Solution to Problem 123



This week's only correct solution came from Burkart Venzke.

There are just two ways to link hands so as to form an undoable knot.  One way is just the mirror image of the other, and the knots really are different, in the sense that no amount how much twisting and turning you do, you will never be able to get one to look like the other.  In each case you take the right hand of one partner with your left hand, and the left hand of the other with your right hand.  In addition, your left arm crosses over and your right arm crosses under your partner's corresponding arm (or vice versa for the mirror image). The knots are shown below.

A lot of fascinating mathematics starts with these pictures.  Check out this site for more information.

You are visitor number 4112 to this page.