In a simple graph, there exist two vertices $A,B$ such that there are exactly $100$ shortest paths from $A$ to $B$. Find the minimum number of edges in the graph. CSJL
Problem
Source: IMOC 2021 C9
Tags: combinatorics, graph theory, IMOC
zhangshengt
15.08.2021 03:18
Here is my solution .
Answer is $16$.
Proof sketch: Let $\ell$ be distance from $A$ to $B$. Let $d_i$ be (number of) vertices at distance $i$ from $A$. Then each shortest path from $A$ to $B$ takes one vertice from $d_i$. Therefore the total number of shorted paths is at most $d_1d_2 \cdots d_{\ell - 1}$.
$$d_1d_2 \cdots d_{\ell - 1} \geq 100.$$Now it is classical that this implies
$$d_1 + d_2 + \cdots d_{\ell - 1} \geq 13.$$The only case of equality is when $\{d_1,...,d_{\ell - 1}\} = \{2,2,3,3,3\}$ or $\{3,3,3,4\}$. However, in both cases you cannot have all edges between $d_i$ and $d_{i + 1}$ for all $0 \leq i \leq \ell - 1$ (assume $d_{0} = \{A\},d_{\ell} = \{B\}$), otherwise you would form $108$ shortest paths. Therefore you must remove some edge, at which point you can form at most $99$ shortest path. Thus you must have $$d_1 + d_2 + \cdots d_{\ell - 1} > 13.$$Construction: connect these graphs: $K_{1,4}$ + ($K_{4,3}$ - any 2 edge) + $K_{3,3}$ + ($K_{3,4}$ - any 2 edge) + $K_{4,1}$.
CrazyInMath
26.11.2021 02:02
Less effective method: Do factorization and you will get the solution which is 16. Then you find out with 14 vertices you only get 3*3*3*3=81 paths at most. Then do brute force search on 15 vertices (the maximum is only 108) However this method is not okay for generalization (change 100 to n). (Sorry for not putting latex)
aaabc123mathematics
16.05.2022 16:36
the start connects with $K_{2,5}$+$K_{5,2}$ and then with the end also works