Degree-constrained spanning tree: Difference between revisions

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[[File:Degree-constrained spanning tree.png|thumb|350px|On the left, a spanning tree can be constructed where the vertex with the highest [[Degree (graph theory)|degree]] is 2 (thus, a max degree 2 tree).</br /> On the right, the central vertex must have degree at least 5 in any tree spanning this graph, so a 2 degree constrained tree cannot be constructed here.]]

In [[graph theory]], a '''degree-constrained spanning tree''' is a [[spanning tree (mathematics)|spanning tree]] where the maximum [[Degree (graph theory)|vertex degree]] is limited to a certain [[Constant (mathematics)|constant]] ''k''. The '''degree-constrained spanning tree problem''' is to determine whether a particular [[Graph (discrete mathematics)|graph]] has such a spanning tree for a particular ''k''.

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==NP-completeness==

This problem is [[NP-complete]] {{harv|Garey|Johnson|1979}}. This can be shown by a [[Reduction (complexity)|reduction]] from the [[Hamiltonian path problem]]. It remains NP-complete even if ''k'' is fixed to a value ≥&nbsp;2. If the problem is defined as the degree must be ≤&nbsp;''k'', the ''k'' = 2 case of degree-confined spanning tree is the Hamiltonian path problem.

This problem is [[NP-complete]] {{harv|Garey|Johnson|1979}}. This can be shown by a reduction from the [[Hamiltonian path problem]]. It remains NP-complete even if ''k'' is fixed to a value ≥&nbsp;2. If the problem is defined as the degree must be ≤&nbsp;''k'', the ''k'' = 2 case of degree-confined spanning tree is the Hamiltonian path problem.

==Degree-constrained minimum spanning tree==