(Crossposted from math.stackexchange.)
Studying all 3-regular graphs that have only faces with 5 edges or more (simplified), I empirically found (computer program) that many hypothetically possible graphs, that by Euler's identity may exist ($F5 = 12 + F7 + 2F8 + 3F9 + ...$), do not actually exist. Using a VF2 algorithm to filter out isomorphic maps being created, I also noticed that not so many graphs as I expected exist. And that one general category of graphs, that always represents a simplified 3-regular graph, is that of fullerenes (with 12 faces F5 and an arbitrary number of F6). Here is a list of what I found, so far, for each class of graphs, from 12 faces to 20 faces (surrounding area included).
The question is: Since the computation of maps with 17, 18, 19, 20 faces (simplified and not containing isomorphic graphs) it is taking very long time (days of CPU time on a PC), is this sequence already known?
- 12 faces: 1 (only 1 graph exists)
- On 3 dimentional space (sphere) it is a dodecahedron
- It is a fullerene: 20-fullerene Dodecahedral graph
- 13 faces: 0 (no simplified graphs exist with 13 faces)
- The hypothetical (by Euler's identity) map of 12 F5 and 1 F6 does not exist
- 14 faces: 1 (12 F5 + 2 F6)
- he hypothetical (by Euler's identity) map of 13 F5 and 1 F7 does not exist
- It is a fullerene: GP (12,2) Generalized Petersen graph
- 15 faces: 1 (12 F5 + 3 F6)
- The hypothetical (by Euler's identity) map of 14 F5 and 1 F8 does not exist
- It is a fullerene: 26-Fullerene
- 16 faces: 3 (Two graphs are 12 F5 + 4 F6. The other has 14 F5 + 2 F7)
- The hypothetical (by Euler's identity) map of 14 F5 and 2 F7 does exists
- The other two are Fullerenes
- 17 faces: ???
- 18 faces: ???
- 19 faces: ???
- 20 faces: ???
ADD (28/Jan/2013):
- Images of these graphs are here: http://4coloring.wordpress.com/2013/01/26/four-color-theorem-simplified-maps-and-fullerenes/
