Skip to main content
1 of 2
Colin McLarty
  • 11.1k
  • 37
  • 79

Can one measure the infeasibility of four color proofs?

Terms like "impractical" and "unfeasible" are used to say the Robertson, Sanders, Seymour, and Thomas proof of the four color theorem needs computer assistance. Obviously no precise measure is possible, for many reasons.

But is there an informed rough estimate what a graph theorist would need to verify the 633 reducible configurations in that proof? $10^4$ hours? $10^8$ years?

I am not asking if other proofs are known. I want to know if graph theorists have an idea what scale of practicality we are talking about when we say the Robertson, Sanders, Seymour, and Thomas proof is impractical without machine assistance.

Colin McLarty
  • 11.1k
  • 37
  • 79