What happens when one edge is removed from a tree?

Options

  • A. It remains connected
  • B. It becomes disconnected
  • C. It necessarily creates a cycle
  • D. More than one of the above
  • E. None of the above

Correct Answer (Detailed Explanation is Below)

B. It becomes disconnected

Detailed Explanation

A tree is minimally connected, meaning every edge is important for maintaining connectivity. If any one edge is removed from a tree, the tree becomes disconnected, producing two separate components. This property is called the bridge property of tree edges. Conversely, adding an edge between two vertices of a tree creates exactly one cycle. These properties are useful in graph algorithms and network design.