Number of ways of coloring n objects which are laid in a row with k colors such that the adjacent objects are...












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Given n objects, which are lying in a straight line next to each other, in how many ways we can color them with k colors (all must be painted) such that the adjacent boxes not of same colors.



I can feel that inclusion exclusion principle will apply here but I am not able to figure out where to start. Its been a while since I read about them.










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  • $begingroup$
    What you want is the chromatic polynomial for the path graph.
    $endgroup$
    – Gerry Myerson
    Jan 4 at 15:58










  • $begingroup$
    I guess so. This is the chromatic polynomial as the adjacent colors have to be different
    $endgroup$
    – Brij Raj Kishore
    Jan 4 at 16:03
















0












$begingroup$


Given n objects, which are lying in a straight line next to each other, in how many ways we can color them with k colors (all must be painted) such that the adjacent boxes not of same colors.



I can feel that inclusion exclusion principle will apply here but I am not able to figure out where to start. Its been a while since I read about them.










share|cite|improve this question









$endgroup$












  • $begingroup$
    What you want is the chromatic polynomial for the path graph.
    $endgroup$
    – Gerry Myerson
    Jan 4 at 15:58










  • $begingroup$
    I guess so. This is the chromatic polynomial as the adjacent colors have to be different
    $endgroup$
    – Brij Raj Kishore
    Jan 4 at 16:03














0












0








0





$begingroup$


Given n objects, which are lying in a straight line next to each other, in how many ways we can color them with k colors (all must be painted) such that the adjacent boxes not of same colors.



I can feel that inclusion exclusion principle will apply here but I am not able to figure out where to start. Its been a while since I read about them.










share|cite|improve this question









$endgroup$




Given n objects, which are lying in a straight line next to each other, in how many ways we can color them with k colors (all must be painted) such that the adjacent boxes not of same colors.



I can feel that inclusion exclusion principle will apply here but I am not able to figure out where to start. Its been a while since I read about them.







combinatorics inclusion-exclusion coloring






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asked Jan 4 at 15:55









Brij Raj KishoreBrij Raj Kishore

215112




215112












  • $begingroup$
    What you want is the chromatic polynomial for the path graph.
    $endgroup$
    – Gerry Myerson
    Jan 4 at 15:58










  • $begingroup$
    I guess so. This is the chromatic polynomial as the adjacent colors have to be different
    $endgroup$
    – Brij Raj Kishore
    Jan 4 at 16:03


















  • $begingroup$
    What you want is the chromatic polynomial for the path graph.
    $endgroup$
    – Gerry Myerson
    Jan 4 at 15:58










  • $begingroup$
    I guess so. This is the chromatic polynomial as the adjacent colors have to be different
    $endgroup$
    – Brij Raj Kishore
    Jan 4 at 16:03
















$begingroup$
What you want is the chromatic polynomial for the path graph.
$endgroup$
– Gerry Myerson
Jan 4 at 15:58




$begingroup$
What you want is the chromatic polynomial for the path graph.
$endgroup$
– Gerry Myerson
Jan 4 at 15:58












$begingroup$
I guess so. This is the chromatic polynomial as the adjacent colors have to be different
$endgroup$
– Brij Raj Kishore
Jan 4 at 16:03




$begingroup$
I guess so. This is the chromatic polynomial as the adjacent colors have to be different
$endgroup$
– Brij Raj Kishore
Jan 4 at 16:03










1 Answer
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3












$begingroup$

You can color the first box in any of $k$ colors availble to you. The second box can be colored with one of the remaining $k-1$ colors. The same is true for the third, fourth... So the total number of colorings is $ktimes(k-1)^{n-1}$






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    1 Answer
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    active

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    1 Answer
    1






    active

    oldest

    votes









    active

    oldest

    votes






    active

    oldest

    votes









    3












    $begingroup$

    You can color the first box in any of $k$ colors availble to you. The second box can be colored with one of the remaining $k-1$ colors. The same is true for the third, fourth... So the total number of colorings is $ktimes(k-1)^{n-1}$






    share|cite|improve this answer









    $endgroup$


















      3












      $begingroup$

      You can color the first box in any of $k$ colors availble to you. The second box can be colored with one of the remaining $k-1$ colors. The same is true for the third, fourth... So the total number of colorings is $ktimes(k-1)^{n-1}$






      share|cite|improve this answer









      $endgroup$
















        3












        3








        3





        $begingroup$

        You can color the first box in any of $k$ colors availble to you. The second box can be colored with one of the remaining $k-1$ colors. The same is true for the third, fourth... So the total number of colorings is $ktimes(k-1)^{n-1}$






        share|cite|improve this answer









        $endgroup$



        You can color the first box in any of $k$ colors availble to you. The second box can be colored with one of the remaining $k-1$ colors. The same is true for the third, fourth... So the total number of colorings is $ktimes(k-1)^{n-1}$







        share|cite|improve this answer












        share|cite|improve this answer



        share|cite|improve this answer










        answered Jan 4 at 16:04









        OldboyOldboy

        9,26611138




        9,26611138






























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