Subdivision yields Alexander duality on independence complexes (Q1028864)

Summary: We study how the homotopy type of the independence complex of a graph changes if we subdivide edges. We show that the independence complex becomes the Alexander dual if we place one new vertex on each edge of a graph. If we place two new vertices on each edge then the independence complex is the wedge of two spheres. Placing three new vertices on an edge yields the suspension of the independence complex.