On the Planar Edge-Length Ratio of Planar Graphs

Abstract: The edge-length ratio of a straight-line drawing of a graph is the ratio between the lengths of the longest and of the shortest edge in the drawing. The planar edge-length ratio of a planar graph is the minimum edge-length ratio of any planar straight-line drawing of the graph. In this paper, we study the planar edge-length ratio of planar graphs. We prove that there exist $n$-vertex planar graphs whose planar edge-length ratio is in $\Omega(n)$; this bound is tight. We also prove upper bounds on the planar edge-length ratio of several families of planar graphs, including series-parallel graphs and bipartite planar graphs.