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In combinatorial mathematics, a Levi graph or incidence graph is a
bipartite graph In the mathematics, mathematical field of graph theory, a bipartite graph (or bigraph) is a Graph (discrete mathematics), graph whose vertex (graph theory), vertices can be divided into two disjoint sets, disjoint and Independent set (graph theo ...
associated with an
incidence structure In mathematics, an incidence structure is an abstract system consisting of two types of objects and a single relationship between these types of objects. Consider the Point (geometry), points and Line (geometry), lines of the Euclidean plane as t ...
.. See in particula
p. 181
From a collection of points and lines in an
incidence geometry In mathematics, incidence geometry is the study of incidence structures. A geometric structure such as the Euclidean plane is a complicated object that involves concepts such as length, angles, continuity, betweenness, and incidence. An ''incide ...
or a projective configuration, we form a graph with one vertex per point, one vertex per line, and an edge for every incidence between a point and a line. They are named for Friedrich Wilhelm Levi, who wrote about them in 1942. The Levi graph of a system of points and lines usually has
girth Girth may refer to: Mathematics * Girth (functional analysis), the length of the shortest centrally symmetric simple closed curve on the unit sphere of a Banach space * Girth (geometry), the perimeter of a parallel projection of a shape * Girth ...
at least six: Any 4-
cycles Cycle, cycles, or cyclic may refer to: Anthropology and social sciences * Cyclic history, a theory of history * Cyclical theory, a theory of American political history associated with Arthur Schlesinger, Sr. * Social cycle, various cycles in ...
would correspond to two lines through the same two points. Conversely any bipartite graph with girth at least six can be viewed as the Levi graph of an abstract incidence structure. Levi graphs of configurations are biregular, and every biregular graph with girth at least six can be viewed as the Levi graph of an abstract configuration.. Levi graphs may also be defined for other types of incidence structure, such as the incidences between points and planes in
Euclidean space Euclidean space is the fundamental space of geometry, intended to represent physical space. Originally, in Euclid's ''Elements'', it was the three-dimensional space of Euclidean geometry, but in modern mathematics there are ''Euclidean spaces ...
. For every Levi graph, there is an equivalent
hypergraph In mathematics, a hypergraph is a generalization of a Graph (discrete mathematics), graph in which an graph theory, edge can join any number of vertex (graph theory), vertices. In contrast, in an ordinary graph, an edge connects exactly two vert ...
, and vice versa.


Examples

* The Desargues graph is the Levi graph of the
Desargues configuration In geometry, the Desargues configuration is a Configuration (geometry), configuration of ten points and ten lines, with three points per line and three lines per point. It is named after Girard Desargues. The Desargues configuration can be const ...
, composed of 10 points and 10 lines. There are 3 points on each line, and 3 lines passing through each point. The Desargues graph can also be viewed as the generalized Petersen graph G(10,3) or the bipartite Kneser graph with parameters 5,2. It is 3-regular with 20 vertices. * The
Heawood graph In the mathematical field of graph theory, the Heawood graph is an undirected graph with 14 vertices and 21 edges, named after Percy John Heawood. Combinatorial properties The graph is cubic, and all cycles in the graph have six or more edges. ...
is the Levi graph of the
Fano plane In finite geometry, the Fano plane (named after Gino Fano) is a finite projective plane with the smallest possible number of points and lines: 7 points and 7 lines, with 3 points on every line and 3 lines through every point. These points and ...
. It is also known as the (3,6)-
cage A cage is an enclosure often made of mesh, bars, or wires, used to confine, contain or protect something or someone. A cage can serve many purposes, including keeping an animal or person in captivity, capturing an animal or person, and displayi ...
, and is 3-regular with 14 vertices. * The
Möbius–Kantor graph In the mathematics, mathematical field of graph theory, the Möbius–Kantor graph is a symmetric graph, symmetric bipartite graph, bipartite cubic graph with 16 vertices and 24 edges named after August Ferdinand Möbius and Seligmann Kantor. It ...
is the Levi graph of the
Möbius–Kantor configuration In geometry, the Möbius–Kantor configuration is a configuration consisting of eight points and eight lines, with three points on each line and three lines through each point. It is not possible to draw points and lines having this pattern of i ...
, a system of 8 points and 8 lines that cannot be realized by straight lines in the Euclidean plane. It is 3-regular with 16 vertices. * The
Pappus graph In the mathematical field of graph theory, the Pappus graph is a bipartite, 3- regular, undirected graph with 18 vertices and 27 edges, formed as the Levi graph of the Pappus configuration. It is named after Pappus of Alexandria, an ancient ...
is the Levi graph of the Pappus configuration, composed of 9 points and 9 lines. Like the Desargues configuration there are 3 points on each line and 3 lines passing through each point. It is 3-regular with 18 vertices. * The Gray graph is the Levi graph of a configuration that can be realized in \R^3 as a 3\times 3\times 3 grid of 27 points and the 27 orthogonal lines through them. * The
Tutte eight-cage William Thomas Tutte (; 14 May 1917 – 2 May 2002) was an English and Canadian Cryptanalysis, code breaker and mathematician. During the Second World War, he made a fundamental advance in cryptanalysis of the Lorenz cipher, a major Nazi German ...
is the Levi graph of the Cremona–Richmond configuration. It is also known as the (3,8)-cage, and is 3-regular with 30 vertices. * The four-dimensional
hypercube graph In graph theory, the hypercube graph is the graph formed from the vertices and edges of an -dimensional hypercube. For instance, the cubical graph, cube graph is the graph formed by the 8 vertices and 12 edges of a three-dimensional cube. has ...
Q_4 is the Levi graph of the Möbius configuration formed by the points and planes of two mutually incident tetrahedra. * The Ljubljana graph on 112 vertices is the Levi graph of the Ljubljana configuration..


References


External links

* {{Incidence structures Families of sets Configurations (geometry) Geometric graphs