Skip to main content
Calcimator

Chromatic Number Estimator

Estimate the chromatic number of a graph using Brook's theorem and greedy coloring bounds.

Inputs

Results

Greedy Coloring Estimate

4

Brook's Bound

4

Upper Bound (Δ+1)5
How to Use This Calculator
  1. Enter the number of Vertices and Edges in your graph.
  2. Input the Maximum Degree of any vertex.
  3. Review the Upper Bound (Max Degree + 1) from Vizing's theorem and the Brooks Bound for non-complete, non-odd-cycle graphs.
  4. Check the Greedy Coloring Estimate — this is a practical upper bound for sparse graphs.
  5. Use these bounds to determine the minimum colors needed before running an exact coloring algorithm.

What each input means

Vertices
Number of vertices in the graph
Edges
Number of edges in the graph
Max Degree (Δ)
Maximum vertex degree in the graph

How this is calculated

Worked example, using the default values

  1. Identify Input Parameters
    Vertices = 8, Edges = 12, Max Degree (Δ) = 4 = 3 input(s) provided
  2. Calculate Greedy Coloring Estimate
    Greedy Coloring Estimate = min(greedyEstimate
    4 = 4
  3. Calculate Brook's Bound
    Brook's Bound
    4 = 4
  4. Calculate Upper Bound
    Upper Bound
    5 = 5

Engine last updated . Checked against 2 independently-derived tests how we verify calculators.

The questions that sit next to this one — chosen by subject, including calculators filed under a different category.

More in Math & Statistics.