In: Advanced Math
1. Prove that for any graph, the sum the degreesPv∈V deg(v) is twice the number of edges |E|. (By “prove” I mean write a few sentences explaining why it is true.)
2. i) At a recent math seminar, 5 mathematicians greeted each
other by shaking hands. Is it possible for each mathematician to
shake hands with exactly 3 other people? (No one can shake his or
her own hand.) To answer the question, please rephrase the problem
as a problem about graphs (is there a graph with 5 vertices ...),
state your answer, and then explain why you believe your
answer.
ii) Write a conjecture about a more general statement. What do you
think happens if we have N mathematicians and we want each to shake
the hands of K other people?
3. A very special island is inhabited only by knights and knaves. Knights always tell the truth, and knaves always lie. You meet two inhabitants: Zoey and Mel. Mel says, “At least one of us is a knave,” but Zoey says nothing. Can you determine who is a knight and who is a knave?