On the map theorem (Q5931451)
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scientific article; zbMATH DE number 1591117
Language | Label | Description | Also known as |
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English | On the map theorem |
scientific article; zbMATH DE number 1591117 |
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On the map theorem (English)
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24 April 2001
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This paper provides a concise introduction to the work of Spencer-Brown (Bohmeier Verlag and Spencer-Brown Publishing, 1997) on the four-color theorem. The work involves a reformulation of the coloring problem in terms of two-colored systems (called formations) of Jordan curves in the plane; the formations correspond to proper three-edge colorings of cubic plane graphs. Two results are key: (1) a parity lemma first proved by \textit{W. T. Tutte} [Proc. Lond. Math. Soc., II. Ser. 50, 137-149 (1948; Zbl 0030.08102)] and later, independently, by Spencer-Brown; this leads to (2) the primality principle (a certain principle of irreducibility for formations is equivalent to the four-color theorem).
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map theorem
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Jordan curves
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formations
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three-edge colorings
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cubic plane graphs
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parity lemma
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primality principle
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