International Guild of Knot Tyers Forum

General => Knot-related Computing => Topic started by: jmlucassen on September 10, 2018, 06:38:50 PM

Title: Software to enumate knots
Post by: jmlucassen on September 10, 2018, 06:38:50 PM

Does anyone know of a program or algorithm that generates all possible knots (presumably, from simple to complex)?

Title: Re: Software to enumate knots
Post by: Dan_Lehman on September 11, 2018, 01:45:03 AM

Quote from: jmlucassen on September 10, 2018, 06:38:50 PM

... all possible knots ...

That's an infinity you're asking for
(if no sort of upper bounds of complexity/crossings
are stipulated.)

For practical knots, I can't imagine anyone coming
close to figuring this out; OTOH, someone I suppose
could arrange to spit out everything to be found in
Ashley's Book of Knots.

--dl*
====

Title: Re: Software to enumate knots
Post by: DerekSmith on October 31, 2018, 04:37:15 PM

Much like an infinite number set, you can always add another 1 to the biggest number you have, so with any knot set, you can always add another turn or tuck to the biggest (most complex) knot you have.

Strangely, many of our fellow knotters seem intent on getting ever closer to that illusive   ∞ ...

Derek