Artwork for The Four Colour Theorem for Kids: Why Maps Need Four Colours

Maths

The Four Colour Theorem for Kids: Why Maps Need Four Colours

Episode 784 12:47

In this episode

The story of the Four Colour Theorem for kids: how student Francis Guthrie noticed in 1852 that four colours are enough for any map, and how it took until 1976 to prove it.

• How Alfred Kempe's 1879 proof was believed until Percy Heawood found a mistake
• How Kenneth Appel and Wolfgang Haken used a computer for about 1,200 hours
• Why mathematicians argued over whether a computer proof counts
• Quiz questions to answer along the way

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