Article ID Journal Published Year Pages File Type
6423570 Discrete Mathematics 2011 31 Pages PDF
Abstract

We determine upper and lower bounds for the number of maximum matchings (i.e., matchings of maximum cardinality) m(T) of a tree T of given order. While the trees that attain the lower bound are easily characterised, the trees with the largest number of maximum matchings show a very subtle structure. We give a complete characterisation of these trees and derive that the number of maximum matchings in a tree of order n is at most O(1.391664n) (the precise constant being an algebraic number of degree 14). As a corollary, we improve on a recent result by Górska and Skupień on the number of maximal matchings (maximal with respect to set inclusion).

Related Topics
Physical Sciences and Engineering Mathematics Discrete Mathematics and Combinatorics
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