Nonsingular (Vertex-Weighted) Block Graphs

Abstract

A graph $G$ is \emph{nonsingular (singular)} if its adjacency matrix $A(G)$ is nonsingular (singular). In this article, we consider the nonsingularity of block graphs, i.e., graphs in which every block is a clique. Extending the problem, we characterize nonsingular vertex-weighted block graphs in terms of reduced vertex-weighted graphs resulting after successive deletion and contraction of pendant blocks. Special cases where nonsingularity of block graphs may be directly determined are discussed.