On the rank of the distance matrix of graphs

Abstract

Let $G$ be a connected graph with $V(G)=\{v_1,\dots ,v_n\}$. The $(i,j)$-entry of the distance matrix $D(G)$ of $G$ is the distance between $v_i$ and $v_j$. In this article, using the well-known Ramsey's theorem, we prove that for each integer $k\ge 2$, there is a finite amount of graphs whose distance matrices have rank $k$. We exhibit the list of graphs with distance matrices of rank $2$ and $3$. Besides, we study the rank of the distance matrices of graphs belonging to a family of graphs with their diameters at most two, the trivially perfect graphs. We show that for each $\eta \ge 1$ there exists a trivially perfect graph with nullity $\eta$. We also show that for threshold graphs, which are a subfamily of the family of trivially perfect graphs, the nullity is bounded by one.

17 pages, 2 figures