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Cuts and Flows

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Algebraic Graph Theory

Part of the book series: Graduate Texts in Mathematics ((GTM,volume 207))

Abstract

Let X be a graph with an orientation σ and let D be the incidence matrix of X σ. In this chapter we continue the study of how graph-theoretic properties of X are reflected in the algebraic properties of D. As previously, the orientation is merely a device used to prove the results, and the results themselves are independent of which particular orientation is chosen. Let ℝE and ℝv denote the real vector spaces with coordinates indexed by the edges and vertices of X, respectively. Then the column space of D T is a subspace of ℝE, called the cut space of X. The orthogonal complement of this vector space is called the flow space of X.

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© 2001 Springer Science+Business Media New York

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Godsil, C., Royle, G. (2001). Cuts and Flows. In: Algebraic Graph Theory. Graduate Texts in Mathematics, vol 207. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-0163-9_14

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-0163-9_14

  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-0-387-95220-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4613-0163-9

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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