Chvátal's Theorem on the Ramsey Number of a Triangle versus a Tree

Carles Marín 📧

November 6, 2026

Abstract

We formalize Chvátal's theorem (1977): for every tree T with n vertices, the graph Ramsey number R(K_3, T) equals 2n - 1. The upper bound is proved by induction on n, removing a leaf; the lower bound is the complete bipartite graph with two parts of size n - 1. As a corollary, every connected graph with n vertices and at most n - 1 edges, being a tree, has the same Ramsey number. Graphs, cliques and Ramsey numbers are those of the entry Ramsey_Bounds, and trees those of the entry Tree_Enumeration.

License

BSD License

Note

The Isabelle proofs and the text of the document were developed with the assistance of generative AI systems; the author checked them.

Topics

Session Chvatal_Tree_Ramsey