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A Powerful New 'QR Code' Untangles Math's Knottiest Knots quantamagazine.org

latexr2 hours ago

Their use of “QR Code” is mighty confusing. QR (Quick Response) Codes are something specific that people are familiar with. These don’t share any characteristics apart from being images which represent something else. They’re not even the same colour or shape. Just call them “knot codes” or something.

somethingsome2 hours ago

I mean... There is a 1-1 mapping, and they look kinda like QR codes. so technically, you can make an app that scan it and it will show you the corresponding polynomial.. It could even be useful for fast checking knots

Hendriktoan hour ago

> There is a 1-1 mapping

It is strong, but not 1 to 1:

> Tubbenhauer computed, for instance, that the invariant uniquely identifies more than 97% of the knots with 18 crossings.

tromp36 minutes ago

Since they said "the corresponding polynomial", they must mean the mapping between the colored hexagons and the knot polynomials.

latexr2 hours ago

> mapping

Which I not only mentioned in my comment, it is not even slightly unique to QR codes.

> they look kinda like QR codes

In what way? QR Codes are black and white, square, and asymmetrical. These are colourful, hexagonal, and symmetrical. By that token, a 16th century tile also “looks kinda like a QR Code”.

I very much doubt you could show one of these to someone, ask them what they are, and that they would answer “QR Code”. They don’t look alike at all.

MattPalmer10863 hours ago

Interesting article. I love it when maths gives us some beautiful visuals too.

graphememesan hour ago

this was so confusing at first not going to lie

larodi3 hours ago

Love them knots! The sudoku of the universe :)

ButlerianJihad39 minutes ago

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/QR_code#License

  The text QR Code itself is a registered trademark and wordmark of Denso Wave Incorporated.[107] 
Yeah this publication needs a legal team

jagged-chisel3 minutes ago

This is the most non-sensical comment here. That’s not at all how trademarks work.

“Whoa! Some article said this mail app is an ‘Outlook’ for TempleOS! Better call the Microsoft lawyers.”

No, you’re allowed to compare products and ideas and mention their trademarked names without fear of legal issues.

Did the researchers name these “QR codes?”

mfgadv99an hour ago

[dead]

charcircuit3 hours ago

This is not a new QR code, nor is it powerful. It's worse in every way and is not really even a code.

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