A note on unknotting number

Abstract

For a classical knot K in the 3-shere, the unknotting number u ( K ) is defined to be the smallest number of crossing changes required to obtain the unknot, the minimum taken over all the regular projections. This dependence on projection makes the unknotting number a difficult knot invariant. While some algebriac methods exist to give a lower bound for u ( K ) the unknotting number for approximately one-sixth of the 84 knots with nine or fewer crossings remains unddetermined, see [ 9 ] or [ 7 ]. For an upper bound, one is usually forced to intellgently experiment knotting various projections of the knot under study. Usual practice is to work with a minimal crossingprojection; indeed, it has long been a ‘folk’ conjecture that the unknotting number is realized in such a projection ([ 5 ], p. 21). This note shows by example that this conjecture is false. This remarkable knot is rational, i.e. a 2-bridge knot, and hence alternating. Thus there is also the surprising result that the unknotting number of an alternating kniot is not necessarily realized in a minimal alternating projecting.