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Gruber P. Convex and Discrete Geometry

Gruber P. Convex and Discrete Geometry

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262 <strong>Convex</strong> Polytopes<br />

bijection between V(G) <strong>and</strong> V(H) which maps (endpoints of) edges onto (endpoints<br />

of) edges in both directions.<br />

A graph in E 2 (or C or C ∪{∞})isplanar if no two edges of it cross. More<br />

generally, an abstract graph or a graph is called planar if it is isomorphic to a planar<br />

graph in E 2 . The isomorphic image in E 2 then is a planar realization of the given,<br />

possibly abstract graph. There are simple criteria for planarity. Let G be a planar<br />

connected graph in E 2 . Omitting from E 2 the vertices <strong>and</strong> edges of G leaves a finite<br />

system of connected open sets, the countries of G, often called domains of G. Since<br />

G is connected, the bounded countries are simply connected. If G is considered as<br />

embedded into C ∪{∞}, also the unbounded country is simply connected. It is easy<br />

to see that each planar graph in E 2 is isomorphic to a planar graph in E 2 the edges of<br />

which are polygonal curves.<br />

The edge graph G(P) of a proper convex polytope P is the graph consisting of<br />

the vertices <strong>and</strong> the edges of P. IfdimP = 3, then G(P) is planar.<br />

For more information on geometric graph theory, see Nishizeki <strong>and</strong> Chiba [772],<br />

Bollobás [142], Mohar <strong>and</strong> Thomassen [748] <strong>and</strong> Felsner [332].<br />

Euler’s Formula for Graphs in E 2<br />

We will show the following result.<br />

Theorem 15.2. Let G be a connected planar graph in E 2 with v vertices, e edges <strong>and</strong><br />

f countries. Then<br />

v − e + f = 2.<br />

Proof. Define the Euler characteristic χ(H) of a connected planar graph H in E 2<br />

as the number of vertices minus the number of edges plus the number of countries<br />

of H, including the unbounded country. For simplicity, we assume that all graphs<br />

considered have polygonal curves as edges.<br />

The following proposition is well-known.<br />

(2) Let a graph K in E 2 arise from a connected planar graph H in E 2 by one of<br />

the following two operations:<br />

(i) Consider a polygonal curve connecting a vertex of H with a point in a<br />

country of H <strong>and</strong> which contains no vertex or point on an edge of H in<br />

its relative interior. Add this curve to the edges of H <strong>and</strong> its endpoint to<br />

the vertices.<br />

(ii) Consider a polygonal curve connecting two vertices of H <strong>and</strong> which<br />

contains no vertex or point on an edge of H in its relative interior. Add<br />

this curve to the edges of H.<br />

Then χ(K) = χ(H).<br />

Since G is connected, it can be constructed by finitely many operations as<br />

described in (2), beginning with a graph consisting of a single vertex which has<br />

Euler characteristic 2. Proposition (2) then shows that χ(G) = 2. ⊓⊔

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