Paper 4, Section II, F
(a) Show that every finite tree of order at least 2 has a leaf. Hence, or otherwise, show that a tree of order must have precisely edges.
(b) Let be a graph. Explain briefly why .
Let , and assume . By induction on , or otherwise, show that has a subgraph with . Hence, or otherwise, show that if is a tree of order then .
(c) Let be integers, let and let be a tree of order . Show that whenever the edges of the complete graph are coloured blue and yellow then it must contain either a blue or a yellow .
Does this remain true if is replaced by ? Justify your answer.
[The independence number of a graph is the size of the largest set of vertices such that no edge of joins two points of . Recall that is the chromatic number and are respectively the minimal/maximal degrees of vertices in .]