Minimum spanning tree

A minimum spanning tree (MST) is a spanning tree (of an edge-weighted graph) whose sum of edge weights is as small as possible. In other words, it is a spanning tree whose weight is no greater than any other spanning tree. This definition allows for graphs to have more than \(1\) minimum spanning tree, provided that their weights are the same. Also, you can prove that a given spanning tree is not a minimum spanning tree by finding a spanning tree with a lower weight.

MSTs are connected, acyclic subgraphs that contain every vertex in the original graph while also minimizing their total edge weight. Being trees, MSTs also have the minimum number of edges necessary to connect all the vertices.

MSTs also have many real-world applications related to designing computer networks, transportation systems, and power grids as cheaply and as effectively as possible. Algorithms like Prim's algorithm can be used to find MSTs in a graph.

Logic & Proofs

Integer • Rational number • Inequality • Real number • Theorem • Proof • Statement • Proof by exhaustion • Universal generalization • Counterexample • Existence proof • Existential instantiation • Axiom • Logic • Truth • Proposition • Compound proposition • Logical operation • Logical equivalence • Tautology • Contradiction • Logic law • Predicate • Domain • Quantifier • Argument • Rule of inference • Logical proof • Direct proof • Proof by contrapositive • Irrational number • Proof by contradiction • Proof by cases • Summation • Disjunctive normal form

Set Theory

Set • Element • Empty set • Universal set • Subset • Power set • Cartesian product • String • Binary string • Empty string • Set operation • Set identity • Set proof

Functions

Function • Floor function • Ceiling function • Inverse function

Algorithms

Algorithm • Pseudocode • Command • Asymptotic notation • Time complexity • Atomic operation • Brute-force algorithm

Relations

Relation • Reflexive relation • Symmetric relation • Transitive relation • Relation composition • Equivalence relation • Equivalence class

Number Theory

Integer division • Linear combination • Division algorithm • Modular arithmetic • Prime factorization • Greatest common divisor • Least common multiple • Primality test • Factoring algorithm • Euclid's theorem • Prime number theorem • Euclidean algorithm

Induction

Proof by induction • Fibonacci sequence • Proof by strong induction • Well-ordering principle • Sequence • Factorial • Recursive definition

Combinatorics

Rule of product • Rule of sum • Bijection rule • Permutation • Combination • Complement rule • Experiment • Outcome • Sample space • Event • Probability • Probability distribution • Uniform distribution • Multiset • Sixfold way • Inclusion-exclusion principle • Pigeonhole principle

Graph Theory

Graph • Walk • Subgraph • Regular graph • Complete graph • Empty graph • Cycle graph • Hypercube graph • Bipartite graph • Component • Eulerian circuit • Eulerian trail • Hamiltonian cycle • Hamiltonian path • Tree • Huffman tree • Substring • Forest • Path graph • Star • Spanning tree • Weighted graph • Minimum spanning tree • Greedy algorithm • Prim's algorithm

Recursion

Recursion • Recursive algorithm • Correctness proof • Divide-and-conquer algorithm • Sorting algorithm • Merge sort