2.II.17F

Graph Theory
Part II, 2005

Brooks' Theorem states that if GG is a connected graph then χ(G)Δ(G)\chi(G) \leqslant \Delta(G) unless GG is complete or is an odd cycle. Prove the theorem for 3-connected graphs GG.

Let GG be a graph, and let d1+d2=Δ(G)1d_{1}+d_{2}=\Delta(G)-1. By considering a partition V1,V2V_{1}, V_{2} of V(G)V(G) that minimizes the quantity d2e(G[V1])+d1e(G[V2])d_{2} e\left(G\left[V_{1}\right]\right)+d_{1} e\left(G\left[V_{2}\right]\right), show that there is a partition with Δ(G[Vi])di,i=1,2\Delta\left(G\left[V_{i}\right]\right) \leqslant d_{i}, i=1,2.

By taking d1=3d_{1}=3, show that if a graph GG contains no K4K_{4} then χ(G)34Δ(G)+32\chi(G) \leqslant \frac{3}{4} \Delta(G)+\frac{3}{2}.