Interdisciplinary Sciences
Network Science
1998
AdvancedSmall-World Network Average Path
In small-world networks, average path length grows only logarithmically with network size.
By Duncan Watts, Steven Strogatz
Interdisciplinary Sciences
Small-World Network Average Path
1998 · Duncan Watts
Why it matters: Explained rapid information spread, epidemics, and neural network efficiency.
Discoverers: Duncan Watts, Steven Strogatz (1998)
What does it mean?
In small-world networks, average path length grows only logarithmically with network size.
Why should I care?
Explained rapid information spread, epidemics, and neural network efficiency.
Variables & Units
| Symbol | Name | Unit | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Path length | — | Average shortest path | |
| Nodes | — | Network size |
Worked Example
Facebook: ~3.5 degrees of separation among users.
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Small-World Network Average Path
Real-world impact
Life sciences
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In small-world networks, average path length grows only logarithmically with network size.
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