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Let $[\omega]^\omega$ denote the collection of infinite subsets of $\omega$. Let $$E = \big\{\{A,B\}: A,B \in [\omega]^\omega \text{ and } |A\cap B| \text{ is finite}\big\}.$$

We consider the graph $G=([\omega]^\omega,E)$. Maximal cliques in $G$, also known as maximal almost disjoint families, are uncountable, and it is consistent that every clique in $G$ has cardinality $< 2^{\aleph_0}$.

Is it consistent that $\chi(G) < 2^{\aleph_0}$?

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    $\begingroup$ What is consistent is that $\mathfrak a<2^{\aleph_0}$ but surely there are MAD families of cardinality $2^{\aleph_0}$, here is one: fix a bijection $f:\omega\to \Bbb Q$ and for every $r\in\Bbb R\setminus\Bbb Q$ fix a sequence $(q^r_i)$ of rational numbers converging to $r$. Take preimages through $f$ of those sequences and extend to a maximal family to have a MAD family of cardinality continuum. $\endgroup$ May 7, 2021 at 13:52
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    $\begingroup$ @AlessandroCodenotti Since your correction immediately provides a negative answer to the question, it would be good to convert your comment to an answer, so that the software doesn't think the question is unanswered. $\endgroup$ May 7, 2021 at 17:34

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No, $\chi(G)=\mathfrak c$, in fact $G$ contains a complete subgraph on $\mathfrak c$ vertices.

A simple way to construct one is by fixing a bijection $f\colon\Bbb Q\to\omega$ and fixing, for every $r\in\Bbb R\setminus\Bbb Q$, a sequence $(q^r_i)_{i\in\omega}$ of rationals numbers converging to $r$. Taking the images through $f$ of those sequences gives an almost disjoint family of cardinality $\mathfrak c$ (which can be extended to a mad family of the same cardinality by Zorn's lemma but that's not even needed).

The consistency result is that $\mathfrak a$ can be strictly between $\aleph_0$ and $\mathfrak c$, that is there can be some mad family of cardinality less than continuum.

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