Assuming a simple graph with no self-loops or parallel edges, which of the following is the most accurate big-oh notation for the maximum number of edges possible in a graph with V vertices?

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BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

We start by restating the problem: in a simple graph with V vertices, no self-loops and no parallel edges, what is the most accurate big-O notation for the maximum number of edges?

Option a: O(V^2). In a simple graph, every pair of distinct vertices can be connected by at most one edge. The total number of possible edges is the number of unordered pairs of vertices, which is V choose 2 = V(V-1)/2. This scales as V^2, so O(V^2) accurately describes the growth of the maximum edge count with respect to V.

Option b: O(log(V)). This would imply the number of edges grows logarithmically with V, which is far too small given that many vertex pairs can be connected. A graph with many vertices can have far more edges than a logarithmic growth allows, so this underestimates the maximum. It is not a correct upper bound.

Option c: O(V*log(V)). This suggests a superlinear but subquadratic growth. While some algorithms involve V log V terms, the absolute maximum number of edges in a simple graph is quadratic in V, so V log V underestimates the potential edge count for large V.

Option d: O(2^V). Exponential growth would overcount the maximum possible edges here. The true maximum is bounded by the number of vertex pairs, which is polynomial in V, not exponential. Therefore this is too loose as an upper bound for the edge count in a simple graph.

Option e: O(V). This linear growth likewise underestimates the maximum number of edges, since even in the most densely connected simple graph, the edge count grows on the order of V^2, not linearly with V.

In summary, the only option that matches the actual maximum edge count of a simple graph with V vertices is the quadratic bound, while all other options represent underestimates or mismatched growth rates. The reasoning centers on counting possible edges as the number of unordered vertex pairs and recognizing that this count scales as V^2.

2025W Quiz 6 (copy)

Assuming a simple graph with no self-loops or parallel edges, which of the following is the most accurate big-oh notation for the maximum number of edges possible in a graph with V vertices?

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