Single Idea 9647

[catalogued under 6. Mathematics / B. Foundations for Mathematics / 2. Proof in Mathematics]

Full Idea

The celebrity of the famous proof in 1976 of the four-colour theorem of maps is that a computer played an essential role in the proof.

Clarification

What is the minimum number of colours needed for a good map?

Gist of Idea

Computers played an essential role in proving the four-colour theorem of maps

Source

James Robert Brown (Philosophy of Mathematics [1999], Ch.10)

Book Reference

Brown,James Robert: 'Philosophy of Mathematics' [Routledge 2002], p.154


A Reaction

The problem concerns the reliability of the computers, but then all the people who check a traditional proof might also be unreliable. Quis custodet custodies?