On the sum of eccentric subgraph numbers of the vertices of a connected graph

Source abstract

Let $G$ be a connected graph. The eccentric subgraph number $ε(v)$ of a vertex $v$ of $G$ is defined as $ε(v)=\min\{f_G(v,u): u\in V(G)\}$, where $f_G(v,u)$ is the number of connected subgraphs of $G$ containing both $v$ and $u$. The eccentric subgraph index $ES(G)$ of $G$ is defined as $ES(G)=\displaystyle\sum_{v\in V(G)}ε(v).$ In this paper, we obtain the unicyclic graph that maximizes the eccentric subgraph index among all unicyclic graphs on $n$ vertices with a fixed girth. The graph that maximizes the eccentric subgraph index among all unicyclic graphs on $n$ vertices is also obtained. We then characterize the trees that maximize the eccentric subgraph index over trees on $n$ vertices with fixed diameter. Among all connected graphs on $n$ vertices with a fixed number of pendant vertices, the graph which maximizes the eccentric subgraph index is also characterized.