Uploaded June 2025 | Updated September 2026, 45 minutes ago
“Can You Cross Every Bridge Exactly Once? A Journey Through the Seven Bridges of Königsberg” featuring MOST Fellow Elena Wang
More than 250 years ago, people in the city of Königsberg (now Kaliningrad, Russia) asked a question about their seven bridges: Is it possible to cross every bridge in the town exactly once without retracing any steps? No one could figure out how to do it. Join us to explore how this simple puzzle led to two brand new kinds of mathematics: graph theory and topology, which help us study connections and networks. Along the way, we’ll learn how to turn real-world problems into mathematical ones, discover the power of a well-posed question, and even prove why some puzzles have no solution at all. Get ready to think like a mathematician and walk through history — without getting lost!
MOST provides opportunities for students to explore engaging math with dynamic, early-career female mathematicians. To learn more about MOST, visit momath.org/most. This program is funded by Simons Foundation International and administered by the Simons Foundation’s Science, Society & Culture division.
“Can You Cross Every Bridge Exactly Once? A Journey Through the Seven Bridges of Königsberg” featuring MOST Fellow Elena Wang
More than 250 years ago, people in the city of Königsberg (now Kaliningrad, Russia) asked a question about their seven bridges: Is it possible to cross every bridge in the town exactly once without retracing any steps? No one could figure out how to do it. Join us to explore how this simple puzzle led to two brand new kinds of mathematics: graph theory and topology, which help us study connections and networks. Along the way, we’ll learn how to turn real-world problems into mathematical ones, discover the power of a well-posed question, and even prove why some puzzles have no solution at all. Get ready to think like a mathematician and walk through history — without getting lost!
MOST provides opportunities for students to explore engaging math with dynamic, early-career female mathematicians. To learn more about MOST, visit momath.org/most. This program is funded by Simons Foundation International and administered by the Simons Foundation’s Science, Society & Culture division.
