Computer Sciences > GATE 2026 SET-2 > Algorithms
Consider a complete graph 𝐾𝑛 with 𝑛 vertices (𝑛>4). Note that multiple spanning trees can be constructed over 𝐾𝑛. Each of these spanning trees is represented as a set of edges. The Jaccard coefficient between any two sets is defined as the ratio of the size of the intersection of the two sets to the size of the union of the two sets. Which one of the following options gives the lowest possible value for the Jaccard coefficient between any two spanning trees of 𝐾𝑛 ?
A
1/n
B
1/(2n-3)
C
0
D
1/(n-1)

Correct : c

The correct answer is Option C - 0.
The Jaccard coefficient between two sets A and B is defined as |A ∩ B| / |A βˆͺ B|. To find the lowest possible value, we need to minimise the number of shared edges between any two spanning trees of Kn.
Key properties: Every spanning tree of Kn has exactly nβˆ’1 edges. Kn has n(nβˆ’1)/2 total edges.
Can two spanning trees share zero edges? Yes - by the Nash-Williams theorem, a graph G contains k edge-disjoint spanning trees if and only if for every partition of vertices into r parts, the number of edges crossing between parts is at least k(rβˆ’1). For Kn with n > 4, ⌊n/2βŒ‹ β‰₯ 2, guaranteeing the existence of at least two fully edge-disjoint spanning trees.
When T₁ and Tβ‚‚ are edge-disjoint: |T₁ ∩ Tβ‚‚| = 0, so Jaccard = 0 / |T₁ βˆͺ Tβ‚‚| = 0.
Why the other options are wrong:
Option A (1/n): This would require exactly 1 shared edge and union of size n - not the minimum achievable. Incorrect.
Option B (1/(2nβˆ’3)): This would correspond to 1 shared edge out of 2nβˆ’3 total - again not the minimum. Incorrect.
Option D (1/(nβˆ’1)): This would mean 1 shared edge out of nβˆ’1 total - still positive, and not the minimum. Incorrect.
Since two fully edge-disjoint spanning trees always exist in Kn for n > 4, the lowest possible Jaccard coefficient is 0.

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Related Topics

GATE CS 2026 Set-2 Q36 Jaccard coefficient spanning trees GATE 2026 complete graph Kn spanning trees GATE edge disjoint spanning trees GATE CS Nash-Williams theorem GATE graph theory GATE 2026 algorithms GATE CS 2026 spanning tree Jaccard similarity GATE

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