[#P2508] A 43-vertex graph for the diagonal Ramsey problem R(5,5)
Problem. Does there exist a simple graph \(G\) on \(43\) vertices such that neither \(G\) nor its complement contains a copy of \(K_5\)?
1Remarks
Remark 1. Equivalently, the graph must have clique number and independence number at most four.
Remark 2. Such a graph would be a two-coloring of the edges of \(K_{43}\) with no monochromatic \(K_5\).
2What counts as a solution
- Supply a 43-vertex adjacency matrix and an exact certificate or independently checkable enumeration showing that all 962598 five-vertex subsets induce between one and nine edges.
1Status
Current status (The cited public graph certifies R(5,5) at least 43). The checked 42-vertex graph certifies \(R(5,5)\ge43\); the order-43 witness remains missing, so existence of a 43-vertex graph with clique and independence number at most four remains open.[2]
1Records
Notes and companion material
The diagonal Ramsey number \(R(5,5)\) has resisted an exact determination for decades. A single valid graph changes its best lower bound.
Original intake status. The published bounds as of 2026-07-24 are \(43\le R(5,5)\le46\). A 43-vertex witness would raise the lower bound to \(44\).
- Known 42-vertex Ramsey graphs provide concrete starting points for vertex extension, edge switching, and SAT neighborhoods. Record the seed graph and every fixed-edge region searched.
- A failed search under regularity, circulant symmetry, or a prescribed degree sequence rules out only that named family. Each restriction belongs in the saved attempt record.
Computational notes
- The first graph in the public r55_42some.g6 collection was decoded independently. Its first-line SHA-256 is ab0b10364ac62ab07f662c0ed4e8b47a44956f63a78356b64ae64ccb6520ecb0. It has 42 vertices and 425 edges, with degrees 19 through 22. Exact enumeration of all 850668 five-vertex subsets found no \(K_5\) in the graph or its complement.
How the 3 records connect
ProblemA 43-vertex graph for the diagonal Ramsey problem R(5,5)
2See also
- Existence and value of the diagonal Ramsey exponential limitramsey theory
- An explicit exponential lower bound for diagonal Ramsey numbersramsey theory
- Erdős-Hajnal conjectureramsey theory
How to cite
TheoremDB contributors, “A 43-vertex graph for the diagonal Ramsey problem R(5,5),” TheoremDB research memory, snapshot of July 24, 2026. https://theoremdb.org/statements/ramsey-55-43-graphThis page as plain text: ramsey-55-43-graph.md
This problem includes 3 records joined by 2 typed links, sourced from users.cecs.anu.edu.au[3], current as of July 24, 2026.
1References
- Vigleik Angeltveit and Brendan D. McKay, R(5,5) ≤ 46, Journal of Graph Theory 112(3) (2026), 198-208. Main theorem and current interval for R(5,5). ↗scholarly publication · reference source · version of record · checked 2026-08-01Source use: citation only.Proves the current upper bound R(5,5) at most 46.
- Brendan D. McKay, r55_42some.g6, Ramsey graph data, Australian National University. Brendan McKay, Combinatorial Data, r55_42some.g6, first line; independently decoded and checked on 2026-07-24. ↗dataset · dataset source · r55_42some.g6 independently decoded and checked 2026-07-24 · checked 2026-08-01Source use: original summary.Supplies the exact 42-vertex graph whose clique and independence numbers certify R(5,5) at least 43.Also cited at First line of Brendan McKay's r55_42some.g6 collection, retrieved and verified on 2026-07-24.
- Packet source. Brendan D. McKay, Ramsey graph data, Australian National University, author-maintained data page. R(5,5) data index and linked 42-vertex witness collection. ↗website · reference source · web version checked 2026-08-01 · checked 2026-07-24Source use: citation only.Indexes the public 42-vertex R(5,5) witness collection used for the packet certificate.Source named by the research packet.
- Brendan D. McKay and Stanisław P. Radziszowski, Subgraph Counting Identities and Ramsey Numbers, Journal of Combinatorial Theory, Series B 69 (1997), 193-209. Subgraph-counting bounds for R(5,5). ↗journal article · primary source · author-hosted version of record checked 2026-07-26 · checked 2026-08-01Source use: citation only.Develops the subgraph-counting identities behind earlier bounds for R(5,5).
- Stanisław P. Radziszowski, Small Ramsey Numbers, Dynamic Survey DS1, Electronic Journal of Combinatorics (2026 revision). R(5,5) entry in the 2026 survey revision. ↗journal article · secondary source · DS1 revision dated 2026-04-24 · checked 2026-08-01Source use: citation only.Records the current published interval 43 through 46 for R(5,5).
Explicit graph-construction target for improving the lower bound on the diagonal Ramsey number.