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A Textbook of Graph Theory

R. Balakrishnan and K. Ranganathan
Publisher: 
Springer
Publication Date: 
2012
Number of Pages: 
292
Format: 
Paperback
Edition: 
2
Series: 
Universitext
Price: 
69.95
ISBN: 
9781461445289
Category: 
Textbook
[Reviewed by
Suzanne Caulk
, on
06/15/2013
]

Graph theory is often said to date back to 1735 and the problem of the Seven Bridges of Königsberg. While there are many interesting ways to apply graph theory to a variety of disciplines, it is theoretical computer science that has done the most to contribute to the explosion of interest and activity in this field.

A Textbook of Graph Theory by R. Balakrishnan and K. Ranganathan gives a thorough introduction to this exciting area of mathematics. The basics of graph theory are included in this book in a conventional mathematical style. The reader will find clearly marked definitions followed by illustrative examples. Exercises are embedded throughout the sections, usually following examples and many of the chapters conclude with a small selection of exercises. The proofs of the theorems often have a collection of figures accompanying them.

This book demonstrates the breadth of graph theory by including several explicit applications of graph theory to other disciplines. This could be used as a textbook for a graduate or undergraduate course. The streamlined text would make this a good reference book for an undergraduate or non-mathematician who uses graph theory. The embedded exercises make it a useful reference for a teacher of a graph theory course or a course in which selected topics of graph theory may occur.


Suzanne Caulk is an Associate Professor of Mathematics at Regis University in Denver, CO. She is very interested in modular forms and the education of pre-service teachers. You can email her at scaulk@regis.edu.

Preface to the Second Edition.- Preface to the First Edition.- 1 Basic Results.- 2 Directed Graphs.- 3 Connectivity.- 4 Trees.- 5 Independent Sets and Matchings.- 6 Eulerian and Hamiltonian Graphs.- 7 Graph Colorings.- 8 Planarity.- 9 Triangulated Graphs.- 10 Domination in Graphs.- 11 Spectral Properties of Graphs.- Bibliography.- Index.