Mathematicians have a habit of finding order in the most unexpected places. A famous example of this is when Leonhard Euler was asked to find a method to cross each of the Seven Bridges of Königsberg only once. He proved that this was impossible, and his proof served as a foundation for the field of graph theory. The mathematical theory of knots has a similar origin; it can be traced to another incredible mathematician, Carl Friedrich Gauss, making diagrams of knots in his notebook. Gauss was seeking a mathematical explanation of electricity, and he laid the foundation for a rich theory. But before we dive into the specifics, let’s talk about the long history of knots.
Unexpected Gifts
Of all things to benefit from my time in India, the last thing I would have anticipated to improve is my Chinese (or Mandarin,…