MathDB
Odd cycles in graph

Source: Kürschák József Mathematical Competition 2021/2

October 8, 2021
graph theorycombinatorics

Problem Statement

In neverland, there are nn cities and nn airlines. Each airline serves an odd number of cities in a circular way, that is, if it serves cities c1,c2,,c2k+1c_1,c_2,\dots,c_{2k+1}, then they fly planes connecting c1c2,c2c3,,c1c2k+1c_1c_2,c_2c_3,\dots,c_1c_{2k+1}. Show that we can select an odd number of cities d1,d2,,d2m+1d_1,d_2,\dots,d_{2m+1} such that we can fly d1d2d2m+1d1d_1\rightarrow d_2\rightarrow\dots\rightarrow d_{2m+1}\rightarrow d_1 while using each airline at most once.