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Geodetic Graph


A geodetic graph is a connected graph with a unique shortest path between every pair of vertices. Ore (1962) introduced the term and asked for a characterization extending the familiar property of trees.

GeodeticGraphs

The numbers of geodetic graphs on n=1, 2, ... vertices are 1, 1, 2, 4, 10, 23, 66, 185, 586, 1880, 6360, 21975, 78230, 283087, 1043329, ... (OEIS A337179).

Examples of geodetic graphs include barbell graphs, block graphs, cacti graph lacking even cycles (Gorovoy and Zmiaikou 2021), complete graphs K_n (Gorovoy and Zmiaikou 2021), odd cycle graphs C_(2n+1) (Gorovoy and Zmiaikou 2021), lollipop graphs, trees (Gorovoy and Zmiaikou 2021), triangular snake graphs, and windmill graphs.

Stober and Weiß (2026) enumerate all biconnected graphs with the geodetic property through 25 vertices, obtaining 149 in total. Their enumeration also gives connected counts through 22 vertices and all regular examples through 32 vertices. Their Stober-Weißgraphs form a new infinite family H(m,n,p,s) obtained from three constituent geodetic pieces by identifying specified cliques. The smallest member of this family, H(2,2,2,0), has 24 vertices.


See also

Antipodal Graph, Graph Distance Matrix, Stober-Weiss Graphs

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References

Frasser, C. E. "k-Geodetic Graphs and Their Application to the Topological Design of Computer Networks." In Proc. Argentinian Workshop on Theoretical Computer Science, 28 JAIIO-WAIT'99. pp. 187-203, 1999.Gorovoy, D. and Zmiaikou, D. "On Graphs with Unique Geoodesics and Antipodes." 19 Nov 2021. https://arxiv.org/abs/2111.09987.Ore, O. Theory of Graphs. Providence, RI: Amer. Math. Soc., 1962.Parthasarathy, K. R. and Srinivasan, N. "Some General Constructions of Geodetic Blocks." J. Combin. Th. 33, 121-136, 1982.Sloane, N. J. A. Sequence A337179 in "The On-Line Encyclopedia of Integer Sequences."Stemple, J. G.; and Watkins, M. E. "On Planar Geodetic Graphs." J. Combin. Th. 4, 101-117, 1968.Stober, F. and Weiß, A. "Geodetic Graphs: Experiments and New Constructions." Electron. J. Combin. 33, P3.64, 2026. https://doi.org/10.37236/13950.

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Geodetic Graph

Cite this as:

Weisstein, Eric W. "Geodetic Graph." From MathWorld--A Wolfram Resource. https://mathworld.wolfram.com/GeodeticGraph.html

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