Trefoil knot
| Trefoil | |
|---|---|
| Common name | Overhand knot |
| Arf invariant | 1 |
| Braid length | 3 |
| Braid no. | 2 |
| Bridge no. | 2 |
| Crosscap no. | 1 |
| Crossing no. | 3 |
| Genus | 1 |
| Hyperbolic volume | 0 |
| Stick no. | 6 |
| Tunnel no. | 1 |
| Unknotting no. | 1 |
| Conway notation | [3] |
| A–B notation | 31 |
| Dowker notation | 4, 6, 2 |
| Last / Next | 01 / 41 |
| Other | |
| alternating, torus, fibered, pretzel, prime, knot slice, reversible, tricolorable, twist | |
In knot theory, a branch of mathematics, the trefoil knot is the simplest example of a nontrivial knot. The trefoil can be obtained by joining the two loose ends of a common overhand knot, resulting in a knotted loop. As the simplest knot, the trefoil is fundamental to the study of mathematical knot theory.
The trefoil knot is named after the three-leaf clover (or trefoil) plant.