Color My World
Steven F. Bellenot
Florida State University

Abstract

Of all the major mathematical successes from the last century, the
computer assisted solution to the four color problem is the most
enigmatic. The solving of the four color problem was a major goal of
the graph theory community for 124 years. Its history was filled
with false proofs and false counterexamples. In 1976, Appel and
Haken with programming expert Koch and 1400 hours of main frame
(IBM 360 and 370) computer time gave the first proof. Did the
mathematics community rejoice or was it as if the Grinch had stolen
Christmas?  Since 1976, there have been several new proofs of the
four color problem, all with computer assistance. Since 1976, another
dozen or so mathematical questions have been solved with computer
aid.