1. Minimum Spanning Tree Algorithms
Prim’s Algorithm

2. What is A Spanning Tree?
A spanning tree for an undirected graph G=(V,E) is a subgraph of G that is a tree and contains all the vertices of G
Can a graph have more than one spanning tree?
Can an unconnected graph have a spanning tree? a b u e c v f d

3. Minimal Spanning Tree. 4
The weight of a subgraph is the sum of the weights of it edges.
A minimum spanning tree for a weighted graph is a spanning tree with minimum weight.
Can a graph have more than one minimum spanning tree? 4 9 3 b u e 14 2 10 15 c v f 3 8 d 
Mst T: w( T )=
(u,v)  T w(u,v ) is minimized

4. Example of a Problem that Translates into a MST
The Problem
Several pins of an electronic circuit must be connected using the least amount of wire.
Modeling the Problem
The graph is a complete, undirected graph G = ( V, E ,W ), where V is the set of pins, E is the set of all possible interconnections between the pairs of pins and w(e) is the length of the wire needed to connect the pair of vertices.
Find a minimum spanning tree.

5. Greedy Choice We will show two ways to build a minimum spanning tree.
A MST can be grown from the current spanning tree by adding the nearest vertex and the edge connecting the nearest vertex to the MST. (Prim's algorithm)
A MST can be grown from a forest of spanning trees by adding the smallest edge connecting two spanning trees. (Kruskal's algorithm)

6. Notation Prim’s Selection rule
Tree-vertices: in the tree constructed so far
Non-tree vertices: rest of vertices
Prim’s Selection rule
Select the minimum weight edge between a tree-node and a non-tree node and add to the tree

7. The Prim algorithm Main Idea
Select a vertex to be a tree-node
while (there are non-tree vertices) {
if there is no edge connecting a tree node with a non-tree node
return “no spanning tree”
select an edge of minimum weight between a tree node and a non-tree node
add the selected edge and its new vertex to the tree }
return tree 6 4 5 2 15 8 10 14 3 u v b a c d f

8. Implementation Issues
How is the graph implemented?
Assume that we just added node u to the tree.
The distance of the nodes adjacent to u to the tree may now be decreased.
There must be fast access to all the adjacent vertices.
So using adjacency lists seems better
Alternatively, adjacency matrix can also be used easily
How should the set of non-tree vertices be represented?
The operations are:
build set
delete node closest to tree
decrease the distance of a non-tree node from the tree
check whether a node is a non- tree node

9. Implementation Issues
How should the set of non-tree vertices be represented?
A priority queue PQ may be used with the priority D[v] equal to the minimum distance of each non-tree vertex v to the tree.
Each item in PQ contains: D[v], the vertex v, and the shortest distance edge (v, u) where u is a tree node
This means:
build a PQ of non-tree nodes with initial values -
fast build heap O (V )
building an unsorted list O(V)
building a sorted list O(V) (special case)

10. Implementation Issues
delete node closest to tree (extractMin)
O(lg V ) if heap and
O(V) if unsorted list
O(1) sorted list
decrease the distance of a non-tree node to the tree
We need to find the location i of node v in the priority queue and then execute (decreasePriorityValue(i, p)) where p is the new priority
decreasePriorityValue(i, p)
O(lg V) for heap,
O(1) for unsorted list
O(V ) for sorted list (too slow)

11. Implementation Issues
What is the location i of node v in a priority queue?
Find in Heaps, and sorted lists O(n)
Unsorted – if the nodes are numbered 1 to n and we use an array where node v is the v item in the array O(1)
Extended heap
We will use extended heaps that contain a “handle” to the location of each node in the heap.
When a node is not in PQ the “handle” will indicate that this is the case
This means that we can access a node in the extended heap in O(1), and check v  PQ in O(1)
Note that the “handle” must be updated whenever a heap operation is applied

12. Implementation Issues
2. Unsorted list
Array implementation where node v can be accessed as PQ[v] in O(1), and the value of PQ[v] indicates when the node is not in PQ.

