In
mathematics, a tangle is generally one of two related concepts:
* In
John Conway's definition, an ''n''-tangle is a proper
embedding
In mathematics, an embedding (or imbedding) is one instance of some mathematical structure contained within another instance, such as a group that is a subgroup.
When some object X is said to be embedded in another object Y, the embedding is g ...
of the disjoint union of ''n'' arcs into a
3-ball; the embedding must send the endpoints of the arcs to 2''n'' marked points on the ball's boundary.
* In
link theory, a tangle is an embedding of ''n'' arcs and ''m'' circles into