Welcome to the fascinating world of Graph Theory! This branch of mathematics is not only essential for computer science, especially in areas like networking and algorithm design, but it is also delightful due to its robust applications and elegantly simple structures.
Graphs consist of nodes (also called vertices) and the connections between them, called edges. Whether you're mapping the shortest path for your morning run, structuring complex databases, or solving puzzles, graph theory is there to help.
Key Concepts
- Vertices - The dots that represent points in the graph.
- Edges - The lines that connect the vertices.
- Directed/Undirected - Determined by whether the connections have a direction.
- Weighted/Unweighted - Determines if edges have weights (costs, distances, etc.).
To dive deeper into Graph Theory, consider exploring our Applications of Graph Theory article or learn about Algorithm Design.