13. Prim’s Algorithm 1. for each u V 2. do D [u ]   3. D[ r ]  0
4. PQ make-heap(D,V, {})//No edges 5. T   while PQ   do 8. (u,e )  PQ.extractMin() add (u,e) to T 10. for each v  Adjacent (u )
// execute relaxation do if v PQ && w( u, v ) < D [ v ] then D [ v ]  w (u, v) PQ.decreasePriorityValue ( D[v], v, (u,v )) 14. return T // T is a mst.
Lines 1-5 initialize the priority queue PQ to contain all Vertices. Ds for all vertices except r, are set to infinity.
r is the starting vertex of the T The T so far is empty
Add closest vertex and edge to current T
Get all adjacent vertices v of u, update D of each non-tree vertex adjacent to u
Store the current minimum weight edge, and updated distance in the priority queue

14. Prim’s Algorithm Initialization
Prim (G )
1. for each u V do D [u ]   3. D[ r ]  0
4. PQ make-heap(D,V, {})//No edges 5. T  

15. Building the MST (D[v], v, (u,v) ) 14. return T // solution check
7. while PQ   do //Selection and feasibility (u,e )  PQ.extractMin() // T contains the solution so far add (u,e) to T for each v  Adjacent (u ) do if v  PQ && w( u, v ) < D [ v ] then D [ v ]  w (u, v) PQ.decreasePriorityValue
(D[v], v, (u,v) ) 14. return T

16. Time Analysis Using unsorted PQ
Lines run in O (V )
Max Size of PQ is | V |
Count7 = O (V )
Count7(8) = O (V )  O(V )
Count7(10) = O(deg(u ) ) = O( E )
Count7(10(11)) = O(1)O( E )
Count7(10(11(12))) = O(1) O( E )
Count7(10(13)) =O( 1)  O( E )
So total time for Prim's Algorithm is O (V + V2 + E ) = O (V2 )
For Sparse/Dense graph : O( V2 )
Note growth rate unchanged for adjacency matrix graph representation
1. for each u V 2. do D [u ]   3. D[ r ]  0
4. PQ make-PQ(D,V, {})//No edges 5. T   while PQ   do 8. (u,e )  PQ.extractMin() add (u,e) to T for each v  Adjacent (u ) do if v PQ && w( u, v ) < D [ v ] then D [ v ]  w (u, v) PQ.decreasePriorityValue (D[v], v, (u,v)) 15. return T // T is a mst.
The Loop begining in line 10 is executed O(deg(u ) ) = O( E ). It is based only on the number of edges in the graph not vertices.
We assume the PQ is implemented as an array (sequence). Therefore, removeMinElement( ) , costs O(V) because you have to find the minimum element and you will have to shift the elements to fill in the whole.
If we know the position of the key to be decrease then the cost of change the value is O(1).

17. Prim - extended Heap After InitializationPQ T A
handle A B C 1 2 3 1
0, (A, {}) 2 6 B 5 C G
, (B, {})
, (C, {}) 2 3
Prim (G, r) 1. for each u V 2. do D [u ]   3. D[ r ]  0
4. PQ make-heap(D,V, { }) 5. T   G A B C
B 2
C 6
A 2
C 5
A 6
B 5

18. Prim - extended Heap Build tree - after PQ.extractMin
handle A B C
Null 2 1 T
(A, {}) PQ 2 1
, (C, {}) 6 B 5 C G
, (B, {})
7. while PQ   do (u,e)  PQ.extractMin() add (u,e) to T 2

19. Update B adjacent to A handle A B C Null 1 2 T (A, {}) PQ A 1
2, (B, {A, B}) 2 6 B 5 C G
, (C, {}) 2
10. for each v  Adjacent (u ) // relaxation operation
// relaxation
11. do if v PQ && w( u, v ) < D [ v ] then D [ v ]  w (u, v) PQ.decreasePriorityValue
( D[v], v, (u,v))

20. Update C adjacent to A handle A B C Null 1 2 T (A, {}) PQ 1
2, (B, {A, B})
6, (C, {A, C}) A 2 2 6 B 5 C G

21. Build tree - after PQ.extractMin
handle A B C
Null 1 T
(A, {})
(B, {A, B}) PQ
6, (C, {A, C}) 1 A
7. while PQ   do (u,e)  PQ.extractMin() add (u,e) to T 2 6 B 5 C G

22. Update C adjacent to B handle A B C Null 1 T (A, {}) (B, {A, B}) TPQ
5, (C, {B, C}) 1 A
10. for each v  Adjacent (u ) // relaxation operation 2 6 B 5 C G

23. Build tree - after PQ.extractMin
handle A B C
Null T
(A, {})
(B, {A, B})
(C, {B, C}) T
(A, {}) PQ A
7. while PQ   do (u,e)  PQ.extractMin() add (u,e) to T 2 6 B 5 C G

