The b-chromatic number of a graph G is the largest integer k such that G admits a proper k-coloring in which every color class contains at least one vertex adjacent to some vertex in all the other color classes. It is proved that with four exceptions, the b-chromatic number of cubic graphs is 4. The exceptions are the Petersen graph, K3,3, the prism over K3, and one more sporadic example on 10 vertices.

A b-coloring of a graph is a coloring such that every color class admits a vertex adjacent to at least one vertex receiving each of the colors not assigned to it. The b-chromatic number of a graph G, denoted by χb(G), is the maximum number t such that G admits a b-coloring with t colors. A graph G is b-continuous if it admits a b-coloring with t colors, for every t = χ(G),..., χb(G). We define a graph G to be b-monotonic if χb(H1) ≥ χb(H2) for every induced subgraph H1 of G, and every induced subgraph H2 of H1. In this work, we prove that P4-sparse graphs (and, in particular, cographs) are b-continuous and b-monotonic. Besides, we describe a dynamic programming algorithm to compute the b-chromatic number in polynomial time within these graph classes.

Abstract not found

Abstract not found

A b-coloring of a graph is a coloring such that every color class admits a vertex adjacent to at least one vertex receiving each of the colors not assigned to it. The b-chromatic number of a graph G, denoted by χb(G), is the maximum number t such that G admits a b-coloring with t colors. A graph G is b-continuous if it admits a b-coloring with t colors, for every t = χ(G),..., χb(G), and it is b-monotonic if χb(H1) ≥ χb(H2) for every induced subgraph H1 of G, and every induced subgraph H2 of H1. In this work, we prove that P4-tidy graphs (a generalization of many classes of graphs with few induced P4s) are b-continuous and b-monotonic. Furthermore, we describe a polynomial time algorithm to compute the b-chromatic number for this class of graphs. Key words: b-coloring, b-continuity, b-monotonicity, P4-tidy graphs