Comparability graph: Difference between revisions

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{{Short description|Graph linking pairs of comparable elements in a partial order}}
In [[graph theory]] and [[order theory]], a '''comparability graph''' is an [[undirected graph]] that connects pairs of elements that are [[comparability|comparable]] to each other in a [[partial order]]. Comparability graphs have also been called '''transitively orientable graphs''', '''partially orderable graphs''', and '''containment graphs'''.,<ref>{{harvtxt|Golumbic|1980}}, p. 105; {{harvtxt|Brandstädt|Le|Spinrad|1999}}, p. 94.</ref> and '''divisor graphs'''.{{sfnp|Chartrand|Muntean|Saenpholphat|Zhang|2001}}

An '''incomparability graph''' is an [[undirected graph]] that connects pairs of elements that are not [[comparability|comparable]] to each other in a [[partial order]].

==Definitions and characterization==

[[File:Poset et graphe de comparabilité.svg|thumb|300px|Hasse diagram of a poset (left) and its comparability graph (right)]]

[[Image:Forbidden interval subgraph.svg|thumb|One of the forbidden induced subgraphs of a comparability graph. The generalized cycle {{mvar|a–b–d–f–d–c–e–c–b–a}} in this graph has odd length (nine) but has no triangular chords.]]

''a''–''b''–''d''–''f''–''d''–''c''–''e''–''c''–''b''–''a'' in this graph has odd length (nine) but has no triangular chords.]]

For any [[strict partial order|strict partially ordered set]] (''S'',&lt;), the '''comparability graph''' of (''S'', &lt;) is the graph (''S'', ⊥) of which the vertices are the elements of ''S'' and the edges are those pairs {''u'', ''v''} of elements such that ''u'' &lt; ''v''. That is, for a partially ordered set, take the [[directed acyclic graph]], apply [[transitive closure]], and remove orientation.

For any [[strict partial order|strict partially ordered set]] {{math|(''S'',&lt;<)}}, the '''comparability graph''' of {{math|(''S'', &lt;<)}} is the graph {{math|(''S'', ⊥)}} of which the vertices are the elements of ''{{mvar|S''}} and the edges are those pairs {{math|{''u'', ''v''} }} of elements such that {{math|''u'' &lt;< ''v''}}. That is, for a partially ordered set, take the [[directed acyclic graph]], apply [[transitive closure]], and remove orientation.

Equivalently, a comparability graph is a graph that has a '''transitive orientation''',<ref>{{harvtxt|Ghouila-Houri|1962}}; see {{harvtxt|Brandstädt|Le|Spinrad|1999}}, theorem 1.4.1, p. 12. Although the orientations coming from partial orders are [[directed acyclic graph|acyclic]], it is not necessary to include acyclicity as a condition of this characterization.</ref> an assignment of directions to the edges of the graph (i.e. an [[Orientation (graph theory)|orientation]] of the graph) such that the [[adjacency relation]] of the resulting [[directed graph]] is [[transitive relation|transitive]]: whenever there exist directed edges (''x'',''y'') and (''y'',''z''), there must exist an edge (''x'',''z'').

Equivalently, a comparability graph is a graph that has a '''transitive orientation''',<ref>{{harvtxt|Ghouila-Houri|1962}}; see {{harvtxt|Brandstädt|Le|Spinrad|1999}}, theorem 1.4.1, p. 12. Although the orientations coming from partial orders are [[directed acyclic graph|acyclic]], it is not necessary to include acyclicity as a condition of this characterization.</ref> an assignment of directions to the edges of the graph (i.e. an [[Orientation (graph theory)|orientation]] of the graph) such that the [[adjacency relation]] of the resulting [[directed graph]] is [[transitive relation|transitive]]: whenever there exist directed edges {{math|(''x'',''y'')}} and {{math|(''y'',''z'')}}, there must exist an edge {{math|(''x'',''z'')}}.

