The Four Color Theorem does not claim that 4 colors suffice to color a planar map. Instead, 4 colors are sufficient to color any planar graph so that no two vertices connected by an edge are colored with the same color. For any \(n\), there is a map that requires at least \(n\) colors.
Ericsson, whose work is widely cited by 10,000-hours rule proponents like Gladwel’s Outliers, did not claim nor does he endorse the rule. See more discussion at 10,000 hours +/- 10,000 hours .
References
- Four Colors Do Not Suffice. Hudson, Hud; Marcus. The American Mathematical Monthly, Vol. 110, No. 5, May 2003, pages 417 - 423. www.jstor.org . blog.computationalcomplexity.org .
A collection of instances in which I believed something that wasn’t true. A reminder to read not to believe, but to weigh and consider .