BASICS OF
GRAPH
COLORING
CONCEPTS AND
I M P L E M E N TAT I O N S
Introduction to Graph Coloring
•Definition: Graph coloring is the assignment of labels
(or "colors") to the vertices of a graph such that no two
adjacent vertices share the same color.
•Applications:
• Scheduling problems
• Register allocation in compilers
• Map coloring
Graph Coloring Problem
•Formal Definition: Given a graph G=(V,E), assign colors to each vertex such that no two adjacent
vertices share the same color.
•Goal: Minimize the number of colors used.
•Constraints:
Each vertex must be assigned a color.
No two adjacent vertices can share the same color.
Types of Graph Coloring
•Proper Coloring: A coloring where adjacent vertices have different colors.
•Chromatic Number: The minimum number of colors required for a proper coloring of a graph.
•Greedy Coloring: A heuristic method where vertices are colored one by one, selecting the
smallest available color.
Graph Coloring Algorithms
•Greedy Algorithm:
•Assign colors to vertices in a specific order.
•Ensure that no two adjacent vertices have the same color.
•Backtracking Algorithm:
•Try all possibilities and backtrack when a conflict is found.
•Welsh-Powell Algorithm:
•Greedy algorithm based on the degree of the vertices.
Example Graph
•Graph Representation:
•Show a simple graph with vertices and edges.
•Use colors to indicate valid coloring of vertices.
•Example:
•A triangle graph with 3 vertices requires 3 different colors (as it’s a complete graph).
Graph Coloring Using Java
Explanation of Java Code
Graph Representation:The graph is represented using an adjacency list.
Greedy Coloring:A boolean array available[] tracks which colors are
available.For each vertex, the first available color is chosen.
Edge Addition:The addEdge method adds edges between two vertices.
Output of Java Program
Explanation: The program uses a greedy algorithm to color the graph. Vertices 0,
1, and 2 receive different colors, while vertex 3 is colored with the same color as
vertex 0 (since it's not adjacent to vertex 0).
Time Complexity
•Greedy Algorithm:
•The time complexity is O(V+E)O(V + E)O(V+E), where VVV is the number of
vertices and EEE is the number of edges.
•Each vertex is processed once, and for each vertex, we check its neighbors
(edges).
Conclusion
Graph Coloring: It is a powerful technique used in various applications.
Java Implementation: The greedy algorithm offers a simple yet efficient
approach to solving graph coloring problems.
Next Steps: Further explore backtracking algorithms or use graph coloring in
real-world applications.