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Print62nd Ukrainian National Mathematical Olympiad
Ukraine counting and probability
Problem
What is the maximum possible number of edges in a graph with vertices, if there is exactly one way to divide its vertices into pairs such that in each pair the vertices are connected by an edge?
Solution
Consider this partition into pairs, denote the vertices where the vertices are connected by an edge for each from to . Note that for every two pairs , , there are at most two edges between them: there cannot be two edges , , as then we could replace the chosen edges with these and still get a perfect pairing, and also the edges , . Thus, there can be no more than edges in total.
The example looks like this: we draw all the edges of the form , and also for each draw the edges , . Consider any perfect pairing in this graph. Notice that the vertex is connected only to so it must have an edge . Among the remaining vertices, the vertex is connected only to so there must be an edge in the pairing . Continuing similarly, all edges will be in this pairing.
The example looks like this: we draw all the edges of the form , and also for each draw the edges , . Consider any perfect pairing in this graph. Notice that the vertex is connected only to so it must have an edge . Among the remaining vertices, the vertex is connected only to so there must be an edge in the pairing . Continuing similarly, all edges will be in this pairing.
Final answer
n^2
Techniques
Matchings, Marriage Lemma, Tutte's theorem