Graph two colours, no monochromatic path.

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In summary, the conversation discusses graph theory and solving a problem related to coloring vertices in a graph. It suggests using a lemma that states if all vertices in a graph have degrees greater than or equal to a certain value, there exists a path of that length in the graph. The conversation also mentions a specific problem involving coloring vertices in a graph with maximum degree three.
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Arnold1
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I've just begun studying graph theory and I have some difficulty with this problem. Could you tell me how to go about solving it? I would really appreciate the least formal solution possible.

In a graph [TEX]G[/TEX] all vertices have degrees [TEX]\le 3[/TEX]. Show that we can color its vertices in two colors so that in [TEX]G[/TEX] there exists no one-color path, whose length is [TEX]3[/TEX].

And a similar one.
There's this quite popular lemma that if in a graph all vertices have degrees [TEX] \ge d [/TEX], then in this graph there's a path whose length is [TEX]d[/TEX].
 
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Arnold said:
There's this quite popular lemma that if in a graph all vertices have degrees [TEX] \ge d [/TEX], then in this graph there's a path whose length is [TEX]d[/TEX].

Let [tex]v_0 v_1 ... v_k[/tex] be a path of maximum length in a graph [tex]G[/tex]. Then all neighbours of [tex]v_0[/tex] lie on the path. Since [tex]\deg (v_0) \geq \delta (G)[/tex], we have [tex]k \geq \delta (G)[/tex] and the path has at least length [tex]\delta (G)[/tex].
 

FAQ: Graph two colours, no monochromatic path.

What is a monochromatic path in a graph with two colours?

A monochromatic path in a graph with two colours is a path that contains only one colour. In other words, all the vertices on the path have the same colour.

Why is a monochromatic path undesirable in a graph with two colours?

A monochromatic path is undesirable in a graph with two colours because it violates the condition of having two distinct colours in the graph. This means that the graph is not properly coloured and does not meet the requirements for a graph with two colours.

What is the purpose of graphing two colours without a monochromatic path?

The purpose of graphing two colours without a monochromatic path is to demonstrate the concept of proper colouring in graphs. It also helps in proving the existence of graphs with two colours that do not have a monochromatic path.

Is it always possible to graph two colours without a monochromatic path?

No, it is not always possible to graph two colours without a monochromatic path. This depends on the size and structure of the graph. For small graphs, it is often possible to achieve this, but for larger graphs, it may not be possible.

What are some real-world applications of graphing two colours without a monochromatic path?

Graphing two colours without a monochromatic path has applications in various fields such as computer science, game theory, and social network analysis. It can also be used in scheduling problems, where tasks need to be assigned to two different resources without any conflicts. Additionally, it has applications in cryptography, where information needs to be securely transmitted between two parties without risking interception.

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