Hosoya index

The complete graph K4 has the ten matchings shown, so its Hosoya index is ten, the maximum for any four-vertex graph.

The Hosoya index, also known as the Z index, of a graph is the total number of matchings in it. The Hosoya index is always at least one, because the empty set of edges is counted as a matching for this purpose. Equivalently, the Hosoya index is the number of non-empty matchings plus one. The index is named after Haruo Hosoya. It is used as a topological index in chemical graph theory.

Complete graphs have the largest Hosoya index for any given number of vertices; their Hosoya indices are the telephone numbers.