On $K_5$ and $K_{3,3}$-minors of graphs and regular matroids

Abstract

In this paper we prove two main results about obstruction to graph planarity. One is that, if $G$ is a 3-connected graph with a $K_5$-minor and $T$ is a triangle of $G$, then $G$ has a $K_5$-minor $H$, such that $E(T)\cont E(H)$. Other is that if $G$ is a 3-connected simple non-planar graph not isomorphic to $K_5$ and $e,f\in E(G)$, then $G$ has a minor $H$ such that $e,f\in E(H)$ and, up to isomorphisms, $H$ is one of the four non-isomorphic simple graphs obtained from $K_{3,3}$ by the addiction of \,0, 1 or 2 edges. We generalize this second result to the class of the regular matroids.