Independent Sets, Covering and Matching

Last Updated : 10 Jul, 2026

Independent Sets, Covering, and Matching are used to study the relationships between vertices and edges in a graph.

These concepts help solve real-world problems such as network design, scheduling, resource allocation, and assignment tasks in computer science and engineering.

Independent Sets

  • A set of vertices I is called an independent set if no two vertices in set I are adjacent to each other; in other words, the set of non-adjacent vertices is called an independent set.
  • It is also called a stable set.
  • The parameter α₀(G) = max { |I|: I is an independent set in G } is called the independence number of G, i.e., the maximum number of non-adjacent vertices.
  • Any independent set I with |I| = α₀(G) is called a maximum independent set.
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For the above given graph G, Independent sets are: I1 = {1}, I2 = {2}, I3 = {3}, I4 = {4}I5 = {1, 3} and I6 = {2, 4}

Therefore, the maximum number of non-adjacent vertices i.e Independence number α0(G) = 2.

Vertex Covering

  • A set of vertices K which can cover all the edges of graph G is called a vertex cover of G i.e. if every edge of G is covered by a vertex in set K.
  • The parameter β0(G) = min { |K|: K is a vertex cover of G } is called the vertex covering a number of G i.e. the minimum number of vertices that can cover all the edges.
  • Any vertex cover K with |K| = β0(G) is called a minimum vertex cover.
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For above given graph G, Vertex cover is: V1 = {1, 3}, V2 = {2, 4}, V3 = {1, 2, 3}, V4 = {1, 2, 3, 4}, etc.

Therefore, minimum number of vertices which can cover all edges, i.e., Vertex covering number β0(G) = 2.

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Notes:

  • I is an independent set in G if V(G) - I is vertex cover of G.
  • For any graph G, α0(G) + β0(G) = n, where n is number of vertices in G.

Edge Covering

  • A set of edges F which can cover all the vertices of graph G is called a edge cover of G i.e. if every vertex in G is incident with a edge in F.
  • The parameter β1(G) = min { |F|: F is an edge cover of G } is called edge covering number of G i.e sum of minimum number of edges which can cover all the vertices and number of isolated vertices(if exist).
  • Any edge cover F with |F| = β1(G) is called a minimum edge cover.
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For above given graph G, Edge cover is: E1 = {a, b, c, d}, E2 = {a, d} and E3 = {b, c}.

Therefore, minimum number of edges which can cover all vertices, i.e., Edge covering number β1(G) = 2.

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Note: For any graph G, α1(G) + β1(G) = n, where n is number of vertices in G.

Matching

  • The set of non-adjacent edges is called matching i.e independent set of edges in G such that no two edges are adjacent in the set.
  • The parameter α1(G) = max { |M|: M is a matching in G } is called matching number of G i.e the maximum number of non-adjacent edges.
  • Any matching M with |M| = α1(G) is called a maximum matching.
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For above given graph G, Matching are: M1 = {a}, M2 = {b}, M3 = {c}, M4 = {d} M5 = {a, d} and M6 = {b, c}

Therefore, maximum number of non-adjacent edges i.e matching number α1(G) = 2.

Complete Matching:

A matching of a graph G is complete if it contains all of G'svertices. Sometimes this is also called a perfect matching.

HALL’S MARRIAGE THEOREM

The bipartite graph G =(V, E) with bipartition (V1, V2) has a complete matching from V1 to V2 if and only if |N (A)| > |A| for all subsets A of V1. (This is both necessary and sufficient condition for complete matching.)

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➢Practice: Solved Examples

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