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Distinct Edge Weights

Explore the concept of distinct edge weights in connected weighted graphs and understand the proof that such graphs have a unique minimum spanning tree. Learn how to handle graphs with equal edge weights using a tie-breaking algorithm, enabling precise application of minimum spanning tree algorithms.

Suppose we are given a connected, undirected, and weighted graph. This is a graph G=(V,E)G = (V, E) together with a function w:ERw: E \rightarrow \mathbb{R} that assigns a real weight w(e)w(e) to each edge ee, which may be positive, negative, or zero. This chapter describes several algorithms to find the minimum spanning tree of GG, that is, the spanning tree TT that minimizes the function

w(T):=e ε Tw(e).w(T):=\underset{e \space\varepsilon\space T}{\sum}w(e). ...