What is the four color theorem?

What is the four color theorem?

The four color theorem states that any map can be colored using just four colors, ensuring that no adjacent regions share the same color.

How was the four color theorem proven?

It was proven using a combination of mathematical reasoning and computer-assisted verification in 1976 by Kenneth Appel and Wolfgang Haken.

Why is the four color theorem important?

It's important because it has applications in various fields, including cartography, scheduling, and network coloring.

Are there any exceptions to the four color theorem?

No, the theorem applies universally to all planar maps, meaning there are no exceptions.

Can you give an example of a map that uses four colors?

Sure! A simple example is a political map of a country where each state is colored differently, ensuring no two adjacent states share the same color.