Perko pair
Encyclopedia
In the mathematical theory of knots
, the Perko pair, named after Kenneth Perko, is a pair of entries in classical knot tables that actually represent the same knot. In Rolfsen's knot table, this supposed pair of distinct knots is labeled 10161 and 10162. In 1974, while working to complete the Tait–Little knot tables of knots up to 10 crossings (dating from the late 19th century), Perko found the duplication in C. N. Little's table. This duplication had been missed by John Horton Conway
several years before in his knot table and subsequently found its way into Rolfsen's table.
Knot theory
In topology, knot theory is the study of mathematical knots. While inspired by knots which appear in daily life in shoelaces and rope, a mathematician's knot differs in that the ends are joined together so that it cannot be undone. In precise mathematical language, a knot is an embedding of a...
, the Perko pair, named after Kenneth Perko, is a pair of entries in classical knot tables that actually represent the same knot. In Rolfsen's knot table, this supposed pair of distinct knots is labeled 10161 and 10162. In 1974, while working to complete the Tait–Little knot tables of knots up to 10 crossings (dating from the late 19th century), Perko found the duplication in C. N. Little's table. This duplication had been missed by John Horton Conway
John Horton Conway
John Horton Conway is a prolific mathematician active in the theory of finite groups, knot theory, number theory, combinatorial game theory and coding theory...
several years before in his knot table and subsequently found its way into Rolfsen's table.