History & Proof of the Four Color Theorem

Abstract

The 4 color conjecture was made in 1852 and proved in 1879. However, a flaw was found 11 years later and it was not fixed until computers were used in the 1970's. This talk summarizes the history of the theorem, illustrates the method of the proof, points out the flaw, and shows how computers adapted the logic of the proof in a controversial new type of proof.