[#P3084] A common high-chromatic subgraph of two \(\aleph_1\)-chromatic graphs
Problem. For any two simple graphs \(G_1,G_2\), each with chromatic number \(\aleph_1\), must there exist a simple graph \(H\) that is isomorphic to a subgraph of both \(G_1\) and \(G_2\) and has chromatic number at least \(4\)? Determine also whether \(H\) can always be required to have chromatic number \(\aleph_0\).
1Context
Known frontier: Every \(\aleph_1\)-chromatic graph contains all sufficiently large odd cycles, so a common subgraph of chromatic number three is guaranteed. Open boundary: The first unknown guaranteed chromatic number is four; the countably infinite target is stronger.
2Problem setup
Definition 1 (Chromatic number \(\aleph_1\)). The least cardinality of a proper vertex-colour set is the first uncountable cardinal.
Definition 2 (Common subgraph). The graph \(H\) admits injective adjacency-preserving embeddings into both \(G_1\) and \(G_2\); inducedness is not required.
Remark 1. All sufficiently large odd cycles occur in every \(\aleph_1\)-chromatic graph, giving common chromatic number three.
3What counts as a solution
- Prove the existence of a common \(4\)-chromatic subgraph for every pair, or construct a pair with no such common subgraph.
- Resolve separately the stronger \(\aleph_0\)-chromatic version.
1Status
Current status (Current status and exact unresolved remainder). OPEN as checked on 2026-08-01. Strongest checked neighboring result: Every \(\aleph_1\)-chromatic graph contains all sufficiently large odd cycles, so a common subgraph of chromatic number three is guaranteed. Exact unresolved remainder: The first unknown guaranteed chromatic number is four; the countably infinite target is stronger.[1][2]
1Records
Notes and companion material
Original intake status. OPEN as checked on 2026-08-01. Strongest checked neighboring result: Every \(\aleph_1\)-chromatic graph contains all sufficiently large odd cycles, so a common subgraph of chromatic number three is guaranteed. Exact unresolved remainder: The first unknown guaranteed chromatic number is four; the countably infinite target is stronger.
- Equivalent-formulation queries: "Erdős Problem #62" common subgraph; two graphs chromatic number aleph_1 common subgraph chromatic 4; common chromatic subgraph aleph one 2025 2026
- Strongest checked neighboring result: Every \(\aleph_1\)-chromatic graph contains all sufficiently large odd cycles, so a common subgraph of chromatic number three is guaranteed.
- Exact unresolved remainder: The first unknown guaranteed chromatic number is four; the countably infinite target is stronger.
How the 4 records connect
ProblemA common high-chromatic subgraph of two \(\aleph_1\)-chromatic graphs
2See also
- Cycle Double Cover Conjecturegraph theory
- Is there a truly subcubic algorithm for weighted APSP?graph theory
- The Total Coloring Conjecturegraph theory
How to cite
TheoremDB contributors, “A common high-chromatic subgraph of two \(\aleph_1\)-chromatic graphs,” TheoremDB research memory, snapshot of August 1, 2026. https://theoremdb.org/statements/common-chromatic-subgraph-aleph-oneThis page as plain text: common-chromatic-subgraph-aleph-one.md
This problem includes 4 records joined by 3 typed links, sourced from erdosproblems.com[1], current as of August 1, 2026.
1References
- Packet source. Thomas F. Bloom, Erdős Problem #62, Erdős Problems database (living entry), accessed 2026-08-01. Problem #62, OPEN banner, statement, remarks, and bibliography. Problem #62, OPEN banner, statement, remarks, and bibliography. ↗reference database · reference source · checked 2026-08-01Source use: original summary.Supplies the maintained formulation, current open-status assessment, and recorded partial results.Also cited at Thomas F. Bloom, Erdős Problem #62, Erdős Problems database (living entry), accessed 2026-08-01. Problem #62, OPEN banner, statement, remarks, and bibliography.Source used to assess the problem's recorded status.For A common high-chromatic subgraph of two \(\aleph_1\)-chromatic graphs: This is the dated publication status for the canonical target A common high-chromatic subgraph of two \(\aleph_1\)-chromatic graphs.Source named by the research packet.
- P. Erdős, “Some problems on finite and infinite graphs,” Logic and Combinatorics (Arcata, 1985), Contemporary Mathematics 65 (1987), 223–228. Common-subgraph question for uncountably chromatic graphs. ↗journal article · primary source · checked 2026-08-01Source use: original summary.Records an original formulation or early published statement of the problem.Source used to assess the problem's recorded status.For A common high-chromatic subgraph of two \(\aleph_1\)-chromatic graphs: Records an original formulation or early published statement of the problem.
Original TheoremDB statement and summary based on citation-only scholarly sources; no source prose, proof, table, code, or figure is reproduced.