Wolfgang Haken

Wolfgang Haken was a mathematician known for his work in topology, particularly in solving the long-standing Four Color Theorem. This theorem states that any map can be colored with just four colors so that no two adjacent regions share the same color. Haken, along with his colleague Kenneth Appel, was the first to provide a computer-assisted proof in 1976, demonstrating that such a coloring is always possible. His work significantly advanced the understanding of graph theory and computational mathematics, highlighting how computers can assist in proving complex mathematical problems.