SKU: 8803066326

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

Sale price$22.91 Regular price$25.46
Save 10%

Pay in installments of $6.37 with ShopPay, AfterPay and Klarna

Shipping Estimate
USA
  • USA
  • CAN

Ships within 48 hours · Estimated delivery Sep 1 - Sep 6

Promo Codes Available:

For Your Every Summer RSVP, with Code: SUMMER15

Description

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
Shipping Notes
  • Free Standard Shipping on $100+ Orders to the USA.
  • Except Preorder products are shipped in 48 hours.
  • Delivery to the USA:
  1. Standard Shipping : 3-10 business days
  • If time is of the essence, please consider selecting expedited delivery for faster service.
Exchange/Return Notes
  • We offer a 30-day return/exchange service after receiving.
  • Final sale items are not eligible for returns or exchanges.
  • To process your return/exchange, please contact us at [email protected]
  • Please click here for more details>>> Return & Exchange Policy
SKU: 8803066326

Discover Niche Categories That Outsell

Top-Converting Item to Boost Your Average Order

4.1 ★★★★★
Based on 9 reviews
Sort
Highest Rating
Newest First
Oldest First
Product Reviews
J
Verified Purchase
Joy
Louisville, US
★★★★★ 5
Organization
Color: Black
Fits perfectly! Was the right size for dish soap & my sponges. Looks great helped me get organized 😎
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on April 13, 2026
C
Verified Purchase
chtsai
Chelsea, US
★★★★★ 3
Divider doesn’t work
Color: Stainless Steel
Size is great. Quality is great except for the divider, which doesn’t work at all. It’s too loose and doesn’t stay on
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on April 24, 2026
C
Verified Purchase
Cookie
Dallas, US
★★★★★ 5
LOVE MY SINK CADDY!
Color: Black
This caddy is such a game changer for my kitchen. It keeps everything neat and in one place AND no more clutter around the sink! I can fit my soap, sponges, and brushes easily, and it still looks nice on the counter. The drying base really works too! It absorbs water fast and doesn’t get gross like other trays I’ve had. It’s sturdy, doesn’t slip, and even looks kind of decorative. Definitely worth it!
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on October 28, 2025
J
Verified Purchase
jnoc
Carnegie, US
★★★★★ 5
Great product.
Color: Black
I love it. Good design , well made and very large capacity. Easy to assemble. Keeps my counter free from cleaning items and drys out my sponge so it doesn’t get mildew. It’s very stable , not flimsy at all. Great price too.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on April 1, 2026
A
Verified Purchase
Amy C.
Louisville, US
★★★★★ 5
Great Sink Caddy
Color: Black, Color: Black
Great size and you can configure it to accommodate a range of soaps and gadgets. The brush holder can be moved to the outside for more storage area in the main basket. The little divider adjust across the wires and it stays in place. The stone bottom absorbs drips quickly and I haven’t noticed any discoloration on it. It stays in place on the sink edge. Perfect for my organization needs and keeps the area neat vs tossing the brushes on the ledge leaving water marks on the counter. It was packaged well and the coating seems good! I bought a cheaper one and it came bent, with the coating popped off in several places. This one is worth paying a little bit more for the quality!
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on April 7, 2026

recommand products