On graphs with no induced $P_5$ or $K_5-e$

Abstract

In this paper, we are interested in some problems related to chromatic number and clique number for the class of $(P_5,K_5-e)$-free graphs, and prove the following. $(a)$ If $G$ is a connected ($P_5,K_5-e$)-free graph with $\omega (G)\ge 7$, then either $G$ is the complement of a bipartite graph or $G$ has a clique cut-set. Moreover, there is a connected ($P_5,K_5-e$)-free imperfect graph $H$ with $\omega (H)=6$ and has no clique cut-set. This strengthens a result of Malyshev and Lobanova [Disc. Appl. Math. 219 (2017) 158--166]. $(b)$ If $G$ is a ($P_5,K_5-e$)-free graph with $\omega (G)\ge 4$, then $\chi (G)\le \max \{7,\omega (G)\}$. Moreover, the bound is tight when $\omega (G)\notin \{4,5,6\}$. This result together with known results partially answers a question of Ju and Huang [arXiv:2303.18003 [math.CO] 2023], and also improves a result of Xu [Manuscript 2022]. While the "Chromatic Number Problem" is known to be $NP$-hard for the class of $P_5$-free graphs, our results together with some known results imply that the "Chromatic Number Problem" can be solved in polynomial time for the class of ($P_5,K_5-e$)-free graphs which may be independent interest.

This paper is dedicated to the memory of Professor Frederic Maffray on his death anniversary