In graph theory, a uniquely colorable graph is a k-chromatic graph that has only one possible (proper) k-coloring up to permutation of the colors.
Contents
Examples
A complete graph is uniquely colorable, because the only proper coloring is one that assigns each vertex a different color.
Every k-tree is uniquely (k + 1)-colorable. The uniquely 4-colorable planar graphs are known to be exactly the Apollonian networks, that is, the planar 3-trees (Fowler 1998).
Properties
Some properties of a uniquely k-colorable graph G with n vertices and m edges:
- m ≥ (k - 1) n - k(k-1)/2. (Truszczyński 1984; Xu 1990)
Minimal imperfection
A minimal imperfect graph is a graph in which every subgraph is perfect. The deletion of any vertex from a minimal imperfect graph leaves a uniquely colorable subgraph.
Unique edge colorability
A uniquely edge-colorable graph is a k-edge-chromatic graph that has only one possible (proper) k-edge-coloring up to permutation of the colors. The only uniquely 2-edge-colorable graphs are the paths and the cycles. For any k, the stars K1,k are uniquely k-edge-colorable graphs. Moreover, Wilson (1976) conjectured and Thomason (1978) proved that, when k ≥ 4, they are also the only members in this family. However, there exist uniquely 3-edge-colorable graphs that do not fit into this classification, such as the graph of the triangular pyramid.
If a cubic graph is uniquely 3-edge-colorable, it must have exactly three Hamiltonian cycles, formed by the edges with two of its three colors, but some cubic graphs with only three Hamiltonian cycles are not uniquely 3-edge-colorable (belcastro & Haas 2015). Every simple planar cubic graph that is uniquely 3-edge-colorable contains a triangle (Fowler 1998), but W. T. Tutte (1976) observed that the generalized Petersen graph G(9,2) is non-planar, triangle-free, and uniquely 3-edge-colorable. For many years it was the only known such graph, and it had been conjectured to be the only such graph (see Bollobás 1978 and Schwenk 1989) but now infinitely many triangle-free non-planar cubic uniquely 3-edge-colorable graphs are known (belcastro & Haas 2015).
Unique total colorability
A uniquely total colorable graph is a k-total-chromatic graph that has only one possible (proper) k-total-coloring up to permutation of the colors.
Empty graphs, paths, and cycles of length divisible by 3 are uniquely total colorable graphs. Mahmoodian & Shokrollahi (1995) conjectured that they are also the only members in this family.
Some properties of a uniquely k-total-colorable graph G with n vertices:
- χ″(G) = Δ(G) + 1 unless G = K2. (Akbari et al. 1997)
- Δ(G) ≤ 2 δ(G). (Akbari et al. 1997)
- Δ(G) ≤ n/2 + 1. (Akbari 2003)
Here χ″(G) is the total chromatic number; Δ(G), maximum degree; and δ(G), minimum degree.