In this paper, we determine the third largest and the fourth largest numbers of independent sets among all trees of order \(n\). Moreover, we determine the \(k\)-th largest numbers of independent sets among all forests of order \(n\), where \(k \geq 2\). Besides, we characterize those extremal graphs achieving these values.
Citation
Min-Jen Jou. Independent Sets in Trees[J], Ars Combinatoria, Volume 109. 383-389. .