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Sam Nead
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The closure of a non-rational four-tangle can yield an unknot.

Here is one family of examples. Start with a two-tangle (that is, an arc embedded in a three-ball). Double it to obtain a "ribbon four-tangle". The correct closure (capping off parallel ends) yields an unknot.

Sam Nead
  • 28.2k
  • 5
  • 72
  • 133