The 2 and 3 representative projective planar embeddings

Abstract

A graph embedded on a surface is n-representative if every nontrivial closed curve in the surface which does not intersect edges of the embedding must contain at least n vertices of the graph. The property of being n-representative on a surface is closed upward under minor inclusion; hence, by the results of N. Robertson and P. D. Seymour (Graph minors. VIII. A Kuratowski theorem for general surfaces, submitted for publication), the set of minor minimal n-representative embeddings on a surface is finite up to isomorphism. The property of being minor minimal n-representative is invariant under Y- Δ operations. The set of minor minimal 2 and 3 representative embeddings on the projective plane are found. These embeddings are used to produce the topologically minimal 2 and 3 representative projective embeddings.