How Many Unique Substructures Exist in an n-Clique?

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the unique substructures of the n-clique, denoted as $$K_n$$. The consensus confirms that the number of substructures is $$2^n$$, while the count of substructures up to isomorphism is $$n$$, and the number of elementary substructures is also $$2^n$$. Clarifications were made regarding the definitions of substructures and subgraphs, emphasizing that only cliques qualify as substructures in the context of isomorphism.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of graph theory concepts, specifically cliques and subgraphs.
  • Familiarity with isomorphism in graph theory.
  • Knowledge of elementary substructures and their definitions.
  • Basic mathematical notation and logic involving sets and functions.
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the properties of cliques in graph theory.
  • Study the concept of isomorphism in detail, particularly in relation to graph structures.
  • Explore the definition and examples of elementary substructures in mathematical logic.
  • Investigate the implications of subgraph inclusion in larger graph structures.
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This discussion is beneficial for mathematicians, computer scientists, and students studying graph theory, particularly those interested in the properties of cliques and their substructures.

Andrei1
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Let $$K_n$$ be the $$n$$-clique for some $$n\in\mathbb{N}$$. Then any graph having at most $$n$$ vertices is a subgraph of $$K_n$$.
(a) How many substructures does $$K_n$$ have?
(b) How many substructures does $$K_n$$ have up to isomorphism?
(c) How many elementary substructures does $$K_n$$ have?
My answers:
(a) $$2^n$$
(b) $$n$$
(c) $$2^n$$
Are they correct?
 
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Andrei said:
My answers:
(a) $$2^n$$
(b) $$n$$
(c) $$2^n$$
Are they correct?
If by substructures you mean subgraph, then the answer to part (a) looks okay. Some people may write $2^n-1$ because they might not want to include $\emptyset$ in the list.

For the second, is the question asking to find out the number of graphs, up to isomorphism, having at most $n$ vertices. In that case, the answer cannot be just $n$.

For part (c), I don't know the definition of elementary substructures. Can you please define it?
 
$$M$$ is a substructure of $$N$$ ... if
1. $$M$$ is a structure having the same vocabulary as $$N$$,
2. the underlying set $$U_M$$ of $$M$$ is a subset of the underlying set $$U_N$$ of $$N$$, and
3. $$M$$ interprets the vocabulary in the same manner as $$N$$ on $$U_M$$.

Let $$N$$ and $$M$$ be structures in the same vocabulary. Then $$M$$ is an elementary substructure of $$N$$ ... if and only if the identity function $$id\colon M\to N$$ defined by $$id(x)=x$$ is an elementary embedding [preserves all formulas].

About (b). Let's take a 4-clique. Any subgraph of it is not a substructure if it is not a clique. So I have, up to isomorphism, 4 substrucutures: one 1-clique, one 2-clique, ...
 
Andrei said:
About (b). Let's take a 4-clique. Any subgraph of it is not a substructure if it is not a clique. So I have, up to isomorphism, 4 substrucutures: one 1-clique, one 2-clique, ...
Then by substructures you do not means subgraphs. It's fine then.
 

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