Let ๐บ(๐,๐ธ) be a simple, undirected, edge-weighted graph with unique edgeโฆ
2026
Let ๐บ(๐,๐ธ) be a simple, undirected, edge-weighted graph with unique edge weights. Which of the following statements about the minimum spanning trees (MST) of ๐บ is/are true?
- A.
In every cycle ๐ถ of ๐บ, the edge with the largest weight in ๐ถ is not in any MST
- B.
In every cycle ๐ถ of ๐บ, the edge with the smallest weight in ๐ถ is in every MST
- C.
For every vertex ๐ฃ โ๐, the edge with the largest weight incident on ๐ฃ is not in any MST
- D.
For every vertex ๐ฃ โ๐, the edge with the smallest weight incident on ๐ฃ is in every MST
Attempted by 7 students.
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Correct answer: A, D
Given:
G(V,E) is a simple undirected weighted graph
with unique edge weights.
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Statement 1
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"In every cycle C of G,
the edge with the largest weight in C
is not in any MST."
This statement is TRUE.
By the Cycle Property of MSTs:
The maximum-weight edge in a cycle
can never belong to a Minimum Spanning Tree.
Since all edge weights are unique,
the largest edge is uniquely determined.
Therefore Statement 1 is TRUE.
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Statement 2
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"In every cycle C of G,
the edge with the smallest weight in C
is in every MST."
This statement is FALSE.
The minimum edge of a cycle is preferred,
but it is not guaranteed to appear
in every MST.
Hence Statement 2 is FALSE.
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Statement 3
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"For every vertex v in V,
the edge with the largest weight incident on v
is not in any MST."
This statement is FALSE.
The largest incident edge may still be required
to connect that vertex to the graph.
Hence Statement 3 is FALSE.
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Statement 4
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"For every vertex v in V,
the edge with the smallest weight incident on v
is in every MST."
This statement is TRUE.
Consider the cut separating vertex v
from all remaining vertices.
The minimum-weight edge incident on v
is the unique lightest edge crossing that cut.
By the Cut Property of MSTs,
this edge must belong to every MST.
Hence Statement 4 is TRUE.
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Final Answer
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Statements 1 and 4 are TRUE.
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