Graph Theory – Maximum Number of Edges in a Non-Hamiltonian Graph

graph theoryhamiltonian-path

I need to show that the maximum number of edges of non-Hamiltonian, simple graph, on $n$ vertices noted by $t(n,H_n)$ is $\binom{n-1}{2} + 1$. It's essential to show the upper and lower bounds for this question.

Now, I can see why I need to show the upper bound – for $t(n,H_n) > \binom{n-1}{2} + 1$ there's a clique on $n-1$ vertices and one other vertex with at least 2 edges. Surely, a Hamiltonian cycle exist in such graph.

What about the lower bound, though? Am I need to prove that for every $t(n,H_n) \leq \binom{n-1}{2} + 1$ there is no Hamiltonian cycle? By negation, I seem to not advance anywhere, because I don't know of any necessary conditions for a Hamiltonian cycle to exist, beside the cut-vertex one. Can someone give me a clue on that?

Thanks in advance.

Best Answer

Found a lot easier proof for the harder part, using Ore's theorem: If $G$ is complete, there's a Hamiltonian cycle. So suppose it's not. We'll take some non-neighbor vertices $v,w$, and delete them from the graph. For the resulting graph $G'$ - $|E(G')| \geq \binom {n-1}{2} + 2 - (d(v)+d(w))$. In the complete graph on $n-2$ vertices there are $\binom {n-2}{2}$ edges. So, lastly, we get that $$\binom{n-2}{2} \geq \binom{n-1}{2} + 2 - (d(v)+d(w))$$ and after some easy operations, we get that $$d(v)+d(w) \geq n$$ which is exactly Ore's condition for a Hamiltonian graph to exist.