24. Prim - unsorted list After InitializationPQ A A B C 12 4 B
0, (A, {})
, (B, {})
, (C, {}) 5 C G G A B C
B 12
C 4
Prim (G, r) 1. for each u V 2. do D [u ]   3. D[ r ]  0
4. PQ make-PQ(D,V, { }) 5. T  
A 12
C 5
A 4
B 5

25. Build tree - after PQ.extractMin12 4 B
Null
, (B, {})
, (C, {}) 5 C G
7. while PQ   do (u,e)  PQ.extractMin() add (u,e) to T

26. Update B, C adjacent to A T (A, {}) PQ A A B C 12 4 B Null
12, (B, {A, B})
4, (C, {A, C}) 5 C G
10. for each v  Adjacent (u ) // relaxation operation

27. Build tree - after PQ.extractMin
(C, {A, C}) A 12 PQ 4 B 5 A B C C
Null
12, (B, {A, B})
Null G
7. while PQ   do (u,e)  PQ.extractMin() add (u,e) to T

28. Update B adjacent to C T (A, {}) T (A, {}) (C, {A, C}) PQ A 12 4 B 5 A
Null
5, (B, {C, B})
Null G
10. for each v  Adjacent (u ) // relaxation operation

29. Build tree - after PQ.extractMin
(C, {A, C})
(B, {C, B}) PQ A 12 4 B 5 A B C C
Null
Null
Null G
7. while PQ   do (u,e)  PQ.extractMin() add (u,e) to T

30. Lemma 1
Let G = ( V, E) be a connected, weighted undirected graph. Let T be a promising subset of E. Let Y be the set of vertices connected by the edges in T.
If e is a minimum weight edge that connects a vertex in Y to a vertex in V - Y, then T  { e } is promising.
Note: A feasible set is promising if it can be extended to produce not only a solution , but an optimal solution.
In this algorithm: A feasible set of edges is promising if it is a subset of a Minimum Spanning Tree for the connected graph.
This is the same proof for Kruskal’s algorithm.

31. Outline of Proof of Correctness of Lemma 1
T is the promising subset, and e the minimum cost edge of Lemma 1
Let T ' be the MST such that T  T '
We will show that if e  T' then there must be another MST T" such that T {e}  T".
Proof has 4 stages:
1. Adding e to T', closes a cycle in T' {e}.
2. Cycle contains another edge e' T' but e'  T
3. T"=T'  {e} - {e’ } is a spanning tree
4. T" is a MST

32. The Promising Set of Edges Selected by Prim
Lemma 1
The Promising Set of Edges Selected by Prim T X e
 Y
 V -Y X
MST T' but e  T'

33. Lemma 1
Since T' is a spanning tree, it is connected. Adding the edge, e, creates a cycle. X
T'  {e}
Stage 1 u v X
 Y
 V -Y e
In T' there is a path from uY to v  V -Y. Therefore the path must include another edge e' with one vertex in Y and the other in V-Y. X
Stage 2 e'

34. Lemma 1 If we remove e’ from T’  { e } the cycle disappears.
T”=T’  { e } - {e’} is connected. T’ is connected. Every pair of vertices connected by a path that does not include e’ is still connected in T”. Every pair of vertices connected by a path that included e’ , is still connected in T” because there is a path in T" =T’  { e } - { e’ } connecting the vertices of e’. X e
T " b X
 Y
 V -Y
Stage 3
w( e )  w( e' ) By the way Prim picks the next edge

35. Lemma 1 w( e )  w( e' ) by the way Prim picks the next edge.
The weight of T", w(T") = w (T' ) + w( e ) - w( e' )  w(T').
But w (T' )  w(T") because T' is a MST.
So w (T' ) = w(T") and T" is a MST X e
T" X
 Y
 V -Y
Stage 4
Conclusion T  { e } is promising

36. Theorem : Prim's Algorithm always produces a minimum spanning tree.
Proof by induction on the set T of promising edges. Base case: Initially, T =  is promising. Induction hypothesis: The current set of edges T selected by Prim is promising. Induction step: After Prim adds the edge e, T  { e } is promising. Proof: T  { e } is promising by Lemma 1.
Conclusion: When G is connected, Prim terminates with |T | = |V | -1, and T is a MST.