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Discrete Mathematics

GATE CSE 2017 Set 2 · Q23

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GG is an undirected graph with nn vertices and 25 edges such that each vertex of GG has degree at least 3. Then the maximum possible value of nn is _________ .

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Official answer: 16 (±0)

Discrete Mathematics

According to the Handshaking Lemma, the sum of degrees of all vertices in an undirected graph equals twice the number of edges:

∑v∈Vdeg(v)=2∣E∣=2×25=50\sum_{v \in V} \text{deg}(v) = 2|E| = 2 \times 25 = 50

Given that the degree of every vertex is at least 33, i.e., deg(v)≥3\text{deg}(v) \ge 3 for all v∈Vv \in V:

∑v∈Vdeg(v)≥3n\sum_{v \in V} \text{deg}(v) \ge 3n

Substituting the total sum of degrees:

3n≤503n \le 50
n≤⌊503⌋=16n \le \left\lfloor \frac{50}{3} \right\rfloor = 16

For n=16n = 16, we can have 1414 vertices of degree 33 and 22 vertices of degree 44:

Sum of degrees=(14×3)+(2×4)=42+8=50\text{Sum of degrees} = (14 \times 3) + (2 \times 4) = 42 + 8 = 50

Since the number of odd-degree vertices is even (1414), such a graph can exist.

Thus, the maximum possible value of nn is 16.

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This Discrete Mathematics previous year question is Q23 of the GATE CSE 2017 Set 2 paper. Find more GATE CSE PYQs on Discrete Mathematics in Engineering Mathematics, or browse all GATE CSE PYQs.

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Discrete Mathematics has 50 GATE CSE PYQs across 23 papers from 2011 to 2026. 10 of them are 1-mark NAT questions like this one, and GATE CSE 2017 Set 2 has 3.

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G is an undirected graph with n vertices and 25 edges such that each vertex of G has degree at least 3. Then the maximum possible value of n is …

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