On graphs with no induced subdivision of K 4

Abstract

We prove a decomposition theorem for graphs that do not contain a subdivision of K 4 as an induced subgraph where K 4 is the complete graph on four vertices. We obtain also a structure theorem for the class C of graphs that contain neither a subdivision of K 4 nor a wheel as an induced subgraph, where a wheel is a cycle on at least four vertices together with a vertex that has at least three neighbors on the cycle. Our structure theorem is used to prove that every graph in C is 3-colorable and entails a polynomial-time recognition algorithm for membership in C. As an intermediate result, we prove a structure theorem for the graphs whose cycles are all chordless. © 2012 Elsevier Inc..