Template:Did you know nominations/Circular layout

Circular layout

 * ... that a randomized circular layout of a graph, used for the initial state of the Planarity puzzle, approximates the largest number of edge crossings possible for any layout?
 * Reviewed: Philemon Holland

Created by David Eppstein (talk). Self nominated at 20:00, 24 March 2013 (UTC).


 * Symbol confirmed.svg Article created and nominated 24 March, and is about 4200 characters, satisfying length and date criteria. Article is sourced, but I could only directly verify a few claims, as most sources are paywalled, so I will assume good faith for these. Hook is a reasonable length, but the article does not have a citation for that particular statement. I would suggest an alternate hook, as the average reader is not likely to find this interesting (as with most math-related concepts). I've provided ALT1 and ALT2, which I've already verified in my review. QPQ completed. Good to go. Mind  matrix  16:24, 25 March 2013 (UTC)


 * ALT1: ... that circular layouts are a good fit for communications network topologies such as star or ring networks?
 * ALT2: ... that circular layouts may be used for social network graphs, network topologies, or gene interaction graphs?
 * ALT2 is a generic statement that could be used of any graph drawing style; it says nothing specific about circular layouts. And ALT1 doesn't even give the reader a clue about what kind of thing these layouts are. I wanted to include Planarity in the hook, because I think that is something non-mathematical readers can appreciate.. How about making my original hook less technical by taking the approximation part out, as
 * ALT3 ...that the Planarity puzzle, in which players must untangle a planar graph, uses a circular layout as its starting point?
 * I've struck this temporarily while I look for better sources, though, since your complaint about the hook sourcing is valid: Verbitsky doesn't actually say the layout is circular. —David Eppstein (talk) 17:00, 25 March 2013 (UTC)


 * I'm not attached to my alternate hook suggestions, and I agree they're generic. I'll review any alternate hook you provide. (I did a quick search on Google Scholar, but all references to "planarity" were about the concept "planar graph".) Mind  matrix  17:12, 25 March 2013 (UTC)
 * Sadly, the best source I can find for ALT3 is this blog post from two years ago. It probably does pass the "recognized expert" clause of WP:SPS, but since I wrote it myself, it's a bit embarrassing to use as the hook source. So how about
 * ALT4 ... that circular layouts, in which the nodes of a graph are drawn on a circle, have been used to visualize the cyclic parts of metabolic networks?
 * (Also having the advantage that its source is open access.) —David Eppstein (talk) 18:30, 25 March 2013 (UTC)
 * Heh. Perhaps you can write a blog post specifically about Planarity and circular layouts. The post to which you link makes only superficial mention of the relationship between the two, so I'd be hesitant to link it from the article. Mind  matrix  19:51, 25 March 2013 (UTC)


 * Symbol confirmed.svg ALT4 is good to go. Mind  matrix  19:51, 25 March 2013 (UTC)