MTH 231 0

MTH 231 - Lecture 24

Yevgeniy Kovchegov
Oregon State University
MTH 231 1

Topics:

• Homeomorphic graphs.

• Planar graphs.

• Examples.

• Euler’s formula for planar graphs.

• Is K5 “planar” in the toral world?

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Planar Graphs

K4

The above complete graph K4 is planar as illustrated on the

following picture:

a b

c d
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Planar Graphs

However the complete graph K5 of five vertices is known to be

not planar.
MTH 231 4

Planar Graphs

There is another famous graph known to be not planar. It is

the complete bipartite graph K3,3 on 3 and 3 vertices. See

the figure above.

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Homeomorphic graphs
Graphs G1 and G2 are homeomorphic if G1 and G2 can be
reduced to isomorphic graphs by performing a sequence of series
reductions:

v1 v1

⇒
v

v2 v2

A series reduction consists of deleting a vertex v of degree 2

(if it has no incident loops or parallel edges), and replacing its

incident edges (v, v1 ) and (v, v2 ) by one edge (v1 , v2 ).

MTH 231 6

Homeomorphic graphs
Graphs G1 and G2 are homeomorphic if G1 and G2 can be
reduced to isomorphic graphs by performing a sequence of series
reductions.

Example.

Graphs and

are homoemorphic.
MTH 231 7

Planar Graphs
The Kuratowski’s Theorem (on p.724) states that a graph is
not planar if and only if it contains a subgraph homeomorphic
to K5 or K3,3 .

We will illustrate it with the following example:

a b

g
c d

e f
MTH 231 8

Planar Graphs

a b

g
c d

e f

Example. Consider the above graph. In order for us to figure

out if it is planar or not, we try to draw it so that no two edges
intersect. In this case, we try and fail. Now, we try to prove
it is not planar. By Kuratowski’s Theorem, we need to find a
subgraph homeomorphic to K5 or K3,3 .

Here is how we find such subgraph.

MTH 231 9

Planar Graphs

a b a b

g g
c d c d
⇒

h h

e f e f

Example (continued). We notice that if we remove the edge

(g, h), the above subgraph will be homeomorphic to K3,3 as can

be seen after redrawing it as follows.

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Planar Graphs

a g
b
a b

g c d
c d
⇔

h
e f
e f
h

Example (continued). The above subgraph is indeed homeo-

morphic to K3,3 as both vertices, g and h are of degree two, and

can be removed.
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Planar Graphs

a g
b
a b

c d
c d
⇔

e f
e f
h

Example (continued). Once g and h are removed, we get

K3,3 .
MTH 231 12

Planar Graphs

a b

g
c d

e f

Example (continued). Thus the above graph is not planar.

MTH 231 13

Planar Graphs
Example.

a b

c d
g

e f

While another, slightly different graph above is planar as can be

seen by redrawing it in two steps.

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Planar Graphs

a b
a b

c g
c d d e
g ⇔

e f
f

Example (continued). First, reposition vertex e.

MTH 231 15

Planar Graphs

a b b

d
c g c g
d e ⇔ e
a

f f

Example (continued). Next, reposition vertex a, and no two

edges will intersect.

MTH 231 16

Euler’s Formula

a b

c d

As we know K4 is planar, and can therefore be drawn as above.

Now, let us count the number of vertices, edges and faces we

get.
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Euler’s Formula

a b

c d

Here, the number of vertices is

v = 4,
the number of edges is
e = 6,
and the number of faces is
f =4

Thus the Euler’s formula for planar graphs holds for K4 :

v−e+f =2
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Euler’s Formula
As it is shown in Theorem 1 on p.720, the Euler’s formula
v−e+f =2
holds for all planar graphs. b

For example, consider another planar graph:

d
c g
e
a

Here v = 7, e = 11 and f = 6. So Euler’s Formula holds here

as well:
v − e + f = 7 − 11 + 6 = 2
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Euler’s Formula
Theorem (Euler’s formula for graphs). If G is a connected
planar graph with v vertices, e edges, and f faces, then
v−e+f =2
holds for all planar graphs.

Proof: We will use induction on the number of vertices v.

Basis step: v = 1. If there are k loops, then e = k and f = k + 1.

Therefore
v − e + f = 1 − k + (k + 1) = 2
confirming the Euler’s formula for the basis step v = 1.

In general, by adding a loop, we always increase e and f by 1,

thus keeping v − e + f constant.
MTH 231 20

Euler’s Formula
Theorem (Euler’s formula for graphs). If G is a connected
planar graph with v vertices, e edges, and f faces, then
v−e+f =2
holds for all planar graphs.

Proof (continued): We will use induction on the number of

vertices v.

Induction step: Suppose the formula is known for v = n. We

construct a connected planar graph G of n + 1 vertices from
a connected planar subgraph Gn of n vertices, by adding the
(n + 1)-st vertex vn+1 , and connecting it to Gn by edges, and
adding loops.

First we add vertex vn+1 and

an edge connecting it to Gn .

Note that adding one vertex vn+1

and one edge and no faces, will
not change v − e + f .
Gn
MTH 231 21

Euler’s Formula
Theorem (Euler’s formula for graphs). If G is a connected
planar graph with v vertices, e edges, and f faces, then
v−e+f =2
holds for all planar graphs.

Proof (continued): We will use induction on the number of

vertices v.

Induction step: Suppose the formula is known for v = n. We

construct a connected planar graph G of n + 1 vertices from
a connected planar subgraph Gn of n vertices, by adding the
(n + 1)-st vertex vn+1 , and connecting it to Gn by edges, and
adding loops.

Next we add more edges con-

necting vn+1 to Gn , and loops.

Note that adding one edge vn+1

and one face will not change
v − e + f.
Gn
MTH 231 22

Is K5 “planar” in the toral world?

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Is K5 “planar” in the toral world?

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Is K5 “planar” in the toral world?

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Is K5 “planar” in the toral world?

Yes, K5 is planar in the toral world. That is, it can be drawn on

a torus, with no two edges intersecting each other.

However, if we count the vertices, edges, and faces, we see that

there v = 5, e = 10, and f = 5. Obtaining for K5 on a torus,
v−e+f =0