Topology

Topology, which is often described as "rubber-sheet geometry," is a branch of geometry that focuses on distortion. Topology describes mathematically the features of a geometric shape that do not change when the shape is twisted, stretched, or squeezed. Tearing, cutting, and combining shapes do not apply to topology. Topology helps to solve problems about determining the number of colors necessary to illustrate maps, about distinguishing the characteristics of knots, and about understanding the structure and behavior of DNA molecules.