Skip to main content
Log in

A finiteness theorem for maximal independent sets

  • Published:
Graphs and Combinatorics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Denote bymi(G) the number of maximal independent sets ofG. This paper studies the setS(k) of all graphsG withmi(G) = k and without isolated vertices (exceptG ≅ K 1) or duplicated vertices. We determineS(1), S(2), andS(3) and prove that |V(G)| ≤ 2k−1 +k − 2 for anyG inS(k) andk ≥ 2; consequently,S(k) is finite for anyk.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Füredi, Z.: The number of maximal independent sets in connected graphs. J. Graph Theory11, 463–470 (1987)

    Article  MATH  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  2. Griggs, J.R., Grinstead, C.M., Guichard, D.R.: The number of maximal independent sets in a connected graph. Discrete Math.68, 211–220 (1988)

    Article  MATH  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  3. Hujter, M., Tuza, Z.: The number of maximal independent sets in triangle-free graphs. SIAM J. Disc. Math.6, 284–288 (1993)

    Article  MATH  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  4. Jou, M.-J.: The Number of Maximal Independent Sets in Graphs, Master's thesis, Dept. of Math., National Central Univ., Taiwan (1991)

    Google Scholar 

  5. Liu, J.: Maximal independent sets in bipartite graphs. J. Graph Theory17, 495–507 (1993)

    Article  MATH  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  6. Meir, A., Moon, J.W.: On maximal independent sets of nodes in trees. J. Graph Theory12, 265–283 (1988)

    Article  MATH  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  7. Moon, J.W., Moser, L.: On cliques in graphs. Israel J. Math.3, 23–28 (1965)

    Article  MATH  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  8. Sagan, B.E.: A note on independent sets in trees. SIAM J. Disc. Math.1, 105–108 (1988)

    Article  MATH  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  9. Wilf, H.S.: The number of maximal independent sets in a tree. SIAM J. Alg. Disc. Meth.7, 125–130 (1986)

    Article  MATH  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  10. Zito, J.: The structure and maximum number of maximum independent sets in trees. J. Graph Theory15, 207–211 (1991)

    Article  MATH  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Additional information

Supported in part by the National Science Council under grant NSC 83-0208-M009-050

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Jou, MJ., Chang, G.J., Lin, C. et al. A finiteness theorem for maximal independent sets. Graphs and Combinatorics 12, 321–326 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01858464

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01858464

Navigation