One can represent any partial order as a family of sets, such that ''x'' &lt; ''y'' in the partial order whenever the set corresponding to ''x'' is a subset of the set corresponding to ''y''. In this way, comparability graphs can be shown to be equivalent to containment graphs of set families; that is, a graph with a vertex for each set in the family and an edge between two sets whenever one is a subset of the other.<ref>{{harvtxt|Urrutia|1989}}; {{harvtxt|Trotter|1992}}; {{harvtxt|Brandstädt|Le|Spinrad|1999}}, section 6.3, pp. 94–96.</ref>

One can represent any finite partial order as a family of sets, such that {{math|''x'' &lt;< ''y''}} in the partial order whenever the set corresponding to ''{{mvar|x''}} is a subset of the set corresponding to ''{{mvar|y''}}. In this way, comparability graphs can be shown to be equivalent to containment graphs of set families; that is, a graph with a vertex for each set in the family and an edge between two sets whenever one is a subset of the other.<ref>{{harvtxt|Urrutia|1989}}; {{harvtxt|Trotter|1992}}; {{harvtxt|Brandstädt|Le|Spinrad|1999}}, section 6.3, pp. 94–96.</ref>

Alternatively,<ref>{{harvtxt|Ghouila-Houri|1962}} and {{harvtxt|Gilmore|Hoffman|1964}}. See also {{harvtxt|Brandstädt|Le|Spinrad|1999}}, theorem 6.1.1, p. 91.</ref> a comparability graph is a graph such that, for every ''generalized cycle'' of odd length, one can find an edge (''x'',''y'') connecting two vertices that are at distance two in the cycle. Such an edge is called a ''triangular chord''. In this context, a generalized cycle is defined to be a [[Glossary of graph theory#Walks|closed walk]] that uses each edge of the graph at most once in each direction.

Alternatively, one can represent the partial order by a family of [[integer]]s, such that {{math|''x'' < ''y''}} whenever the integer corresponding to {{mvar|x}} is a [[divisor]] of the integer corresponding to {{mvar|y}}. Because of this construction, comparability graphs have also been called divisor graphs.{{sfnp|Chartrand|Muntean|Saenpholphat|Zhang|2001}}

Comparability graphs can be characterized as the graphs such that, for every ''generalized cycle'' (see below) of odd length, one can find an edge {{math|(''x'',''y'')}} connecting two vertices that are at distance two in the cycle. Such an edge is called a ''triangular chord''. In this context, a generalized cycle is defined to be a [[Glossary of graph theory#Walks|closed walk]] that uses each edge of the graph at most once in each direction.<ref>{{harvtxt|Ghouila-Houri|1962}} and {{harvtxt|Gilmore|Hoffman|1964}}. See also {{harvtxt|Brandstädt|Le|Spinrad|1999}}, theorem 6.1.1, p. 91.</ref> Comparability graphs can also be characterized by a list of [[forbidden induced subgraph]]s.<ref>{{harvtxt|Gallai|1967}}; {{harvtxt|Trotter|1992}}; {{harvtxt|Brandstädt|Le|Spinrad|1999}}, p. 91 and p. 112.</ref>

==Relation to other graph families==

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[[Threshold graph]]s are another special kind of comparability graph.

Every comparability graph is [[perfect graph|perfect]]. The perfection of comparability graphs is [[Mirsky's theorem]], and the perfection of their complements is [[Dilworth's theorem]]; these facts, together with the complementation[[perfect property of perfectgraph graphstheorem]] can be used to prove Dilworth's theorem from Mirsky's theorem or vice versa.<ref>{{harvtxt|Golumbic|1980}}, theorems 5.34 and 5.35, p. 133.</ref> More specifically, comparability graphs are [[perfectly orderable graph]]s, a subclass of perfect graphs: a [[greedy coloring]] algorithm for a [[topological ordering]] of a transitive orientation of the graph will optimally color them.<ref>{{harvtxt|Maffray|2003}}.</ref>

The [[complement graph|complement]] of every comparability graph is a [[string graph]].<ref>{{harvtxt|Golumbic|Rotem|Urrutia|1983}} and {{harvtxt|Lovász|1983}}. See also {{harvtxt|Fox|Pach|2012}}.</ref>

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A transitive orientation of a graph, if it exists, can be found in linear time.<ref>{{harvtxt|McConnell|Spinrad|1997}}; see {{harvtxt|Brandstädt|Le|Spinrad|1999}}, p. 91.</ref> However, the algorithm for doing so will assign orientations to the edges of any graph, so to complete the task of testing whether a graph is a comparability graph, one must test whether the resulting orientation is transitive, a problem provably equivalent in complexity to [[matrix multiplication]].

Because comparability graphs are perfect, many problems that are hard on more general classes of graphs, including [[graph coloring]] and the [[independent set problem]], can be computedsolved in polynomial time for comparability graphs.

==See also==

*[[Bound graph]], a different graph defined from a partial order

==Notes==

{{reflist|230em}}

== References ==

{{refbegin|230em}}

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{{refend}}

[[Category:{{Order theory]]}}

[[Category:Graph families]]

[[Category:Order theory]]

[[Category:Perfect graphs]]