Math 2.0

Combinatorics Proof

Proof of Hall's theorem for bipartite graphs from Hall's marriage theorem

Builds on Bipartite graphMatchingNeighbourhoodHall's marriage theorem

Proof

We translate matchings into transversals of the family of neighbourhoods.

  1. Let GG be a finite bipartite graph with parts XX and YY. For x∈Xx \in X, let N(x)⊆YN(x) \subseteq Y be its neighbourhood. For W⊆XW \subseteq X, the set N(W)N(W) of the statement equals ⋃x∈WN(x)\bigcup_{x \in W} N(x).
  2. Consider the finite family (N(x))x∈X(N(x))_{x \in X} of finite sets, indexed by XX.
  3. Suppose MM is a matching that covers every vertex of XX. For x∈Xx \in X, let f(x)f(x) be the other end of the edge of MM at xx. This edge is unique, because no two edges of MM share an end.
  4. Each edge joins XX to YY, so f(x)∈N(x)f(x) \in N(x). If f(x)=f(x′)f(x) = f(x') with x≠x′x \ne x', two edges of MM would share the end f(x)f(x). So ff is injective, and it is a transversal of the family.
  5. Conversely, let ff be a transversal of the family. Let M={xf(x):x∈X}M = \set{x f(x) : x \in X}. These are edges, since f(x)∈N(x)f(x) \in N(x).
  6. Two distinct edges xf(x)x f(x) and x′f(x′)x' f(x') of MM have x≠x′x \ne x' and f(x)≠f(x′)f(x) \ne f(x'). Ends in XX and ends in YY cannot coincide, as the parts are disjoint. So MM is a matching, and it covers XX.
  7. By Steps 3 to 6, GG has a matching covering XX if and only if the family (N(x))x∈X(N(x))_{x \in X} has a transversal.
  8. By Hall's marriage theorem, applied after numbering the elements of XX, this holds if and only if ∣⋃x∈WN(x)∣≥∣W∣\abs{\bigcup_{x \in W} N(x)} \ge \abs{W} for every W⊆XW \subseteq X.
  9. By Step 1, this condition says ∣N(W)∣≥∣W∣\abs{N(W)} \ge \abs{W} for every W⊆XW \subseteq X.

Idea

A matching that covers XX is the same thing as a choice of a distinct neighbour for each vertex of XX. That is a transversal of the neighbourhoods, so the marriage theorem applies directly.

Reading path

To understand this page from the ground up, read these 18 pages in order. The foundations come first. The path takes the proofs Proof of strong induction from ordinary induction, Proof of Hall's marriage theorem by induction on the number of sets.

Show the path as a graph
Each page uses the pages above it. The colour of the bar on a box shows how strong the evidence is, and the box also gives it as text. The list has the same pages.
  • no evidence level
  1. Bipartite graph definition
  2. Definition by recursion concept
  3. Graph definition
  4. Matching definition
  5. Mathematical induction concept
  6. Natural numbers object
  7. Peano axioms concept
  8. Neighbourhood definition
  9. Successor function definition
  10. Addition of natural numbers definition
  11. The successor function is injective statement
  12. Zero is not a successor statement
  13. Order on the natural numbers definition
  14. Proof of strong induction from ordinary induction proof
  15. Strong induction statement
  16. Proof of Hall's marriage theorem by induction on the number of sets proof
  17. Hall's marriage theorem statement
  18. Proof of Hall's theorem for bipartite graphs from Hall's marriage theorem proof

Where this leads

1 page builds on this one.

Further reading

  1. Web https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hall's_marriage_theorem, Equivalence of the two formulations
About this page
TagTBBQ0H7R7E
URIm2://TBBQ0H7R7E
Kindproof
WritingW0 stub
MSC05C70
ProvesHall's theorem for bipartite graphs
UsesBipartite graph, Matching, Neighbourhood, Hall's marriage theorem
Changed4 November 2026

Markdown · JSON · Edit on GitHub

What this page needs for W1

  • an inventory row: the row of the inventory that the node accounts for (0 of 1)

The writing levels say how complete the text of a page is. They do not measure its truth.

What links here

No page links to this page yet.