[Math] Connection between chromatic number and independence number of a graph

graph theory

Is it true that one can always colour a graph G with $\chi(G)$ colours in such a way that one of the colour classes is a maximum possible cardinality independent set? Please prove if it's true.

[Note: $\chi(G)$ is the chromatic number of G, or the smallest number k such that we can colour the graph G with k colours. Independent set means none of the vertices in the set are adjacent.]

Best Answer

It's not true. Please accept this humble paint counter-example.

counter-example

On the left, we see that the graph is 3-colorable. On the right, we take the maximum cardinality independent set and make it all blue, then get stuck with the remaining two colors.

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