Solution

ID: past-exam-of-the-mathematical-and-computational-biology-course-of-the-university-of-cambridge/2025/paper-2/6/b/solution

Under the conventional criterion, the supplied summaries classify it as a small-world network: clustering is about times the reference value, while path length is only about times the reference value. Two reference random graphs permit a numerical comparison but do not establish the variability or statistical significance of that classification.
There is a literal consistency problem with describing these summaries as those of a four-vertex simple unweighted graph. Any finite graph distance is at most three, whereas the supplied mean path lengths exceed three. A local clustering coefficient with at most three neighbours can only be , , or under the usual definition, not or . Thus the result above is the intended calculation from the given summaries; they cannot all describe an ordinary four-node simple unweighted network. A larger network or a separately specified weighted convention would be needed for a literal network interpretation.

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