, v2 ,…, vl >, an intermediate vertex is any vertex of p other than v1 or vl . Let = shortest-path weight of any path i j with all intermediate vertices in {1, 2,…, k}. Consider a shortest path i j with all intermediate vertices in {1,2,…,k}: If k is not an intermediate vertex, then all intermediate vertices of p are in {1, 2,…, k-1}. If k is an intermediate vertex: ) (k ij d p i k j p1 p2 all intermediate vertices in {1, 2,…, k-1}