Computing the Folkman Number \(F_{v}(2, 2, 3; 4) \)

We discuss a branch of Ramsey theory concerning vertex Folkman numbers and how computer algorithms have been used to compute a new Folkman number. We write \( G \rightarrow (a_1, \ldots, a_k)^v \) if for every vertex \( k \)-coloring of an undirected simple graph \( G \), a monochromatic \( K_{a_i} \) is forced in color \( i \in \{1, \ldots, k\} \). The vertex Folkman number is defined as

\[
F_v(a_1, \ldots, a_k; p) = \text{min}\{|V(G)| : G \rightarrow (a_1, \ldots, a_k)^v \wedge K_p \nsubseteq G\}.
\]

Folkman showed in 1970 that this number exists for \( p > \text{max}\{a_1, \ldots, a_k\} \). Let \( m = 1 + \sum_{i=1}^k (a_i – 1) \) and \( a = \text{max}\{a_1, \ldots, a_k\} \), then

\[
F_v(a_1, \ldots, a_k; p) = m \text{ for } p > m,
\]

and

\[
F_v(a_1, \ldots, a_k; p) = a + m \text{ for } p = m.
\]

For \( p < m \) the situation is more difficult and much less is known. We show here that, for a case of \( p = m – 1 \), \( F_v(2, 2, 3; 4) = 14 \).