SKU: 8803066326

Four Colors Suffice: How the Map Problem Was Solved - Revised Color Edition

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Four Colors Suffice: How the Map Problem Was Solved - Revised Color EditionOn October 23, 1852, Professor Augustus De Morgan wrote a letter to a colleague, unaware that he was launching one of the most famous mathematical conundrums in history one that would confound thousands of puzzlers for more than a century. This is the amazing story of how the map problem was solved. The problem posed in the letter came from a former student: What is the least possible number of colors needed to fill in any map (real or invented) so

On October 23, 1852, Professor Augustus De Morgan wrote a letter to a colleague, unaware that he was launching one of the most famous mathematical conundrums in history--one that would confound thousands of puzzlers for more than a century. This is the amazing story of how the map problem was solved.

The problem posed in the letter came from a former student: What is the least possible number of colors needed to fill in any map (real or invented) so that neighboring counties are always colored differently? This deceptively simple question was of minimal interest to cartographers, who saw little need to limit how many colors they used. But the problem set off a frenzy among professional mathematicians and amateur problem solvers, among them Lewis Carroll, an astronomer, a botanist, an obsessive golfer, the Bishop of London, a man who set his watch only once a year, a California traffic cop, and a bridegroom who spent his honeymoon coloring maps. In their pursuit of the solution, mathematicians painted maps on doughnuts and horseshoes and played with patterned soccer balls and the great rhombicuboctahedron.

It would be more than one hundred years (and countless colored maps) later before the result was finally established. Even then, difficult questions remained, and the intricate solution--which involved no fewer than 1,200 hours of computer time--was greeted with as much dismay as enthusiasm.

Providing a clear and elegant explanation of the problem and the proof, Robin Wilson tells how a seemingly innocuous question baffled great minds and stimulated exciting mathematics with far-flung applications. This is the entertaining story of those who failed to prove, and those who ultimately did prove, that four colors do indeed suffice to color any map.

This new edition features many color illustrations. It also includes a new foreword by Ian Stewart on the importance of the map problem and how it was solved.-- "Booklist"

Binding Type: Paperback
Publisher: Princeton University Press
Published: 11/10/2013
ISBN: 9780691158228
Pages: 224
Weight: 0.85lbs
Size: 9.33h x 6.13w x 0.47d
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SKU: 8803066326

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Bozeman, US
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Cumple las necesidades que tenia
Color: Two Tone - Black/Grey
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I love it. Quality is great and I needed something that would comfortably hold 8 cards/ID's. This is slightly larger than my previous on but that one only held 4-5 cards. So, you know, the more you carry the larger it has to be. This was perfect for me. Oh, and the Magnet is perfect for the money. I love magnet money clips for their ease of use. The letter loosens up after about a week of using cash and allows it to hold many bills securely after that break in period (like good shoes).
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Richard S. Melton
Chelsea, US
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Nice small wallet, almost too small, ID pocket not very useful
Color: Two Tone - Cobalt Blue
It looks really nice and well-made, but the ID windowed pocket is too tight to easily get out your ID then you need to use it. No one lets you keep your ID in the wallet, so why bother with a clear window pocket?
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Cynthia Goss
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Size: One Size, Color: Brown, Black
Oooo lala! I love it! Beautiful color. Well made and just the right size.
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Belleville, US
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Lots of Space for a Small Bag
Colorful and great! All Haven't been without a Coach bag since the early 1970s. I'm usually not fond of the signature bags, but this one is striking. Of course it is well made. The bag has two compartments that are large enough for checkbook & phone. It has 8 card holders, 2 smaller places for business & library cards, a place for folding money, a zipper middle compartment and 3 flat compartments for receipts, notes, etc that are all packed into a cool small bag. It comes with both a crossbody metal strap and a leather wrist strap.dd Often, I've found Coach credit card holders inside their bags are too small for credit cards. This bag has larger cardholders. Overall, I give it an A+.
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Reviewed in the United States on June 3, 2025

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