Proof that deleting all the edges of a cycle in certain connected graph still gives remaining connected graph

combinatoricsgraph theory

A connected graph $G$ has $100$ vertices and $199$ edges. Prove it is possible to delete all edges of a cycle in $G$ such that the remaining graph is still connected.

I have seen the thread on proving deleting one edge of a cycle in a connected graph $G$ results in a connected graph, but I don't believe the argument entirely applies in this case. I have made a few obvious observations. For example, after deleting every edge in the cycle, we know the part of the graph that has remained invariant is still connected, so we require at least one path from every vertex of this now deleted path to some vertex in the part of the graph that has remained untouched. Also, by Pigeonhole, at least one vertex will have degree $=1.$ I feel like all the progress I have so far along with the linked thread is extremely close to finishing the problem, but it's hard for me to formulate a rigorous proof. May I have some help? Thanks in advance.

Best Answer

Let $T$ be a spanning tree of $G$. Remove all the edges of $T$ from $G$. You will be left with a graph with $100$ vertices and $100$ edges which will necessarily contain a cycle (in general, a graph with $n$ vertices and $n$ edges contains a cycle). It's easy to see that removing this cycle from $G$ leaves it connected.

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