English

On graphs with $1$-matching and $2$-matching edges

Combinatorics 2026-07-08 v1

Abstract

Let GG be a graph admitting a perfect matching. An edge is called a {\it kk-matching edge} if it belongs to exactly kk perfect matchings, and a {\it k+k^{+}-matching edge} if it belongs to at least kk perfect matchings. Thus, {\it an admissible edge} is a 1+1^{+}-matching edge, and a connected graph is {\it matching covered} if every edge is admissible. We call a connected graph {\it kk-matching covered} if every edge is a kk-matching edge; in particular, a 22-matching covered graph is called {\it matching double covered}. Motivated by matching-covered graph theory and the Berge--Fulkerson conjecture (1970s), we introduce the class B\mathfrak{B} of connected graphs in which every edge is either a 11-matching edge or a 22-matching edge, and no perfect matching contains edges of both types. In particular, every matching double covered graph belongs to B\mathfrak{B}. Using ear decompositions and tight-cut decompositions, we establish a complete structural characterization of graphs in B\mathfrak{B}. These characterizations reveal how restrictions on the number of perfect matchings containing each edge determine the global structure of the corresponding matching-covered graphs.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.2607.06921,
  title  = {On graphs with $1$-matching and $2$-matching edges},
  author = {Yixuan Gao and Xiumei Wang and Jinfeng Liu},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2607.06921},
  year   = {2026}
}