A 1-variable unoriented knot polynomial . It satisfies
(1)
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and the skein relationship
(2)
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It also satisfies
(3)
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where is the knot sum and
(4)
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where is the mirror image of . The BLM/Ho polynomials of mutant knots are also identical. Brandt et al. (1986) give a number of interesting properties. For any link with components, is divisible by . If has components, then the lowest power of in is , and
(5)
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where is the HOMFLY polynomial. Also, the degree of is less than the link crossing number of . If is a 2-bridge knot, then
(6)
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where (Kanenobu and Sumi 1993).
The polynomial was subsequently extended to the 2-variable Kauffman polynomial F, which satisfies
(7)
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Brandt et al. (1986) give a listing of polynomials for knots up to 8 crossings and links up to 6 crossings.