The first–second Zagreb index comparison conjecture

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Let GG be a graph with vertex set V(G)V(G), edge set E(G)E(G), order n(G)n(G), size m(G)m(G), vertex degree dG(v)d_G(v), first Zagreb index

M1(G)=∑v∈V(G)dG(v)2,M_1(G)=\sum_{v\in V(G)}d_G(v)^2,

and second Zagreb index

M2(G)=∑uv∈E(G)dG(u)dG(v).M_2(G)=\sum_{uv\in E(G)}d_G(u)d_G(v).

Zagreb index comparison conjecture. If GG is a connected graph, then

M1(G)n(G)≤M2(G)m(G).\frac{M_1(G)}{n(G)}\leq\frac{M_2(G)}{m(G)}.

The conjecture arose in the study of graph-based descriptors of molecular structure. It is disproved for both general connected and disconnected graphs, although it is true for trees.

References

Primary source

Ali Ghalavand, “On a Conjecture about Comparing the First and Second Zagreb Indices of Graphs”, arXiv:2509.07434 (2025).

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