A Separator Theorem for Planar Graphs

Abstract

Let G be any n-vertex planar graph. We prove that the vertices of G can be partitioned into three sets A, B, C such that no edge joins a vertex in A with a vertex in B, neither A nor B contains more than ${2n / 3}$ vertices, and C contains no more than $2\sqrt 2 \sqrt n $ vertices. We exhibit an algorithm which finds such a partition A, B, C in $O( n )$ time.