Graph theory objects | Conjectures
Graceful labeling
In graph theory, a graceful labeling of a graph with m edges is a labeling of its vertices with some subset of the integers from 0 to m inclusive, such that no two vertices share a label, and each edge is uniquely identified by the absolute difference between its endpoints, such that this magnitude lies between 1 and m inclusive. A graph which admits a graceful labeling is called a graceful graph. The name "graceful labeling" is due to Solomon W. Golomb; this type of labeling was originally given the name β-labeling by Alexander Rosa in a 1967 paper on graph labelings. A major conjecture in graph theory is the graceful tree conjecture or Ringel–Kotzig conjecture, named after Gerhard Ringel and Anton Kotzig, and sometimes abbreviated GTC. It hypothesizes that all trees are graceful. It is still an open conjecture, although a related but weaker conjecture known as "Ringel's conjecture" was partially proven in 2020. Kotzig once called the effort to prove the conjecture a "disease". Another weaker version of graceful labelling is near-graceful labeling, in which the vertices can be labeled using some subset of the integers on [0, m + 1] such that no two vertices share a label, and each edge is uniquely identified by the absolute difference between its endpoints (this magnitude lies on [1, m + 1]). Another conjecture in graph theory is Rosa's Conjecture, named after Alexander Rosa, which says that all triangular cacti are graceful or nearly-graceful. A graceful graph with edges 0 to m is conjectured to have no fewer than vertices, due to sparse ruler results. This conjecture has been verified for all graphs with 213 or fewer edges. (Wikipedia).
