CHRISTMAS LIGHTS: KNOT A PROBLEM
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass., Dec. 17, 2001--Got your Christmas decorations in hand? Or has the annual showdown with the impossible tangle of Christmas tree lights got you flummoxed?
Why, are you asking yourself--as you stand face-to-face with the malevolent knot--didn't I just take the time last year to coil these strands in an organized way to avoid this mess?
Have no fear; Colin Adams can help.
Adams, the Francis C. Oakley Third Century Professor of Mathematics and Statistics at Williams College and author of "The Knot Book: An Elementary Introduction to the Mathematical Theory of Knots" offers some sage advice about how to untangle those pesky strands.
Adams, who was recently interviewed by Josh Pevin author of the "Worst Case Scenario" series, called upon science and Knot Theory to help conquer the tangle.
"Even if tempted," Adams said, "Do not attempt to untangle the lights from the center of the knotted mass: this method has little chance of working."
In addition to this, it is wise to avoid making new knots in the free end, even if you think it will help.
"A theorem proved by H. Schubert in 1953 says that there are no inverses for knots," Adams said. You are on the right path, however, if the free end continues to get longer.
"Even if it seems the tangle is getting more severe," he says, "if the knot-free section is lengthening you will ultimately succeed."
But even with the help of science, the prospect of spending hours untangling Christmas lights can send even the most jolly decorator into a bah-humbug fury. To those people, Adams simply says: "Consider buying new lights unless the lights have sentimental value." Good Christmas advice from a practical mathematician.
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Contact Jo Procter, college news directorDirect phone line: (413) 597-4279email: [email protected]
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