# How many edges are in a clique of n vertices? [duplicate]

I believe the answer is $\frac12(n-1)^2$, but I couldn't confirm by googling, and I'm not confident in my ability to derive the formula myself.

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So you think a clique of $2$ vertices has exactly $\frac12$ edges? –  Chris Eagle Sep 20 '12 at 13:20
Oh yeah, how silly. Good thing I checked. –  MikeFHay Sep 20 '12 at 13:21
$\frac12 (n^2 - n)$? –  MikeFHay Sep 20 '12 at 13:25
I think I would upvote this question if it included your (as Chris points out, incorrect) derivation. –  Ben Millwood Sep 20 '12 at 13:26
@MikeL: I think I would upvote this question if you made much effort, then :P –  Ben Millwood Sep 20 '12 at 13:37

## marked as duplicate by Douglas S. Stones, Amzoti, TMM, Martin, MicahMay 19 at 19:28

A clique has an edge for each pair of vertices, so there is one edge for each choice of two vertices from the $n$. So the number of edges is:

$$\binom{n}{2}=\frac{n!}{2!\times(n-2)!}=\frac{1}{2}n(n-1)$$

Edit: Inspired by Belgi, I'll give a third way of counting this! Each vertex is connected to $n-1$ other vertices, which gives $n(n-1)$ times that an edge is joined to a vertex. As each edge is joined to exactly two vertices, there must be $\frac{1}{2}n(n-1)$ edges.

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That makes sense, thank you. –  MikeFHay Sep 20 '12 at 13:31
nice, I wish I could upvote again :) –  Belgi Sep 20 '12 at 13:49
Another way to calculate what Matt said it to this: number the vertices from $1$ to $n$, and consider the graph with $n$ vertices but with no edges.
Take the first vertice: it has vertics to the other $n-1$ vertices, connect those $n-1$ vertices
Take the second vertice: it has vertics to the other $n-1$ vertices - but one of them is already connected - connect the other $n-2$
do this untill the last vertice. you get that you connected $(n-1)+(n-2)+...+1$ vertices which is an arithmetic proggrestion whose sum is $\frac{1}{2}(n-1)n$