Data Structure & Algorithms -
Spanning Tree
Bhabani Shankar Pradhan
A spanning tree is a subset of Graph G, which has all the vertices covered with
minimum possible number of edges. Hence, a spanning tree does not have
cycles and it cannot be disconnected..
By this definition, we can draw a conclusion that every connected and
undirected Graph G has at least one spanning tree. A disconnected graph
does not have any spanning tree, as it cannot be spanned to all its vertices.
We found three spanning trees off one complete graph. A complete undirected
graph can have maximum nn-2 number of spanning trees, where n is the
number of nodes. In the above addressed example, n is 3, hence 33−2 =
3 spanning trees are possible.
General Properties of Spanning Tree
We now understand that one graph can have more than one spanning tree.
Following are a few properties of the spanning tree connected to graph G −
A connected graph G can have more than one spanning tree.
All possible spanning trees of graph G, have the same number of edges
and vertices.
The spanning tree does not have any cycle (loops).
Removing one edge from the spanning tree will make the graph
disconnected, i.e. the spanning tree is minimally connected.
Adding one edge to the spanning tree will create a circuit or loop, i.e. the
spanning tree is maximally acyclic.
Mathematical Properties of Spanning Tree
Spanning tree has n-1 edges, where n is the number of nodes (vertices).
From a complete graph, by removing maximum e - n + 1 edges, we can
construct a spanning tree.
A complete graph can have maximum nn-2 number of spanning trees.
Thus, we can conclude that spanning trees are a subset of connected Graph G
and disconnected graphs do not have spanning tree.
Application of Spanning Tree
Spanning tree is basically used to find a minimum path to connect all nodes in
a graph. Common application of spanning trees are −
Civil Network Planning
Computer Network Routing Protocol
Cluster Analysis
Let us understand this through a small example. Consider, city network as a
huge graph and now plans to deploy telephone lines in such a way that in
minimum lines we can connect to all city nodes. This is where the spanning
tree comes into picture.
Minimum Spanning Tree (MST)
In a weighted graph, a minimum spanning tree is a spanning tree that has
minimum weight than all other spanning trees of the same graph. In real-world
situations, this weight can be measured as distance, congestion, traffic load or
any arbitrary value denoted to the edges.
Minimum Spanning-Tree Algorithm
We shall learn about two most important spanning tree algorithms here −
Kruskal's Algorithm
Prim's Algorithm
Both are greedy algorithms.
