Four-dimensional polytopes: Alicia Boole Stott's algorithm (Q608925)

Between 1850 and 1852, the Swiss mathematician L. Schläfli developed a theory of geometry in \(n\) dimensions, introduced the concept of four-dimensional polytopes, and proved that there are exactly six regular polytopes in four dimensions but only three in dimensions higher than four. Unfortunately, his work was not accepted for publication, and only fragments were published later. Between 1880 and 1900 the six regular polytopes were independently rediscovered by, among many others, Stringham in 1880, Gosset in 1900 and Boole Stott in 1900. The work of the first two is well known today, but that of Boole Stott, an amateur mathematician, has remained almost unnoticed. In this note the authors present Boole Stott's original algorithmic approach, together with her original drawings and models. The authors show her surprising and original ideas.