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Four color theorem

math Maturity 11-13

You can color any map.

Four Colour Map Example.svg
Four Colour Map Example.svg
You only need four colors. No two side-by-side parts can be the same color. This rule helps us make maps look good. It is a fun math trick.
Map of United States accessible colors shown.svg
Map of United States accessible colors shown.svg
Can you find four colors?

49 words
🖼️ Images & Media (11)
File:Four Colour Map Example.svg
Four Colour Map Example.svg
File:Map of United States accessible colors shown.svg
Map of United States accessible colors shown.svg
File:4CT Inadequacy Example.svg
4CT Inadequacy Example.svg
File:Four Colour Planar Graph.svg
Four Colour Planar Graph.svg
File:DeMorganFourColour.png
DeMorganFourColour.png
File:Kempe Chain.svg
Kempe Chain.svg
File:visual proof USA states map needs 4 colors.svg
visual proof USA states map needs 4 colors.svg
File:Torus with seven colours.svg
Torus with seven colours.svg
File:Projection color torus.png
Projection color torus.png
File:Visual proof mutually touching solids.svg
Visual proof mutually touching solids.svg
File:Saint Martin map.svg
Saint Martin map.svg
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Graph coloring
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Kuratowski's theorem Graph minor Bipartite graph Pigeonhole principle

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Simpler topics to build understanding

Graph coloring Vizing's theorem Three utilities problem Snark (graph theory)
📚 Content adapted from Wikipedia | Readability: FK 12.9 | Vital Level 5