We generalize two main theorems of matching polynomials of undirected simple graphs, namely, real-rootedness and the Heilmann-Lieb root bound. Viewing the matching polynomial of a graph G as the independence polynomial of the line graph of G, we determine conditions for the extension of these theorems to the independence polynomial of any graph. In particular, we show that a stability-like property of the multivariate independence polynomial characterizes claw-freeness. Finally, we give and extend multivariate versions of Godsil's theorems on the divisibility of matching polynomials of trees related to G.
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