\problemdata      
        {?} % latex-friendly label for the prob.
        {Graphs, Proofs} % The topic(s) of the problem content.
        {?} % Source (if known)
        {Fall 2001, final} % Usage (list ones you are aware of).
        {Christos Kapoutsis, S02} % Last revision info (author, date).


\begin{problem}
Let $L_n$ be the $n+1$-vertex simple ``line'' graph consisting of a
single simple path of length~$n$.  For example, $L_4$ is shown in the
figure below:
\begin{figure}[h]
\begin{center}
\begin{picture}(80,30)
\put(00,15){\circle*{3}} \put(00,15){\line(1,0){20}}
\put(20,15){\circle*{3}} \put(20,15){\line(1,0){20}}
\put(40,15){\circle*{3}} \put(40,15){\line(1,0){20}}
\put(60,15){\circle*{3}} \put(60,15){\line(1,0){20}}
\put(80,15){\circle*{3}}
\end{picture}
\end{center}
\caption{The line graph $L_4$}
\end{figure}

Let's say a simple graph has ``two ends'' if it has exactly two
vertices of degree~one, and all its other vertices have degree~two.
In particular, for $n \ge 1$, the graph~$L_n$ has two ends. Consider
the following false theorem and false proof of that theorem.

\paragraph{False theorem:}
Every simple graph with two ends is isomorphic to~$L_n$ for some~$n~\ge~1$.

\paragraph{False proof:}
We prove by induction on the number, $n \ge 1$, of edges in a simple
graph, that every two-ended graph with $n$ edges is isomorphic
to~$L_n$.

(Base case $n = 1$): A simple graph with one edge can only consist of
the two vertices connected by that edge and some number of vertices
not attached to  any edge, i.e., vertices of degree~zero.  Since a
two-ended graph cannot have vertices of degree~zero, the only
two-ended graph with one edge must consist solely of the two vertices
connected by the edge, which makes it isomorphic to~$L_1$.

(Induction case): Assume that $n \ge 1$ and every two-ended graph with
$n$ edges is isomorphic to~$L_n$.  Now let $G_n$ be any two-ended
graph with $n \ge 1$ edges.  By hypothesis, $G_n$ is isomorphic
to~$L_n$.  Suppose an edge is added to~$G_n$ to form a two-ended
graph~$G_{n+1}$.

Since $G_n$ is isomorphic to~$L_n$, it consists of a simple path of
length~$n$.  The only way to add an edge to the path and preserve
two-endedness is to have that edge go from one end---that is, one of
the degree-one vertices---to a new vertex, lengthening the path by
one.  That is, the resulting $n+1$-edge graph must be a simple path of
length~$n + 1$, so it is isomorphic to~$L_{n+1}$.  Q.E.D.

Explain briefly, but clearly, what is wrong with the false induction proof.

\solution{
This proof assumes that every two-ended graph with $n+1$ edges is obtained
by adding an edge to a two-ended graph with $n$ edges.  But not every
two-ended graph is obtained this way, \eg the following graph is not:
\begin{center}
\begin{picture}(80,30)
\put(00,15){\circle*{3}} \put(00,15){\line(1,0){20}}
\put(20,15){\circle*{3}}
\put(40,15){\circle*{3}} \put(40,15){\line(1,0){40}}
\put(60,35){\circle*{3}} \put(40,15){\line(1,1){20}}
\put(80,15){\circle*{3}} \put(80,15){\line(-1,1){20}}
\end{picture}\\
The smallest two-ended graph not isomorphic to any line graph.
\end{center}}

\end{problem}




