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Source. Sections 6.0–6.6, printed pp. 463–465, with the lifting result 4.14 (published PDF).

Statement. Put

D={v:v is exposed by some maximum matching of G},A=NG(D)∖D,C=V(G)∖(D∪A).D=\{v:v\text{ is exposed by some maximum matching of }G\}, \quad A=N_G(D)\setminus D,\quad C=V(G)\setminus(D\cup A).

Every component DiD_i of G[D]G[D] has odd size 2ri+12r_i+1 and an internal matching omitting any specified vertex. Every maximum matching has exactly rir_i internal edges in each DiD_i, matches each vertex of AA to a distinct component of DD, and restricts to a perfect matching of CC. If GG is bipartite, every DiD_i is a singleton.

Proof. Start the source construction with the particular maximum matching under consideration. By Theorem 6.2, its complete outer blocks are exactly the intrinsic components DiD_i, and its ordinary inner vertices are exactly AA. The nested lifting property gives odd order and internal matchings omitting any chosen vertex. The starting matching uses rir_i internal edges in each block.

Each inner vertex is matched to an outer quotient vertex in its planted tree, so each vertex of AA is matched to DD. A block with rir_i internal edges has only one remaining vertex; hence two such matching edges cannot meet the same component. The remaining ordinary vertices form CC and are matched perfectly by the completed algorithm. Since the starting maximum matching was arbitrary, these assertions hold for every maximum matching.

In a bipartite graph there is no odd circuit. The algorithm therefore performs no blossom contraction. Every outer block, and hence every DiD_i, is a singleton. □\square

In the notation of Edmonds–Fulkerson's matching input, J=V(G)∖DJ=V(G)\setminus D and Q=AQ=A. The existence form used there follows in particular. Its separate local all-maximum and arbitrary-base lifting proof remains a distinct argument. This page extracts the consequences of the present original's arbitrary-starting-maximum construction; it does not claim the later paper's starred display appears verbatim here.