Related papers: On minimality of two-bridge knots

The slicing degree of a knot $K$ is defined as the smallest integer $k$ such that $K$ is $k$-slice in $\#^n \overline{\mathbb{CP}^2}$ for some $n$. In this paper, we establish bounds for the slicing degrees of knots using Rasmussen's…

In [3] we constructed the parity-biquandle bracket valued in {\em pictures} (linear combinations of $4$-valent graphs). We gave no example of classical links such that the parity-biquandle bracket of which is not trivial. In the present…

Previous work used polygonal realizations of knots to reduce the problem of computing the superbridge number of a realization to a linear programming problem, leading to new sharp upper bounds on the superbridge index of a number of knots.…

A knot $K$ is definite if $|\sigma(K)| = 2g(K)$. We prove that the quotient of a definite periodic knot is definite by considering equivariant minimal genus Seifert surfaces.

Knot mosaics are used to model physical quantum states. The mosaic number of a knot is the smallest integer $m$ such that the knot can be represented as a knot $m$-mosaic. In this paper we establish an upper bound for the crossing number of…

In this paper we give necessary conditions on group presentations, with two generators and one relator, in order to be the group of a virtual knot diagram. Although those conditions are not enough, we use them to determine, completely,…

Cohen, Lowrance, Madras, and Raanes computed the average (absolute value of) signature over all 2-bridge knots with crossing number $c$ by introducing the number $s(c,\sigma)$ of 2-bridge knots of crossing number $c$ and signature $\sigma$.…

A knot type is exchange reducible if an arbitrary closed n-braid representative can be changed to a closed braid of minimum braid index by a finite sequence of braid isotopies, exchange moves and +/- destabilizations. In the manuscript [J…

By Thurston's hyperbolization theorem, irreducible handlebody-knots are classified into three classes: hyperbolic, toroidal, and atoroidal cylindrical. It is known that a non-trivial handlebody-knot of genus two has a finite symmetry group…

The warping sum $e(K)$ of a knot $K$ is the minimal value of the sum of the warping degrees of a minimal diagram of $K$ with both orientations. In this paper, knots $K$ with $e(K) \le 3$ are characterized, and some knots $K$ with $e(K)=4$…

We show that if a knot admits a prime, twist-reduced diagram with at least 4 twist regions and at least 6 crossings per twist region, then every non-trivial Dehn filling of that knot is hyperbolike. A similar statement holds for links. We…

The ribbonlength of a link is a geometric invariant defined as the infimum of the ratio of the length to the width of a folded ribbon realization of the link. In this paper, we prove that if an alternating link admits an alternating diagram…

Positive permutation braids on n strings, which are defined to be positive n-braids where each pair of strings crosses at most once, form the elementary but non-trivial building blocks in many studies of conjugacy in the braid groups. We…

In a previous work, the first and third authors studied a random knot model for all two-bridge knots using billiard table diagrams. Here we present a closed formula for the distribution of the crossing numbers of such random knots. We also…

We show that there is a knot satisfying the property that for each minimal crossing number diagram of the knot and each single crossing of the diagram, changing the crossing results in a diagram for a knot whose unknotting number is at…

In 1981, Duffus, Gould, and Jacobson showed that every connected graph either has a Hamiltonian path, or contains a claw ($K_{1,3}$) or a net (a fixed six-vertex graph) as an induced subgraph. This implies that subject to being connected,…

We define the {\it Wirtinger number} of a link, an invariant closely related to the meridional rank. The Wirtinger number is the minimum number of generators of the fundamental group of the link complement over all meridional presentations…

We calculate the bridge distance for $m$-bridge knots/links in the $3$-sphere with sufficiently complicated $2m$-plat projections. In particular we show that if the underlying braid of the plat has $n - 1$ rows of twists and all its…

We call a knot in the 3-sphere $SU(2)$-simple if all representations of the fundamental group of its complement which map a meridian to a trace-free element in $SU(2)$ are binary dihedral. This is a generalisation of being a 2-bridge knot.…

Let K be a knot in a closed orientable irreducible 3-manifold M and let P be a Heegaard splitting of the knot complement of genus at least two. Suppose Q is a bridge surface for K. Then either \begin{itemize} \item $d(P)\leq 2-\chi(Q-K)$,…