令圖形G擁有q條邊(edges),則一個對映函數(injection function) f :V(G)→{0,1,2,3,…,q},我們稱為圖形G一個β-labeling,是將圖形的每一個節點(vertices)從0到q加以編號,並將每對比鄰的節點uv做 |f(u)-f(v)| 的運算(共計q對),其所得到的值皆不同(distinct)。一個β-labeling也被稱為是一個完美的編號Graceful labeling。
若函數f為圖形G的β-labeling,且存在一個正整數λ,我們稱之為臨界值(critical value),對每一個E(G)上的邊{u, v},皆滿足f(u)≦λ
Let G be a graph with q edges, then an injection function f: V(G)→ {0,1,2,3,…,q} is called a β-labeling of G provides that the values |f(u)-f(v)| for the q pairs of adjacent vertices u and v are distinct. A β- labeling is also known as a Graceful labeling.
If f is a β-lableing of G and there exists an integer λ which is called a critical value such that for each edge {u,v}ÎE(G) either f(u)≦λ