Computations of quandle cocycle invariants of knotted curves and surfaces (Q5927523)

In previous works the authors and L. Langford used the cohomology theory of racks and quandles to define invariants of knots and of knotted oriented surfaces in 4-space. The present paper is devoted to providing methods of calculating these invariants from different presentations of a knot or knotted surface with many examples and applications using Maple and Mathematica. The presentations which provide the input for these calculations use braids for knots, and surface braids and movies for knotted surfaces.