M Coloring Problem

Introduction

To study graphs as mathematical structures, we use graph labeling. Graph labeling is a way of assigning labels to vertices, edges, or faces of a graph. It can be done in various ways.

Graph coloring is one of the prime methods of labeling. It is a process of assigning labels or "colors" to elements of a graph following certain constraints.

In this blog, we'll discuss one such problem, known as the M-coloring problem. So, let's get started.

What is M-Coloring problem?

The M-coloring problem is a graph theory problem that involves finding a way to color the vertices of a graph with M colors, such that no two adjoining vertices have the same color. The goal is to allocate colors to the vertices of a graph in such a way that no two neighbouring vertices have the same color, while using the minimum possible number of colors.

The M-coloring problem is known to be NP-complete, which implies that there exists no known algorithm to actually solve it. However, there are various approximation algorithms that can be used to find a good solution to the problem.

Also see, Euclid GCD Algorithm

m Coloring Problem Statement

The m-coloring problem states, "We are given an undirected graph and m number of different colors. We have to check if we can assign colors to the vertices of the graphs in such a way that no two adjacent vertices have the same color."

Let’s understand this problem with the help of an example.

Example: Given an adjacency matrix of an undirected graph and a number M having a value of 3.

We've to check if we can color the above four vertices such that no two adjacent vertices have the same color.

After assigning the colors, the graph will look like this.

In this graph, we can see that nodes 2 and 3 are not adjacent and have the same color; the remaining nodes have different colors. This is one possible solution.

Note: The m-coloring problem can have multiple solutions.

There are various ways to solve the M-coloring problem. We’ll be seeing some of them in this article. let’s move on with the brute force approach.

Recommended try the Problem yourself before moving on to the solution

Approach 1: Brute Force

This approach will try to find all the possible combinations in which vertices can be colored. After all the combinations are made, we'll check if it follows the constraints of graph coloring. If the constraints are satisfied, that will be the answer.

The implementation of the above approach is given below:

C++ Implementation

C++

#include<bits/stdc++.h>
using namespace std;

#define V 4

void Display(int color[]) {
    cout << "Solution Exists\nThe colors given to vertices are:" << endl;
    for (int i = 0; i < V; i++)
        cout << "Vertex " << i + 1 << " is given color: " << color[i] << endl;
    cout << endl;
}

bool satisfyConstraints(bool Adj_matrix[V][V], int color[]) {
    for (int i = 0; i < V; i++) {
        for (int j = i + 1; j < V; j++) {
            if (Adj_matrix[i][j] && color[j] == color[i]) {
                return false;
            }
        }
    }
    return true;
}

bool m_Coloring(bool Adj_matrix[V][V], int m, int i, int color[V]) {
    if (i == V) {
        if (satisfyConstraints(Adj_matrix, color)) {
            Display(color);
            return true;
        }
        return false;
    }

    for (int j = 1; j <= m; j++) {
        color[i] = j;
        if (m_Coloring(Adj_matrix, m, i + 1, color)) {
            return true;
        }
    }

    return false;
}

int main() {
    bool Adj_matrix[V][V] = {
        {0,1,1,1},
        {1,0,0,1},
        {1,0,0,1},
        {1,1,1,0},
    };
    int m = 3;

    int color[V];
    for (int i = 0; i < V; i++) {
        color[i] = 0;
    }

    if (!m_Coloring(Adj_matrix, m, 0, color))
        cout << "No such arrangement exists!!" << endl;

    return 0;
}

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Java Implementation

java

java

public class Main {
    // Number of vertices in the graph
    static int V = 4;

    /* A utility function to print solution */
    static void display(int[] color) {
        System.out.println("Solution Exists:\n" +
                "The colors given to vertices are: ");
        for (int i = 0; i < V; i++) {
            System.out.println("Vertex " + (i + 1) + " is given color : " + color[i]);
        }
    }

    // check if the colored graph is safe or not
    static boolean isSafe(boolean[][] graph, int[] color, int v, int c) {
        // check for every vertex in the graph
        for (int i = 0; i < V; i++) {
            if (graph[v][i] && color[i] == c) {
                // if there's an edge and the colors match, return false
                return false;
            }
        }
        // if no conflicts, return true
        return true;
    }

    static boolean graphColoring(boolean[][] graph, int m, int i, int[] color) {
        // if current index reached end
        if (i == V) {
            // if coloring is safe
            if (isSafe(graph, color, i - 1, color[i - 1])) {
                // Print the solution
                display(color);
                return true;
            }
            return false;
        }

