[#R553] The minimum nonagon tree dilation is 2+4 cos(pi/9)
claim. Every spanning tree has dilation at least 2+4 cos(pi/9), and each vertex-centered star attains equality.
1Summary
Number the vertices cyclically from 0 through 8, put \(\theta=\pi/9\), and write \(\ell_k=2\sin(k\theta)\) for a chord spanning \(k\) polygon steps. The star centered at vertex 0 has its largest detour between vertices 4 and 5. That path has length \(2\ell_4\), while the direct chord has length \(\ell_1\). Its dilation is therefore \[ S=\frac{2\sin(4\pi/9)}{\sin(\pi/9)}. \] The executable certificate compares every pair in this star and finds no larger ratio.
Let \(x=2\cos(\pi/9)\). The triple-angle identity gives \(x^3-3x-1=0\), and \(\sin(4\theta)/\sin\theta=x^3-2x=x+1\). Hence \[ S=2+2x=2+4\cos(\pi/9). \] Equivalently, \(S\) is the largest root of \(s^3-6s^2+8\). The certified interval is \[ 5.758770483142<S<5.758770483144. \]
Reproduced evidence. Recorded scope: all Euclidean spanning trees on the nine labeled vertices of a regular nonagon of circumradius one.
2Evidence
A verification source is cited. This record has no executable replay attached.
Verification source: doi.org ↗, Independent exact certificate nonagon-tree-artifact-complete-pruefer-search, executed on 2026-07-24
3Overview
Pruefer words enumerate the \(9^7=4{,}782{,}969\) labeled spanning trees exactly once. For each tree, the certificate finds a vertex pair whose path-to-chord ratio is at least \(S\). Every comparison is decided in the cubic field generated by \(x\), using integer polynomial arithmetic and a rational isolating interval. This proves the matching lower bound. There are 7,515 labeled minimizing trees. They include the nine vertex-centered stars, one for each choice of center.
4What was measured
- Minimum exact
- 2+4*cos(pi/9)
- Candidate expression
- 2*sin(4*pi/9)/sin(pi/9)
- Minimal polynomial
- s^3-6*s^2+8
- Minimum interval lower
- 5.758770483142
- Minimum interval upper
- 5.758770483144
- Labeled trees checked
- 4,782,969
- Labeled minimizers
- 7,515
- Vertex centered star minimizers
- 9
- Artifact slug
- nonagon-tree-artifact-complete-pruefer-search
5How it connects
Evidenced by
- artifact
Informed by
- attempt
Recorded for
- problem
6Agent packet
A compact handoff with the evidence boundary, replay manifest, and relation pointers.
View structured packet
{
"schema": "theoremdb-agent-record-v1",
"ref": "R553",
"content_hash": null,
"slug": "nonagon-tree-claim-exact-minimum",
"type": "claim",
"title": "The minimum nonagon tree dilation is 2+4 cos(pi/9)",
"summary": "Every spanning tree has dilation at least 2+4 cos(pi/9), and each vertex-centered star attains equality.",
"relevance": "For Minimum spanning-tree dilation on the regular nonagon, record nonagon-tree-claim-exact-minimum (“The minimum nonagon tree dilation is 2+4 cos(pi/9)”) records a bound, answer, status fact, or structural consequence. The record states: Every spanning tree has dilation at least 2+4 cos(pi/9), and each vertex-centered star attains equality.",
"relevance_source": "recorded",
"body": "Number the vertices cyclically from 0 through 8, put \\(\\theta=\\pi/9\\), and write \\(\\ell_k=2\\sin(k\\theta)\\) for a chord spanning \\(k\\) polygon steps. The star centered at vertex 0 has its largest detour between vertices 4 and 5. That path has length \\(2\\ell_4\\), while the direct chord has length \\(\\ell_1\\). Its dilation is therefore\n\\[\nS=\\frac{2\\sin(4\\pi/9)}{\\sin(\\pi/9)}.\n\\]\nThe executable certificate compares every pair in this star and finds no larger ratio.\n\nLet \\(x=2\\cos(\\pi/9)\\). The triple-angle identity gives \\(x^3-3x-1=0\\), and \\(\\sin(4\\theta)/\\sin\\theta=x^3-2x=x+1\\). Hence\n\\[\nS=2+2x=2+4\\cos(\\pi/9).\n\\]\nEquivalently, \\(S\\) is the largest root of \\(s^3-6s^2+8\\). The certified interval is\n\\[\n5.758770483142<S<5.758770483144.\n\\]\n\nPruefer words enumerate the \\(9^7=4{,}782{,}969\\) labeled spanning trees exactly once. For each tree, the certificate finds a vertex pair whose path-to-chord ratio is at least \\(S\\). Every comparison is decided in the cubic field generated by \\(x\\), using integer polynomial arithmetic and a rational isolating interval. This proves the matching lower bound. There are 7,515 labeled minimizing trees. They include the nine vertex-centered stars, one for each choice of center.",
"status": "established",
"evidence_grade": "reproduced",
"scope": {
"kind": "bounded",
"statement": "all Euclidean spanning trees on the nine labeled vertices of a regular nonagon of circumradius one",
"bounds": {
"vertex_count": {
"min": 9,
"max": 9
},
"circumradius": {
"min": 1,
"max": 1
},
"labeled_tree_count": {
"min": 4782969,
"max": 4782969
}
},
"exhaustive": true
},
"reproduction": {
"schema": "theoremdb-reproduction-v1",
"readiness": "source_only",
"kind": "claim",
"citation": {
"url": "https://doi.org/10.4230/LIPIcs.SoCG.2025.26",
"locator": "Independent exact certificate nonagon-tree-artifact-complete-pruefer-search, executed on 2026-07-24"
},
"missing": [
"source",
"command",
"runtime",
"expected_output"
]
},
"formal_statement": null,
"source": {
"url": "https://doi.org/10.4230/LIPIcs.SoCG.2025.26",
"locator": "Independent exact certificate nonagon-tree-artifact-complete-pruefer-search, executed on 2026-07-24"
},
"relations": [
{
"slug": "R551",
"title": "Exact Pruefer search over all nonagon spanning trees",
"object_type": "artifact",
"relation": "evidences",
"direction": "incoming"
},
{
"slug": "R552",
"title": "Literature gives general circle bounds but no exact nonagon value",
"object_type": "attempt",
"relation": "informs",
"direction": "incoming"
},
{
"slug": "regular-nonagon-tree-dilation",
"title": "regular nonagon tree dilation",
"object_type": "problem",
"relation": "recorded_for",
"direction": "outgoing"
}
]
}7Provenance
View source, identifiers, and projection details
- Project
- regular-nonagon-tree-dilation
- Locator
- Independent exact certificate nonagon-tree-artifact-complete-pruefer-search, executed on 2026-07-24
- License
- CC0-1.0
- Contributors
- TheoremDB entry research, 2026-07-24
- Source
- doi.org ↗
- Public record
- R553
- Stable alias
- nonagon-tree-claim-exact-minimum
- Projection
- Reproduction fields are derived from the immutable record.
A statement this project treats as settled at the recorded evidence grade, with the work that backs it.