For a positive integer k, a k-coloring of a graph inline image is a mapping inline image such that inline image whenever inline image. The COLORING problem is to decide, for a given G and k, whether a k-coloring of G exists. If k is fixed (i.e., it is not part of the input), we have the decision problem k-COLORING instead. We survey known results on the computational complexity of COLORING and k-COLORING for graph classes that are characterized by one or two forbidden induced subgraphs. We also consider a number of variants: for example, where the problem is to extend a partial coloring, or where lists of permissible colors are given for each vertex.

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A Survey on the Computational Complexity of Coloring Graphs with Forbidden Subgraphs

For a positive integer $k$, a $k$-colouring of a graph $G=(V,E)$ is a mapping $c: V\rightarrow\{1,2,...,k\}$ such that $c(u)\neq c(v)$ whenever $uv\in E$. The Colouring problem is to decide, for a given $G$ and $k$, whether a $k$-colouring of $G$ exists. If $k$ is fixed (that is, it is not part of the input), we have the decision problem $k$-Colouring instead. We survey known results on the computational complexity of Colouring and $k$-Colouring for graph classes that are characterized by one or two forbidden induced subgraphs. We also consider a number of variants: for example, where the problem is to extend a partial colouring, or where lists of permissible colours are given for each vertex.

A Survey on the Computational Complexity of Colouring Graphs with Forbidden Subgraphs

https://community.dur.ac.uk/daniel.paulusma/Papers/Submitted/updating.pdf

Updating the complexity status of coloring graphs without a fixed induced linear forest

This paper studies the kernelization complexity of graph coloring problems with respect to certain structural parameterizations of the input instances. We are interested in how well polynomial-time data reduction can provably shrink instances of coloring problems, in terms of the chosen parameter. It is well known that deciding 3-colorability is already NP-complete, hence parameterizing by the requested number of colors is not fruitful. Instead, we pick up on a research thread initiated by Cai (DAM, 2003) who studied coloring problems parameterized by the modification distance of the input graph to a graph class on which coloring is polynomial-time solvable; for example parameterizing by the number k of vertex-deletions needed to make the graph chordal. We obtain various upper and lower bounds for kernels of such parameterizations of q-Coloring, complementing [email protected]?s study of the time complexity with respect to these parameters. Our results show that the existence of polynomial kernels for q-Coloring parameterized by the vertex-deletion distance to a graph class F is strongly related to the existence of a function f(q) which bounds the number of vertices which are needed to preserve the no-answer to an instance of q-List Coloring on F.

Data reduction for graph coloring problems

The k-Coloring problem is to decide whether a graph can be colored with at most k colors such that no two adjacent vertices receive the same color. The List k-Coloring problem requires in addition that every vertex u must receive a color from some given set L(u)⊆{1,?,k}. Let P n denote the path on n vertices, and G+H and rH the disjoint union of two graphs G and H and r copies of H, respectively. For any two fixed integers k and r, we show that List k-Coloring can be solved in polynomial time for graphs with no induced rP 1+P 5, hereby extending the result of Hoang, Kaminski, Lozin, Sawada and Shu for graphs with no induced P 5. Our result is tight; we prove that for any graph H that is a supergraph of P 1+P 5 with at least 5 edges, already List 5-Coloring is NP-complete for graphs with no induced H.

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List Coloring in the Absence of a Linear Forest

We provide a certifying algorithm for the problem of deciding whether a P 5-free graph is 3-colorable by showing there are exactly six finite graphs that are P 5-free and not 3-colorable and minimal with respect to this property.

/pdf/a-certifying-algorithm-for-3-colorability-of-p5-free-graphs-47ouaiw0n2.pdf

A Certifying Algorithm for 3-Colorability of P5-Free Graphs

We provide a certifying algorithm for the problem of deciding whether a P5- free graph is 3-colorable by showing there are exactly six finite graphs that are P5-free and not 3-colorable and minimal with respect to this property.

Daniel Bruce

Papers

A Certifying Algorithm for 3-Colorability of P5-Free Graphs

A certifying algorithm for 3-colorability of P5-free graphs