        // Assign each color from 1 to m
        for (int j = 1; j <= m; j++) {
            color[i] = j;

            // Recur for the rest vertices
            if (graphColoring(graph, m, i + 1, color))
                return true;
            color[i] = 0;
        }
        return false;
    }

    public static void main(String[] args) {
        boolean[][] graph = {
                {false, true, true, true},
                {true, false, true, false},
                {true, true, false, true},
                {true, false, true, false},
        };
        int m = 3; // Number of colors

        // Initialize all color values as 0.
        // This initialization is needed for the correct functioning of isSafe()
        int[] color = new int[V];
        for (int i = 0; i < V; i++)
            color[i] = 0;
        if (!graphColoring(graph, m, 0, color))
            System.out.println("Solution does not exist");
    }
}

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Python Implementation

Python

Python

# Number of vertices in the graph
# define 4 4


# check if the colored
# graph is safe or not
def isSafe(graph, color):


# check for every edge in the graph
for i in range(4):
for j in range(i + 1, 4):
if (graph[i][j] and color[j] == color[i]):
return False
return True


def graphColoring(graph, m, i, color):


# if current index reached end
if (i == 4):


# if coloring is safe
if (isSafe(graph, color)):


# Print the solution
display(color)
return True
return False


# Assign each color from 1 to m
for j in range(1, m + 1):
color[i] = j


# Recur of the rest vertices
if (graphColoring(graph, m, i + 1, color)):
return True
color[i] = 0
return False


# /* A utility function to print solution */
def display(color):
print("Solution Exists:" " Following are the assigned colors ")
for i in range(4):
print("Vertex", i+1 ," is given color: ",color[i])


# Driver code
if __name__ == '__main__':
graph = [
[ 0, 1, 1, 1 ],
[ 1, 0, 1, 0 ],
[ 1, 1, 0, 1 ],
[ 1, 0, 1, 0 ],
]
m = 3 # Number of colors


# Initialize all color values as 0.
# This initialization is needed
# correct functioning of isSafe()
color = [0 for i in range(4)]


if (not graphColoring(graph, m, 0, color)):
print ("Solution does not exist")

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Output

The colors given to vertices are:
Vertex 1 is given color:1
Vertex 2 is given color:2
Vertex 3 is given color:2
Vertex 4 is given color:3

Complexity Analysis

Time Complexity: O(M^V).

Reason: Choosing out of M given colors for V vertices will lead to an O(M^V) combination. So the time complexity is O(M^V).

Space Complexity: O(V).

Reason: The m_Coloring function will require O(V) space for the recursive call stack.

Approach 2: Backtracking

Backtracking is a general algorithm for solving constraint satisfaction problems. It accomplishes this by constructing a solution incrementally, one component at a time, discarding any solutions that fail to satisfy the problem's criteria at any point in time.

In the above approach, we've seen that we are creating combinations after assigning colors to vertices and then checking the constraints. A different solution to this problem is to only assign colors to a particular vertex if it satisfies the constraints.

We'd assign a color to each vertex from 1 to m and see if it has a different color than its next vertex. If we obtain a configuration in which each node is colored from 1 to m, and adjacent vertices are of different colors, this will be the answer.

Let’s see the implementation of this approach.

C++ Implementation

C++

#include <bits/stdc++.h>
using namespace std;

// Number of vertices in the Adj_matrix
#define V 4

// Function to display
void Display(int color[]) {
    cout << "The colors given to vertices are:" << endl;
    for (int i = 0; i < V; i++)
        cout << "Vertex " << i + 1 << " is given color:" << color[i] << endl;
    cout << endl;
}

// Function to check constraints
bool satisfyConstraints(int v, bool Adj_matrix[V][V], int color[], int c) {
    for (int i = 0; i < V; i++) {
        if (Adj_matrix[v][i] && c == color[i])
            return false;
    }
    return true;
}

// A recursive utility function to solve m-coloring problem
bool m_Coloring_Helper(bool Adj_matrix[V][V], int m, int color[], int v) {
    // If all vertices are assigned a color
    if (v == V)
        return true;

    // Try different colors for vertex v
    for (int c = 1; c <= m; c++) {
        // Check if the given color is valid
        if (satisfyConstraints(v, Adj_matrix, color, c)) {
            color[v] = c;

            // Recursively assign colors to the rest of the vertices
            if (m_Coloring_Helper(Adj_matrix, m, color, v + 1) == true)
                return true;

