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Suppose $G$ is an infinite graph with vertices labelled as $v_{i,j}$ such that $i,j$ are positive integers (so we assume that there are denumerable many vertices of the graph). For any two positive integers $i,j$ we join the vertex $v_{i,j}$ with all the vertices $v_{k,i+j}$ for every $k \in \mathbb{N}.$

Is the chromatic number of the graph $G$ necessarily infinite?

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  • $\begingroup$ If someone has seen results closely related to this, then it will be helpful if he or she can share the references with me. Thank you. - Adi. $\endgroup$ Commented Nov 8, 2020 at 11:07
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    $\begingroup$ I've got a deja vu that I saw this question here on MO earlier, but I have no idea of how to find it now... $\endgroup$ Commented Nov 8, 2020 at 14:09
  • $\begingroup$ To clarify, is there a vertex $v_{i,j}$ for -all- positive integers $i,j$? So $G$ is uniquely defined? $\endgroup$ Commented Nov 8, 2020 at 14:44
  • $\begingroup$ @IlyaBogdanov I finally think I know how I came across this example: back in early 2018 I attended two lectures given at my university by prof. Janos Pach, and it was probably there where he spoke about this graph; unfortunately I do not have any way to verify this assertion about the source. $\endgroup$ Commented Aug 11, 2021 at 4:38

2 Answers 2

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The chromatic number is indeed infinite.

Assume that there is a proper coloring in finitely many colors. Denote by $S_i$ the set of colors of the vertices having the form $v_{k,i}$ (for some $k$). There are two equal sets, say $S_i$ and $S_j$ with $i<j$. Then the color of $v_{j-i,i}$ lies in that set, and therefore is also a color of some vertex $v_{k,j}$; but those vertices are adjacent.

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    $\begingroup$ Very nice! This is possibly the easiest explicit example of the triangle-free graph with infinite chromatic number. Is it possible to describe which finite triangle-free graphs are it's subgraphs? $\endgroup$ Commented Nov 8, 2020 at 15:37
  • $\begingroup$ @FedorPetrov $G$ contains all the shift graphs, which explains why the chromatic number is infinite. See my answer below. $\endgroup$
    – Tony Huynh
    Commented Nov 8, 2020 at 22:56
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For every $n \in \mathbb{N}$, $G$ contains a copy of the $n$th shift graph, $G_n$. These are a classic construction of (finite) triangle-free graphs with arbitrarily large chromatic number. The vertices of $G_n$ are all intervals $[i,j]$ with $1 \leq i < j \leq n$. Two intervals $[i,j]$ and $[k,\ell]$ are adjacent if $j=k$ or $\ell=i$. It is well-known that $G_n$ has chromatic number $\lceil \log_2 n \rceil$.

Now, let $f:V(G_n) \to V(G)$ be defined by $f([i,j])=v_{j-i,i}$. Clearly, $f$ is an injective homomorphism, and so $G_n$ is a subgraph of $G$ for all $n$. Thus, $G$ has infinite chromatic number. This answers a question of Fedor Petrov asked in a comment to Ilya Bogdanov's answer. Actually, the proof that the shift graphs have unbounded chromatic number is the same argument given in Ilya's answer.

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    $\begingroup$ It not only contains the shift graphs, but is their inductive limit (a union union if they naturally embed to each other). $\endgroup$ Commented Nov 9, 2020 at 7:59
  • $\begingroup$ @FedorPetrov Indeed. $G$ is really just the 'infinite' shift graph. $\endgroup$
    – Tony Huynh
    Commented Nov 9, 2020 at 12:02
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    $\begingroup$ But the question remains: which finite triangle-free graphs are subgraphs of the infinite shift graph, in other words, may be realized by segments? $\endgroup$ Commented Nov 9, 2020 at 13:36
  • $\begingroup$ As observed by my friend Dragomir Grozev, this graph has a very interesting property: this graph is triangle free, but it contains an n-cycle for each positive integer n which is greater than 3. $\endgroup$ Commented Aug 11, 2021 at 4:34

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