A quadratic identity for the number of perfect matchings of plane graphs

We present a quadratic identity on the number of perfect matchings of plane graphs by the method of graphical condensation, which generalizes the results found by Propp [J. Propp, Generalized domino-shuffling, Theoret. Comput. Sci. 303 (2003) 267–301], Kuo [E.H. Kuo, Applications of graphical condensation for enumerating matchings and tilings, Theoret. Comput. Sci. 319 (2004) 29–57], and Yan, Yeh, and Zhang [W.G. Yan, Y.-N. Yeh, F.J. Zhang, Graphical condensation of plane graphs: A combinatorial approach, Theoret. Comput. Sci. 349 (2005) 452–461].