Max-flow min-cut: Difference between revisions
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Let <math>G=(V,A)</math>, <math>s,t\in V</math>, and for <math>a\in A</math> let <math>u(a)</math> and <math>f(a)</math> be real values such that <math>0\leq f(a)\leq u(a)</math> and <math>f</math> is a [[Basic flow definitions#Feasible flow|feasible <math>(s,t)</math>-flow]]. Then the following three statements are equivalent: | Let <math>G=(V,A)</math>, <math>s,t\in V</math>, and for <math>a\in A</math> let <math>u(a)</math> and <math>f(a)</math> be real values such that <math>0\leq f(a)\leq u(a)</math> and <math>f</math> is a [[Basic flow definitions#Feasible flow|feasible <math>(s,t)</math>-flow]]. Then the following three statements are equivalent: | ||
# The [[Basic flow definitions#Flow value|flow value]] of <math>f</math> is maximum among all [[Basic flow definitions#Feasible flow|feasible flows]]. | # The [[Basic flow definitions#Flow value|flow value]] of <math>f</math> is maximum among all [[Basic flow definitions#Feasible flow|feasible <math>(s,t)</math>-flows]]. | ||
# There is a [[Basic flow definitions#Cuts and saturated cuts|saturated cut]]. | # There is a [[Basic flow definitions#Cuts and saturated cuts|saturated cut]]. | ||
# There is no [[Basic flow definitions#Flow-augmenting paths and saturated arcs|flow-augmenting path]] from <math>s</math> to <math>t</math>. | # There is no [[Basic flow definitions#Flow-augmenting paths and saturated arcs|flow-augmenting path]] from <math>s</math> to <math>t</math>. | ||
Revision as of 11:42, 6 December 2014
Max-flow min-cut theorem
Let [math]\displaystyle{ G=(V,A) }[/math], [math]\displaystyle{ s,t\in V }[/math], and for [math]\displaystyle{ a\in A }[/math] let [math]\displaystyle{ u(a) }[/math] and [math]\displaystyle{ f(a) }[/math] be real values such that [math]\displaystyle{ 0\leq f(a)\leq u(a) }[/math] and [math]\displaystyle{ f }[/math] is a feasible [math]\displaystyle{ (s,t) }[/math]-flow. Then the following three statements are equivalent:
- The flow value of [math]\displaystyle{ f }[/math] is maximum among all feasible [math]\displaystyle{ (s,t) }[/math]-flows.
- There is a saturated cut.
- There is no flow-augmenting path from [math]\displaystyle{ s }[/math] to [math]\displaystyle{ t }[/math].
Proof
First suppose there is no flow-augmenting path. Let [math]\displaystyle{ S }[/math] denote the set of all nodes reachable from [math]\displaystyle{ s }[/math] via flow-augmenting paths, and let [math]\displaystyle{ T:=V\setminus S }[/math]. Then we have [math]\displaystyle{ s\in S }[/math] and [math]\displaystyle{ t\in T }[/math]. Obviously, [math]\displaystyle{ (S,T) }[/math] is saturated.
Next suppose there is a saturated cut. Then no flow [math]\displaystyle{ f' }[/math] can carry more units of flow value from [math]\displaystyle{ S }[/math] to [math]\displaystyle{ T }[/math] than [math]\displaystyle{ f }[/math]. Consequently, [math]\displaystyle{ f }[/math] is maximum.
Finally suppose [math]\displaystyle{ f }[/math] is maximum. Clearly, then a flow-augmenting path cannot exist.