On minimum spanning tree-like metric spaces

Abstract: We attempt to shed new light on the notion of 'tree-like' metric spaces by focusing on an approach that does not use the four-point condition. Our key question is: Given metric space $M$ on $n$ points, when does a fully labelled positive-weighted tree $T$ exist on the same $n$ vertices that precisely realises $M$ using its shortest path metric? We prove that if a spanning tree representation, $T$, of $M$ exists, then it is isomorphic to the unique minimum spanning tree in the weighted complete graph associated with $M$, and we introduce a fourth-point condition that is necessary and sufficient to ensure the existence of $T$ whenever each distance in $M$ is unique. In other words, a finite median graph, in which each geodesic distance is distinct, is simply a tree. Provided that the tie-breaking assumption holds, the fourth-point condition serves as a criterion for measuring the goodness-of-fit of the minimum spanning tree to $M$, i.e., the spanning tree-likeness of $M$. It is also possible to evaluate the spanning path-likeness of $M$. These quantities can be measured in $O(n^4)$ and $O(n^3)$ time, respectively.