English

Finite Three-Colourable (0,2)-Graphs Are Bipartite

Combinatorics 2026-07-11 v1

Abstract

A theorem of Payan says that a cubelike graph cannot have chromatic number exactly three. A nearby question, usually discussed as Payan's finite (0,2)(0,2)-graph question, asks whether a finite graph in which every two distinct vertices have either zero or two common neighbours can have chromatic number exactly three. The finite hypothesis is meaningful: infinite three-chromatic (0,2)(0,2)-graphs can be constructed \cite{Payan1992}. We prove that every finite three-colourable (0,2)(0,2)-graph is bipartite. Thus, no finite (0,2)(0,2)-graph has chromatic number exactly three.

Cite

@article{arxiv.2607.10125,
  title  = {Finite Three-Colourable (0,2)-Graphs Are Bipartite},
  author = {Christopher Williamson},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2607.10125},
  year   = {2026}
}