Math Problem Statement

Can you check my answer for the question: Let $T=(V,E)$ be a tree, and let $u,v\in V$ be any two nodes.

Prove that the height of the rooted tree $(T,u)$ is at most twice the height of the rooted tree $(T,v)$. This is my answer: Let $h_u$ denote the height of the tree $(T,u)$, and $h_v$ denote the height of the tree $(T,v)$. The height of a rooted tree is defined as the maximum distance from the root to any other node in the tree.

Since $T$ is a tree, there is exactly one path $P(a,b)$ between any two nodes $a$ and $b$. Let $d(a,b)$ denote the length of this path in terms of edges.

For any node $x \in V$, if $v$ lies on the unique path from $u$ to $x$, we can write: [d(u,x) = d(u,v) + d(v,x)]

The height of $(T,u)$ is determined by the farthest node $x \in V$ from $u$, so: [h_u = max_{x \in V} d(u,x)] Using the above expression for $d(u,x)$, we find: [h_u = d(u,v) + max_{x \in V} d(v,x)] Since $max_{x \in V} d(v,x) = h_v$, this simplifies to: [h_u = d(u,v) + h_v]

Similarly, consider the farthest node $y \in V$ from $v$, i.e., $d(v,y) = h_v$. The same relationship gives: [d(v,y) = d(v,u) + d(u,y)] Since $d(u,y) \leq h_u$, we find: [h_v = d(v,u) + max_{y \in V} d(u,y) \leq d(v,u) + h_u]

From the two inequalities: [h_u \leq d(u,v) + h_v] [ h_v \leq d(v,u) + h_u] We use the fact that $d(u,v) = d(v,u)$. Since $d(u,v) \leq h_u$, the distance between any two nodes in a tree is always less than or equal to the maximum height from the root $v$, Rearrange these to find: [h_u \leq h_v + h_v = 2h_v]

Solution

Your proof is clear and well-structured, but it could use slight clarification and rigor to ensure that every step logically follows and is fully justified. Here's a review and enhancement of your solution:

Strengths

  1. Clarity in Definitions: You clearly defined the height of a rooted tree and the path P(a,b)P(a,b) between two nodes a,bVa, b \in V. This helps the reader follow your reasoning.
  2. Key Relationships: You used the relationships d(u,x)=d(u,v)+d(v,x)d(u,x) = d(u,v) + d(v,x) and d(v,y)=d(v,u)+d(u,y)d(v,y) = d(v,u) + d(u,y), which are foundational to the argument.
  3. Logical Flow: The proof transitions smoothly between the inequalities involving huh_u and hvh_v.

Improvements and Justifications

  1. Clarify Symmetry: When concluding hvd(v,u)+huh_v \leq d(v,u) + h_u, emphasize that d(u,v)=d(v,u)d(u,v) = d(v,u) is symmetric because TT is a tree.
  2. Bound d(u,v)d(u,v): In the final step, where hu2hvh_u \leq 2h_v, explicitly argue why d(u,v)hvd(u,v) \leq h_v. This is essential to ensure the bound holds.
  3. Use of Maximum Distance: Reinforce that d(u,v)d(u,v) must be less than or equal to the height of any rooted tree because uu and vv are part of the same connected structure.

Revised Proof

Let huh_u and hvh_v denote the heights of (T,u)(T,u) and (T,v)(T,v), respectively. The height of a rooted tree is the maximum distance from the root to any node in the tree. Thus: hu=maxxVd(u,x),hv=maxyVd(v,y).h_u = \max_{x \in V} d(u,x), \quad h_v = \max_{y \in V} d(v,y).

Since TT is a tree, there is a unique path P(a,b)P(a,b) between any two nodes a,bVa, b \in V, and the distance d(a,b)d(a,b) is defined as the number of edges on this path.

Bounding huh_u in Terms of hvh_v

For any node xVx \in V, if vv lies on the unique path from uu to xx, then: d(u,x)=d(u,v)+d(v,x).d(u,x) = d(u,v) + d(v,x). Taking the maximum over all xVx \in V, the height of (T,u)(T,u) becomes: hu=maxxVd(u,x)=d(u,v)+maxxVd(v,x)=d(u,v)+hv.h_u = \max_{x \in V} d(u,x) = d(u,v) + \max_{x \in V} d(v,x) = d(u,v) + h_v.

Bounding hvh_v in Terms of huh_u

Similarly, for the farthest node yVy \in V from vv (i.e., d(v,y)=hvd(v,y) = h_v): d(v,y)=d(v,u)+d(u,y).d(v,y) = d(v,u) + d(u,y). Since d(u,y)hud(u,y) \leq h_u, it follows that: hv=d(v,u)+maxyVd(u,y)d(v,u)+hu.h_v = d(v,u) + \max_{y \in V} d(u,y) \leq d(v,u) + h_u.

Combining Inequalities

From the above, we have: hud(u,v)+hv,hvd(v,u)+hu.h_u \leq d(u,v) + h_v, \quad h_v \leq d(v,u) + h_u. Using d(u,v)=d(v,u)d(u,v) = d(v,u), the second inequality becomes: hvd(u,v)+hu.h_v \leq d(u,v) + h_u.

Since d(u,v)hvd(u,v) \leq h_v (as the distance between any two nodes is at most the height of the tree rooted at either node), we substitute d(u,v)hvd(u,v) \leq h_v into the first inequality: huhv+hv=2hv.h_u \leq h_v + h_v = 2h_v.

Thus, the height of (T,u)(T,u) is at most twice the height of (T,v)(T,v).

Conclusion

Your answer is correct and follows logically. The key step is justifying why d(u,v)hvd(u,v) \leq h_v, which you implied but didn’t explicitly explain. Addressing this ensures the argument is airtight.


Follow-Up Questions

  1. Can you provide an example of a tree where hu=2hvh_u = 2h_v to verify the tightness of the bound?
  2. How does this proof change if TT is not a tree but a general connected graph?
  3. What is the geometric interpretation of the relationship between huh_u and hvh_v in terms of tree diameter?
  4. Can this proof be extended to trees where edges have weights? How would it change?
  5. How would this argument look for a forest (a disjoint union of trees)?

Tip: When proving inequalities, always clearly justify why specific bounds (like d(u,v)hvd(u,v) \leq h_v) hold, even if they seem intuitive.

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Math Problem Analysis

Mathematical Concepts

Graph Theory
Tree Properties
Rooted Trees

Formulas

h_u = max_{x ∈ V} d(u,x)
h_u = d(u,v) + h_v
h_v = d(v,u) + h_u

Theorems

Unique Path Property of Trees
Distance Relationships in Trees

Suitable Grade Level

Undergraduate (Discrete Mathematics)