            // Backtrack
            color[v] = 0;
        }
    }

    // If no color can be assigned
    return false;
}

bool m_Coloring(bool Adj_matrix[V][V], int m) {
    // Initialize all color values as 0.
    int color[V];
    for (int i = 0; i < V; i++) {
        color[i] = 0;
    }

    // Call m_Coloring_Helper() for vertex 0
    if (m_Coloring_Helper(Adj_matrix, m, color, 0) == false) {
        cout << "No such arrangement exists!!";
        return false;
    }

    // Print the solution
    Display(color);
    return true;
}

int main() {
    // The adjacency matrix of the graph
    bool Adj_matrix[V][V] = {
        {0, 1, 1, 1},
        {1, 0, 0, 1},
        {1, 0, 0, 1},
        {1, 1, 1, 0},
    };

    // Number of colors
    int m = 3;
    m_Coloring(Adj_matrix, m);
    return 0;
}

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Java Implementation

java

java

class Main {
    final int V = 4;
    int color[];

    /* A utility function to check if the current color assignment
       is safe for vertex v */
    boolean isSafe(int v, int graph[][], int color[], int c) {
        for (int i = 0; i < V; i++) {
            if (graph[v][i] == 1 && c == color[i]) {
                return false;
            }
        }
        return true;
    }

    /* A recursive utility function to solve m coloring problem */
    boolean graphColoringUtil(int graph[][], int m, int color[], int v) {
        if (v == V) {
            return true;
        }

        for (int c = 1; c <= m; c++) {
            if (isSafe(v, graph, color, c)) {
                color[v] = c;

                if (graphColoringUtil(graph, m, color, v + 1)) {
                    return true;
                }

                color[v] = 0;
            }
        }

        return false;
    }

    boolean graphColoring(int graph[][], int m) {
        color = new int[V];
        for (int i = 0; i < V; i++) {
            color[i] = 0;
        }

        if (!graphColoringUtil(graph, m, color, 0)) {
            System.out.println("Solution does not exist");
            return false;
        }

        display(color);
        return true;
    }

    /* A utility function to print solution */
    void display(int color[]) {
        System.out.println("The colors given to vertices are:");
        for (int i = 0; i < V; i++) {
            System.out.println("Vertex " + (i + 1) + " is given color: " + color[i]);
        }
        System.out.println();
    }

    // driver program to test above function
    public static void main(String args[]) {
        Main Coloring = new Main();
        int graph[][] = {{0, 1, 1, 1}, {1, 0, 1, 0}, {1, 1, 0, 1}, {1, 0, 1, 0}};
        int m = 3; // Number of colors
        Coloring.graphColoring(graph, m);
    }
}

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Python Implementation

Python

Python

class Graph:
    def __init__(self, vertices):
        self.V = vertices
        self.graph = [[0 for column in range(vertices)] for row in range(vertices)]

    def isSafe(self, v, colour, c):
        for i in range(self.V):
            if self.graph[v][i] == 1 and colour[i] == c:
                return False
        return True

    def graphColourUtil(self, m, colour, v):
        if v == self.V:
            return True

        for c in range(1, m + 1):
            if self.isSafe(v, colour, c):
                colour[v] = c
                if self.graphColourUtil(m, colour, v + 1):
                    return True
                colour[v] = 0

    def graphColouring(self, m):
        colour = [0] * self.V
        if not self.graphColourUtil(m, colour, 0):
            print("Solution does not exist")
            return False

        print("Solution exists, and the assigned colors are:")
        for i in range(self.V):
            print("Vertex", i + 1, "is given color:", colour[i])
        return True

# Driver Code
g = Graph(4)
g.graph = [
    [0, 1, 1, 1],
    [1, 0, 1, 0],
    [1, 1, 0, 1],
    [1, 0, 1, 0]
]
m = 3
g.graphColouring(m)

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Output

The colors given to vertices are:
Vertex 1 is given color:1
Vertex 2 is given color:2
Vertex 3 is given color:2
Vertex 4 is given color:3

Complexity Analysis

Time Complexity: O(M^V).

Reason: Choosing out of M given colors for V vertices will lead to an O(M^V) combination. So the time complexity is O(M^V).

Space Complexity: O(V).

Reason: The M_Coloring function will require O(V) space for the recursive call stack.

The above two approaches have the same time complexity regardless of different algorithms. In our next approach, we’ll be discussing an optimal approach to solve the M-coloring problem.

