x^{n-1}+c_{2} x^{n-2}+\cdots+c_{n} be its characteristic polynomial. Show that c1=0c_{1}=0 and c2=−nd/2c_{2}=-n d / 2. Show also that −c3-c_{3} is twice the number of triangles in GG.

The eigenvalues of AA are λ1⩾λ2⩾⋯⩾λn\lambda_{1} \geqslant \lambda_{2} \geqslant \cdots \geqslant \lambda_{n}. Prove that λ1⩾d\lambda_{1} \geqslant d.

Evaluate λ1+⋯+λn\lambda_{1}+\cdots+\lambda_{n}. Show that λ12+⋯+λn2=nd\lambda_{1}^{2}+\cdots+\lambda_{n}^{2}=n d and infer that λ1⩽d(n−1)\lambda_{1} \leqslant \sqrt{d(n-1)}. Does there exist, for each nn, a graph GG with d>0d>0 for which λ2=⋯=λn\lambda_{2}=\cdots=\lambda_{n} ?

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