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Gruber P. Convex and Discrete Geometry

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15 Combinatorial Theory of <strong>Convex</strong> Polytopes 259<br />

modern aftermath. Then the problem whether a graph can be realized as the edge<br />

graph of a convex polytope is studied. Balinski’s theorem <strong>and</strong> the Perles–Blind–<br />

Mani theorem for simple graphs are given as well as the Steinitz representation theorem.<br />

Next we touch the problem whether a polytopal complex can be realized as<br />

the boundary complex of a convex polytope. Finally, combinatorial types of convex<br />

polytopes are discussed.<br />

For more information we refer to the books of Grünbaum [453], McMullen<br />

<strong>and</strong> Shephard [718], Brøndsted [171], Ziegler [1045], Richter-Gebert [833] <strong>and</strong><br />

Matouˇsek [695], the historical treatise of Federico [318], the proceedings [346],<br />

[562] <strong>and</strong> the surveys of Klee <strong>and</strong> Kleinschmidt [595] <strong>and</strong> Bayer <strong>and</strong> Lee [83].<br />

15.1 Euler’s Polytope Formula <strong>and</strong> Its Converse by Steinitz for d = 3<br />

A result which readily implies Euler’s [312, 313] polytope formula was given by<br />

Descartes around 1630. The original manuscript was lost, but a h<strong>and</strong>written copy by<br />

Leibniz of 1676 survived. It was found in 1860 in the Royal Library of Hanover,<br />

immediately published <strong>and</strong> inserted into the collected works of Descartes [261]. See<br />

the comment of Federico [318]. In their fundamental treatise on topology Alex<strong>and</strong>roff<br />

<strong>and</strong> Hopf [9], p.1, write,<br />

... - the discovery of the Euler (more correctly: Descartes-Euler) polytope theorem<br />

may be considered the first important event in topology (1752).<br />

Below we define f -vectors <strong>and</strong> state the basic problem on f -vectors. Then two<br />

versions of the Euler polytope formula are presented, one for convex polytopes in E 3 ,<br />

the other one for planar graphs. Finally, the converse of Euler’s formula by Steinitz<br />

is presented. Since graphs will be used extensively in Sects. 15.4 <strong>and</strong> 34.1, the necessary<br />

graph-theoretic terminology is described in some detail.<br />

The f -Vector of a <strong>Convex</strong> Polytope<br />

Let P ∈ P be a convex polytope. Its f -vector f = f (P) is the d-tuple<br />

f = ( f0, f1,..., fd−1),<br />

where fi = fi(P) is the number of i-dimensional faces of P. In particular, f0 is<br />

the number of vertices of P. A basic task of combinatorial polytope theory is the<br />

following.<br />

Problem 15.1. Characterize among all d-tuples of positive integers the f -vectors of<br />

proper convex polytopes in E d .<br />

For d = 1, 2, this problem is trivial. For d = 3 its solution follows from Euler’s<br />

polytope formula <strong>and</strong> its converse by Steinitz, see later. For d > 3 it is open, but a<br />

lot of far-reaching contributions have been given, see the discussion in Sect. 15.2.

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