four colour map theorem
four colour map theorem
(mathematics, application)(Or "four colour theorem") The
theorem stating that if the plane is divided into connected
regions which are to be coloured so that no two adjacent
regions have the same colour (as when colouring countries on a
map of the world), it is never necessary to use more than four
colours.
The proof, due to Appel and Haken, attained notoriety by using a computer to check tens of thousands of cases and is thus not humanly checkable, even in principle. Some thought that this brought the philosophical status of the proof into doubt.
There are now rumours of a simpler proof, not requiring the use of a computer.
See also chromatic number
The proof, due to Appel and Haken, attained notoriety by using a computer to check tens of thousands of cases and is thus not humanly checkable, even in principle. Some thought that this brought the philosophical status of the proof into doubt.
There are now rumours of a simpler proof, not requiring the use of a computer.
See also chromatic number
This article is provided by FOLDOC - Free Online Dictionary of Computing (foldoc.org)