An algebraic framework of weighted directed graphs

Abstract

We show that an algebraic formulation of weighted directed graphs leads to introducing a k-vector space equipped with two coproducts Δ and Δ˜ verifying the so-called coassociativity breaking equation (Δ˜⊗id)Δ=(id⊗Δ)Δ˜. Such a space is called an L-coalgebra. Explicit examples of such spaces are constructed and links between graph theory and coassociative coalgebras are given.