Coloring binary tree edges with given number of colors

coloringgraph theorytrees

Let's say I have a balanced binary tree which has 37 leaves.
I can color the vertices of this tree with 37 colors.
$$ 37 * 36^{72} $$ ways.
How can I find out coloring edges with 37 colors?


Original problem is,
1. Let T be a binary tree with 37 leaves.

(b) In how many ways can you color T using 37 colors?
I think the answer for this problem is $$ 37 * 36^{72} $$
I assumed that this value is calculating vertices not edges. So I wondered, how many ways can I color edges of T using 37 colors.

Best Answer

Since you've written $37*36^{72}$, I assume you figured out that it has $73$ vertices. Further, no restriction of any kind is given. So, its more of a problem (and a pretty simple one to be honest) on combinatorics and not graph theory.

  1. Coloring vertices- $73$ vertices, each can choose from $37$ colors $\implies 37^{73}$ ways!

  2. Coloring edges- $73$ vertices $\implies 72$ edges, each can choose from $37$ colors $\implies 37^{72}$ ways!