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disjoint-setskruskals-algorithm

How might Union/Find data structures be applied to Kruskal's algorithm?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disjoint_sets

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kruskal's_algorithm

Union/Find data structure being used for disjoint sets...

Solution

  • It is stated in the entry for Kruskal's algorithm, but you can use the union/find structure to test (via FIND) if the edge connects two different trees or whether it will form a cycle when added.

    The same structure can be updated (via UNION) if the edge does not form a cycle and is added to the spanning tree.