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Suppose $T$ is a minimal spanning tree in a connected graph G. Show that either $T$ contains the $n-1$ smallest edges, or the $n-1$ smallest edges form a subgraph which contains a cycle.

Suppose $T$ is a minimal spanning tree in a connected graph $G$. Also suppose the $n-1$ smallest edges form a subgraph do not contain a cycle. Therefore since $T$ is a tree it has $n-1$ edges and since it is a minimal spanning tree, each edge in $T$ is of minimum weight. So $T$ contains $n-1$ smallest edges.

Not sure if I'm going about this proof correctly.

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    Why must $G'$ be connected? – 2017-02-25
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    @JazzyMatrix Not sure anymore. My proof is wrong but I had to turn it in. – 2017-02-25
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    Try to still figure it out! Math is all about practice. If you let $H$ be the subgraph given by the $n-1$ smallest edges, consider the statements contrapositive: if $T\ne H$ and $H$ is a forest, then $T$ is not minimal. All you have to do is show that $H$ must be connected, and you're done. – 2017-02-25
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    @JazzyMatrix Alright I try thanks – 2017-02-26

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