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Statement

Setting (p. 4). χf,0(R2)\chi_{f,0}(\mathbb R^2) is the supremum of the fractional chromatic number χf(G)\chi_f(G) over finite unit-distance graphs G⊆R2G\subseteq\mathbb R^2.

Conjecture 1 (p. 10, quoted). "χf,0(R2)=4\chi_{f,0}(\mathbb R^2)=4, and for all finite unit distance graphs G⊆R2G\subseteq\mathbb R^2 we have χf(G)<4\chi_f(G)<4."

The first clause adds to Corollary 1 the upper bound χf,0(R2)≤4\chi_{f,0}(\mathbb R^2)\le4. By Theorem 2 it is equivalent to α1(R2)=14\alpha_1(\mathbb R^2)=\frac14, the form the paper also conjectures on p. 5, alongside δCroft=m1(R2)\delta_{\mathrm{Croft}}=m_1(\mathbb R^2). Since χf(G) α(G)/∣G∣≥1\chi_f(G)\,\alpha(G)/|G|\ge1 for every finite graph (p. 4), the second clause implies that every finite planar unit-distance graph GG has α(G)>∣G∣/4\alpha(G)>|G|/4. The paper notes (p. 8) that, since m1(R2)<14m_1(\mathbb R^2)<\frac14 was proved earlier, the conjecture would make the finitary and the measurable independence ratios of the plane differ. As support it reports (p. 14) that all children of G27G_{27} under its search's extension rules, and a few hundred grandchildren, also have geometric fractional chromatic number 44.

Source. Máté Matolcsi, Imre Z. Ruzsa, Dániel Varga, Pál Zsámboki, The fractional chromatic number of the plane is at least 4, arXiv:2311.10069, read in the version dated March 28, 2025 identified on the source card, whose page numbers are used here: the conjecture on p. 10, its motivation on pp. 2, 5 and 7--8, the computational checks on p. 14.

Read depth. Claims checked: the statement was read clause by clause on the printed page. It is a conjecture; the paper offers no proof.

Bears on

  • Problem 1070: the second clause implies f(n)>n/4f(n)>n/4 for every n≥1n\ge1, a positive answer to the particular question f(n)≥n/4f(n)\ge n/4; given Corollary 1, the first clause is equivalent to every finite planar unit-distance graph having independence ratio at least 14\frac14. A finite graph with independence ratio below 14\frac14 would contradict both clauses; the problem page records a pending claim of such a graph. The conjecture itself has no standing as a result.