Exact dependence of multiquark operators on the number of colors

We develop a method which enables us to calculate explicitly matrix elements of multiquark operators between two nonstrange baryon states, thus obtaining the exact dependence of these operators on N, the number of color degrees of freedom of quarks. The method employs permutation symmetry of the N-quark wave function and it is illustrated by evaluating g/sub A//g/sub V/ and the matrix elements of four-quark operators of the ΔS = 0 effective weak Hamiltonian. Implications of these results for low-energy phenomenology and for the interpretation of Skyrme-model results are discussed