What does "Sliceness" mean?

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Sliceness refers to a property of knots in three-dimensional space. A knot is considered "slicely" if it can be represented as a flat shape in four-dimensional space without any twists or turns. This idea helps us understand how knots can be transformed or simplified.

When studying knots, mathematicians look for ways to see if a knot can be untangled or changed into a simpler form. Sliceness is important because it helps in classifying knots and understanding their connections.

Through different techniques and methods, such as using special shapes and patterns, researchers can find out if certain knots can be sliced. Some shapes are more complex than others, which makes finding their sliceness a little tricky.