Solution

ID: past-exam-of-the-mathematics-course-of-the-university-of-cambridge/2025/ii/paper-3/17f/b/solution

The Euler formula for a connected planar graph follows by induction on the number of cycle edges. If is a tree, then and , so . Otherwise remove an edge belonging to a cycle. The graph remains connected, while the two faces adjoining that edge merge: both and decrease by one. Thus is unchanged, and induction reaches a tree.
Every edge borders two face sides, so the sum of the face sizes is . If every face has size at least , then
Substitute from Euler's formula:
and hence the planar girth edge bound

New to topics? Read the docs here!