Approach 3: Breadth-First Search

In this approach, first of all, we’ll color all the vertices of the graph with the first color. Then we’ll traverse the graph in a breadth-first fashion starting from the first unvisited node.

After reaching a node, we’ll check the color of all the adjacent nodes of the current node. If the current and the adjacent node have the same color, we’ll assign the next color to the adjacent node. Mark the current node as visited and move forward.

Let’s see the algorithm of this approach.

Step 1: Start the BFS traversal.

Step 2: Find out the neighboring (adjacent) nodes of the current node.

If the color of the current node and the adjacent node is the same, assign the next color to the adjacent node.
Check if the current node has been visited or not. Mark it as visited and add it to a queue if it hasn't been visited yet.

Step 3: Check the condition for color availability. If the condition becomes false, return.

Step 4: Do it for all the given nodes.

C++ Implementation

C++

#include <bits/stdc++.h>
using namespace std;

// Number of vertices in the Adj_matrix
#define V 4

// Function to display
void Display(int color[]) {
    cout << "The colors given to vertices are:" << endl;
    for (int i = 0; i < V; i++)
        cout << "Vertex " << i + 1 << " is given color:" << color[i] << endl;
    cout << endl;
}

// Function to check constraints
bool satisfyConstraints(int v, bool Adj_matrix[V][V], int color[], int c) {
    for (int i = 0; i < V; i++) {
        if (Adj_matrix[v][i] && c == color[i])
            return false;
    }
    return true;
}

// A recursive utility function to solve m-coloring problem
bool m_Coloring_Helper(bool Adj_matrix[V][V], int m, int color[], int v) {
    // If all vertices are assigned a color
    if (v == V)
        return true;

    // Try different colors for vertex v
    for (int c = 1; c <= m; c++) {
        // Check if the given color is valid
        if (satisfyConstraints(v, Adj_matrix, color, c)) {
            color[v] = c;

            // Recursively assign colors to the rest of the vertices
            if (m_Coloring_Helper(Adj_matrix, m, color, v + 1) == true)
                return true;

            // Backtrack
            color[v] = 0;
        }
    }

    // If no color can be assigned
    return false;
}

bool m_Coloring(bool Adj_matrix[V][V], int m) {
    // Initialize all color values as 0.
    int color[V];
    for (int i = 0; i < V; i++) {
        color[i] = 0;
    }

    // Call m_Coloring_Helper() for vertex 0
    if (m_Coloring_Helper(Adj_matrix, m, color, 0) == false) {
        cout << "No such arrangement exists!!";
        return false;
    }

    // Print the solution
    Display(color);
    return true;
}

int main() {
    // The adjacency matrix of the graph
    bool Adj_matrix[V][V] = {
        {0, 1, 1, 1},
        {1, 0, 0, 1},
        {1, 0, 0, 1},
        {1, 1, 1, 0},
    };

    // Number of colors
    int m = 3;
    m_Coloring(Adj_matrix, m);
    return 0;
}

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Java Implementation

java

java

import java.io.*;
import java.util.*;

class Node {
    int color = 1;
    Set<Integer> edges = new HashSet<>();
}

public class mColoring {
    static int possiblePaint(ArrayList<Node> nodes, int n, int m) {
        ArrayList<Integer> visited = new ArrayList<>();
        for (int i = 0; i <= n; i++) {
            visited.add(0);
        }

        int maxColors = 1;

        for (int sv = 1; sv <= n; sv++) {
            if (visited.get(sv) > 0) {
                continue;
            }

            visited.set(sv, 1);
            Queue<Integer> q = new LinkedList<>();
            q.add(sv);

            while (!q.isEmpty()) {
                int top = q.poll();
                for (int it : nodes.get(top).edges) {
                    if (nodes.get(top).color == nodes.get(it).color) {
                        nodes.get(it).color += 1;
                    }

                    maxColors = Math.max(maxColors, Math.max(nodes.get(top).color, nodes.get(it).color));
                    if (maxColors > m) {
                        return 0;
                    }

                    if (visited.get(it) == 0) {
                        visited.set(it, 1);
                        q.add(it);
                    }
                }
            }
        }
        return 1;
    }

    public static void main(String[] args) {
        int n = 4;
        int[][] graph = {{0, 1, 1, 1}, {1, 0, 1, 0}, {1, 1, 0, 1}, {1, 0, 1, 0}};
        int m = 3;

