Problem 259 A tree is a connected graph, or network, consisting of vertices
and edges, but with no cycles (or circuits). Prove that a tree with \(n\)
vertices has exactly \(n-1\) edges.
The next problem concerns spherical polyhedra. A spherical polyhedron is a
polyhedral surface in 3-dimensions, which can be inflated to form a sphere
(where we assume that the faces and edges can stretch as required). For
example, a cube is a spherical polyhedron; but the surface of a picture frame
is not. A spherical polyhedron has
\- faces (flat 2-dimensional polygons, which can be stretched to take the form
of a disc),
\- edges (1-dimensional line segments, where exactly two faces meet), and
\- vertices (0-dimensional points, where several faces and edges meet, in such
a way that they form a single cycle around the vertex).
Each face must clearly have at least 3 edges; and there must be at least three
edges and three faces meeting at each vertex. If a spherical polyhedron has
\(V\) vertices, \(E\) edges, and \(F\) faces, then the numbers \(V, E, F\) satisfy
Euler's formula
$$
V-E+F=2
$$
For example, a cube has \(V=8\) vertices, \(E=12\) edges, and \(F=6\) faces, and
\(8-12+6=2\)