In my introductory algorithms class I recently learned about the Cut Lemma and how it can be used to prove correctness for many Minimum Spanning Tree algorithms like Kruskal's and Prim's.
In class, to simplify these proofs-of-correctness, we assumed that all edge weights in the graphs we were considering were distinct. This was also a helpful assumption when working with the Cut Lemma, since it guaranteed there will only be one minimum-weight crossing edge between the two disjoint sets of vertices created by the cut. In fact, we used proof-by-contradiction to prove the Cut Lemma, which required a unique minimum-weight edge.
My question is, what happens if edge weights aren't distinct? How can we still use the Cut Lemma to prove correctness for MST algorithms if we can no longer guarantee there is one minimum-weight crossing edge between the two sets of a cut? Is anything materially different?