        ArrayList<Node> nodes = new ArrayList<>();

        for (int i = 0; i <= n; i++) {
            nodes.add(new Node());
        }

        for (int i = 0; i < n; i++) {
            for (int j = 0; j < n; j++) {
                if (graph[i][j] > 0) {
                    nodes.get(i + 1).edges.add(j + 1);
                    nodes.get(j + 1).edges.add(i + 1);
                }
            }
        }

        int res = possiblePaint(nodes, n, m);
        if (res == 1) {
            System.out.println("It is possible to color all the nodes!!");
        } else {
            System.out.println("No solution exists!!");
        }
    }
}

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Python Implementation

Python

Python

from queue import Queue

class Node:
    def __init__(self):
        self.color = 1
        self.edges = set()

def possiblePaint(nodes, n, m):
    visited = [0 for _ in range(n+1)]
    maxColors = 1

    for i in range(1, n + 1):
        if visited[i]:
            continue
        visited[i] = 1
        q = Queue()
        q.put(i)

        while not q.empty():
            top = q.get()
            for neighbor in nodes[top].edges:
                if nodes[top].color == nodes[neighbor].color:
                    nodes[neighbor].color += 1
                maxColors = max(maxColors, max(nodes[top].color, nodes[neighbor].color))
                if maxColors > m:
                    print(maxColors)
                    return 0
                if not visited[neighbor]:
                    visited[neighbor] = 1
                    q.put(neighbor)

    return 1

if __name__ == "__main__":
    n = 4
    graph = [
        [0, 1, 1, 1],
        [1, 0, 1, 0],
        [1, 1, 0, 1],
        [1, 0, 1, 0]
    ]
    m = 3
    nodes = [Node() for _ in range(n+1)]

    for i in range(n):
        for j in range(n):
            if graph[i][j]:
                nodes[i+1].edges.add(j+1)
                nodes[j+1].edges.add(i+1)

    ans = possiblePaint(nodes, n, m)
    if ans == 1:
        print("It is possible to color all the nodes!!")
    else:
        print("No solution exists!!")

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Output

It is possible to color all the nodes!!

Complexity Analysis

Time Complexity: O(V + E).

Reason: The time complexity of BFS traversal is O(V). For every node, we are checking all its adjacent nodes, this will lead to the time complexity of O(V + E).

Space Complexity: O(V).

Reason: The M_coloring function will require O(V) space for the visited array.

You can also read How to Solve 8 Queens Problem Using Backtracking.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Graph Coloring?

Graph coloring is an important problem of graph theory. In this problem, we'll be given a graph to color all of the vertices with the 'm' colors provided, ensuring that no two neighboring vertices have the same color.

Is M coloring problem backtracking?

Backtracking is a process which involves solving by trying and testing all possible outcome combinations. If one approach doesn't derive a desired outcome, it backtracks to the previous step and tries a different approach. So yes, M colouring problem involves a backtracking algorithm.

What is K coloring problem?

The K coloring problem is a graph theory problem that involves finding a way to color the vertices of a graph with K colors, such that no edges of a graph have the same color.

What is M coloring of a graph?

M-coloring of a graph is the process of assigning M colors to the vertices of a given graph, such that no two adjacent vertices share the same color. If an edge in the graph joins two vertices, then they must have different colors allotted to them.

What is the concept of map coloring?

Map coloring is assigning colors to map regions so that no adjacent regions share the same color. It's used for visual clarity in cartography and has various real-world applications.

Conclusion

In this article, we discussed the graph coloring problem and some approaches to how to solve it in detail. Graph coloring is one of the most frequently asked and important concepts in graph theory.

To get a clear insight into graph theory fundamentals, we suggest you go through this fantastic article. If you have any difficulty understanding the graph representation in the above-given approaches, here's a blog to get you acquainted with the types and representation of graphs.

Here are some recommended problems to test your understanding of graphs

Introduction

What is M-Coloring problem?

m Coloring Problem Statement

Approach 1: Brute Force

C++ Implementation

C++

Java Implementation

java

Python Implementation

Python

Complexity Analysis

Approach 2: Backtracking

C++ Implementation

C++

Java Implementation

java

Python Implementation

Python

Complexity Analysis

Approach 3: Breadth-First Search

C++ Implementation

C++

Java Implementation

java

Python Implementation

Python

Complexity Analysis

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Graph Coloring?

Is M coloring problem backtracking?

What is K coloring problem?

What is M coloring of a graph?

What is the concept of map coloring?

Conclusion

Recommended Reading