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 -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 -graphs can be constructed \cite{Payan1992}. We prove that every finite three-colourable -graph is bipartite. Thus, no finite -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}
}