Fundamentals of Graph Theory and Network Science
September 3, 2012
We’ve run across an interesting math discussion—”Graph Theory and Network Science: The Basics” at DZone. In this article, writer Marko Rodriguez discusses the fundamentals. He begins by noting:
“Graph theory and network science are two related academic fields that have found application in numerous commercial industries. The terms ‘graph’ and ‘network’ are synonymous and one or the other is favored depending on the domain of application.”
Yes, the terms are synonyms, but here they refer to slightly different things. A branch of discrete mathematics, graph theory is the study of graphs in general. It emphasizes theories and algorithms that can be applied to such hypothetical entities. Network science, Rodriguez reminds us, extrapolates network properties from real-world examples. Its study has led to the discovery that most of these networks have a similar structure.
The write up discusses each field in further detail, and concludes with this observation:
“The tools and techniques developed by graph theorists and networks scientists has an astounding number of practical applications. Interestingly enough, once one has a general understanding of graph theory and network science, the world’s problems start to be seen as one in the same problem.”
Interesting perspective. Check out the article, and sharpen your math skills today.
Cynthia Murrell, September 03, 2012
Sponsored by ArnoldIT.com, developer of Augmentext
Comments
-
- Subscribe to Beyond Search
Feature archive
News archive
-
