SKU: 8803066326

Four Colors Suffice: How the Map Problem Was Solved - Revised Color Edition

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Four Colors Suffice: How the Map Problem Was Solved - Revised Color EditionOn October 23, 1852, Professor Augustus De Morgan wrote a letter to a colleague, unaware that he was launching one of the most famous mathematical conundrums in history one that would confound thousands of puzzlers for more than a century. This is the amazing story of how the map problem was solved. The problem posed in the letter came from a former student: What is the least possible number of colors needed to fill in any map (real or invented) so

On October 23, 1852, Professor Augustus De Morgan wrote a letter to a colleague, unaware that he was launching one of the most famous mathematical conundrums in history--one that would confound thousands of puzzlers for more than a century. This is the amazing story of how the map problem was solved.

The problem posed in the letter came from a former student: What is the least possible number of colors needed to fill in any map (real or invented) so that neighboring counties are always colored differently? This deceptively simple question was of minimal interest to cartographers, who saw little need to limit how many colors they used. But the problem set off a frenzy among professional mathematicians and amateur problem solvers, among them Lewis Carroll, an astronomer, a botanist, an obsessive golfer, the Bishop of London, a man who set his watch only once a year, a California traffic cop, and a bridegroom who spent his honeymoon coloring maps. In their pursuit of the solution, mathematicians painted maps on doughnuts and horseshoes and played with patterned soccer balls and the great rhombicuboctahedron.

It would be more than one hundred years (and countless colored maps) later before the result was finally established. Even then, difficult questions remained, and the intricate solution--which involved no fewer than 1,200 hours of computer time--was greeted with as much dismay as enthusiasm.

Providing a clear and elegant explanation of the problem and the proof, Robin Wilson tells how a seemingly innocuous question baffled great minds and stimulated exciting mathematics with far-flung applications. This is the entertaining story of those who failed to prove, and those who ultimately did prove, that four colors do indeed suffice to color any map.

This new edition features many color illustrations. It also includes a new foreword by Ian Stewart on the importance of the map problem and how it was solved.-- "Booklist"

Binding Type: Paperback
Publisher: Princeton University Press
Published: 11/10/2013
ISBN: 9780691158228
Pages: 224
Weight: 0.85lbs
Size: 9.33h x 6.13w x 0.47d
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SKU: 8803066326

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Deanna Good
Lexington, US
★★★★★ 3
Super cute, didn’t last though.
Super cute, good size, I was hopeful that the durability would prove good too, but unfortunately our 7 month old lab pup made quick work out of them… 6 hours later and here we are, all squeakers removed and 🐰 & 🦆 no longer have a face.
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Reviewed in the United States on February 8, 2026
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J. Martin
Omaha, US
★★★★★ 5
Excellent for small dog!
These are very colorful and well made. They are flat, but wonderfully crinkly. Good sturdy material for medium to small dog. Looks like they will last a long time. My dog loves them.
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Reviewed in the United States on May 27, 2026
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Gerre L. Scherz
Birmingham, US
★★★★★ 5
Our dog loves them!
Our Puggy told me these toys are the best ever! Their squeakers work…still… and she has moved these into our bed
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Reviewed in the United States on May 2, 2026
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capriceclassic
Whiting, US
★★★★★ 5
Awesome for hyper dogs
Color: Blue
AWESOME - I have a dog that just won't stop trying to get me to play with him ALL day! I turn this thing on and he goes nuts and tires himself out...without any help from me. The cover got torn off and torn up in minutes but he doesn't care. He just wants this ball. My other dogs, who are older, aren't really interested. But if you have a hyper dog this is the thing for you and them!
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Reviewed in the United States on April 28, 2026
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Shannon
Carnegie, US
★★★★★ 5
Great entertainment, charges quickly!
Color: Orange
Super fun entertainment for dog! Toy ball charges quickly and the charge lasts for at least an hour of playtime for the dog. There are 2 modes. one mode Just lights up, which makes it easy for pet to chase it. The second mode not only lights up, but it also wiggles on the ground Randomly and speeds off in a direction on its own, which really makes it interesting for your dog or cat to follow! Once the ball is not touched for about thirty seconds, it goes dormant and it will stay like that As long as it's charged until somebody touches it, and then it starts up randomly lighting up and moving around the floor on its own And making a vibration noise. It's a lot of fun to watch the dog chase and play with, and it certainly keeps them entertained for a while! The laughs and fun entertainment are definitely worth it. The only downside is that my dog chewed off the soft fabric covering in about twenty minutes.And she's not a real big chewer. It looks better with the covering on it, but even without it, the ball works fine and she plays with it every day.So that is not a showstopper. But good to supervise your dog for safety.In case they are a chewer, and they decide to destroy the cover. But the ball works fine without the cover too!
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Reviewed in the United States on March 12, 2026

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