The Seven Bridges of Königsberg: A Puzzle That Redefined Mathematics

Have you ever wondered how everyday situations can be connected to mathematical problems? And how investigating such scenarios can lead to the development of new branches of mathematics? One such notable example is the Königsberg bridge problem — a puzzle that sparked the creation of graph theory, a crucial field in contemporary mathematics.

It started with the seemingly simple challenge posed by the people of Königsberg: whether it was possible to walk across all the bridges in the city without repeating any crossings. Exploring such real world scenarios that have inspired the creation, discovery or advancement of captivating mathematics can offer meaningful insights. This way, we can gain a deeper appreciation for the profound impact of these moments on advancing human knowledge.

The story of The Seven Bridges of Königsberg

In the early 18th century, the city of Königsberg in Prussia (present-day Kaliningrad, Russia) was split by the Pregel River (now Pregolya) into two mainland portions, with two large islands in between. The Königsbergers constructed seven bridges to navigate across the different parts of the city.

The digitally enhanced version of the city of Königsberg with the river and seven bridges [source: MacTutor History of Mathematics Archive].

As it often the case in any city, the curious residents of Königsberg were puzzled with a challenging…