Title
Reverse Mathematics and the coloring number of graphs
Date of Completion
January 2009
Keywords
Mathematics
Degree
Ph.D.
Abstract
We use methods of Reverse Mathematics to analyze the proof theoretic strength of certain graph theoretic theorems involving the notion of coloring number. Classically, the coloring number of a graph G = ( V, E) is the least cardinal κ such that there is a well ordering of V such that below any vertex in V, there are fewer than κ many vertices connected to it by E. A theorem which we will study in depth, due to Komjáth and Milner, states that if a graph is the union of n forests, then the coloring number of the graph is at most 2n. In particular, we look at the case when n = 1. In doing the above, it is necessary for us to formulate various different Reverse Mathematics definitions of coloring number; we also analyze the relationships between these definitions. ^
Recommended Citation
Jura, Matthew A, "Reverse Mathematics and the coloring number of graphs" (2009). Doctoral Dissertations. AAI3361011.
https://digitalcommons.lib.uconn.edu/dissertations/AAI3361011