A2.8

Graph Theory
Part II, 2004

(i) State a result of Euler, relating the number of vertices, edges and faces of a plane graph. Show that if GG is a plane graph then χ(G)5\chi(G) \leq 5.

(ii) Define the chromatic polynomial pG(t)p_{G}(t) of a graph GG. Show that

pG(t)=tna1tn1+a2tn2++(1)nanp_{G}(t)=t^{n}-a_{1} t^{n-1}+a_{2} t^{n-2}+\ldots+(-1)^{n} a_{n}

where a1,,ana_{1}, \ldots, a_{n} are non-negative integers. Explain, with proof, how the chromatic polynomial is related to the number of vertices, edges and triangles in GG. Show that if CnC_{n} is a cycle of length n3n \geq 3, then

pCn(t)=(t1)n+(1)n(t1).p_{C_{n}}(t)=(t-1)^{n}+(-1)^{n}(t-1) .