06/15/2025
Graph Theory
Lecture - 8
Dr. Ilyas Fakhir
06/15/2025
Analysis of Greedy Algorithm
• TheGreedy Algorithm doesn’t always use minimum
number of colors. Also, the number of colors used
sometime depend on the order in which vertices are
processed.
Example
06/15/2025
• For example, consider the two graphs on next slide.
Note that in graph on right side, vertices 3, and 4 are
swapped. If we consider the vertices 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 in
left graph, we can color the graph using 3 colors. But if
we consider the vertices 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 in right graph, we
need 4 colors.
06/15/2025
Analysis of Greedy Algorithm
06/15/2025
Welsh Powell Algorithm
• Find the degree of each vertex .
• List the vertices in order of descending valence i.e.
Valence degree(v(i)) >= degree(v(i+1)) .
• Color the first vertex in the list.
• Go down the sorted list and color every vertex not
connected to the colored vertices above the same color
then cross out all colored vertices in the list.
• Repeat the process on the uncolored vertices with a
new color-always working in descending order of degree
until all in descending order of degree until all vertices
are colored.
06/15/2025
Welsh Powell Algorithm Example
06/15/2025
Example
• The new order will be: H, K, D, G, I, J, A, B, E, F, C
• Now Color the vertices:
06/15/2025
Example
• Ignore the colored vertices, so new order: K, G, I, J, A, B,
F, C
• Repeat the process for new color:
06/15/2025
Example
• Again ignore the colored vertices, so new order: G, J, B
• Repeat the process for new color:
06/15/2025
Exercise
• Twelve faculty members in a informatics department serve on
the following committees:
Undergraduate Education: Sineman, Limitson, Axiomus,
Functionini
Graduate Education: Graphian, Vectorades, Functionini,
Infinitescu
Colloquium: Lemmeau, Randomov, Proofizaki
Library: Van Sum, Sineman, Lemmeau
Staffing: Graphian, Randomov, Vectorades, Limitson
Promotion: Vectorades, Van Sum, Parabolton
• The committees must all meet during the first week of
classes, but there are only three time slots available. Find a
schedule that will allow all faculty members to attend the
meetings of all committees on which they serve.
Example
06/15/2025
• Suppose that in one particular semester, there are
students taking each of the following combinations of
courses.
* Mathematics, English, Biology, Chemistry
* Mathematics, English, Computer Science, Geography
* Biology, Psychology, Geography, Spanish
* Biology, Computer Science, History, French
* English, Psychology, History, Computer Science
* Psychology, Chemistry, Computer Science, French
* Psychology, Geography, History, Spanish.
What is the minimum number of examination periods
required for exams in the ten courses specified so that
students taking any of the given combinations of courses
have no conflicts ?
Find a possible schedule which uses this minimum number
06/15/2025
Example
• How can the final exams at a university be scheduled so
that no student has two exams at the same time ?
• Forinstance, suppose there are seven finals to be
scheduled. Suppose the courses are numbered 1 through
7. Suppose that the following pairs of courses have
common students : 1 and 2, 1 and 3, 1 and 4, 1 and 7, 2
and 3, 2 and 4, 2 and 5, 2 and 7, 3 and 4, 3 and 6, 3 and
7, 4 and 5, 4 and 6, 5 and 6, 5 and 7, and 6 and 7.
06/15/2025
Example
06/15/2025
• Find the chromatic numbers of the graphs below.
14
Example
06/15/2025
• Find the chromatic numbers of the graphs below.
15
Example
06/15/2025
• Suppose that you are responsible for scheduling times for
lectures in a university. You want to make sure that any
two lectures with a common student occur at different
times to avoid a conflict.
16
06/15/2025
Here is a 4-coloring of the graph by Greedy Algorithm:
Example
06/15/2025
• Coloring Map.
18
06/15/2025
19