Knots are an integral part of our daily lives: we use knots to tie our shoes, to untangle headphone cords, to braid our hair, or to sail on Lake Dunmore. Knot theory uses math to study these knots. One of the most fundamental questions of knot theory is whether or not two knots are the same. Knot invariants are fundamental properties of knots that help us determine the answer to that question. This presentation focuses on two polynomial knot invariants: the Jones polynomial and the Q polynomial. We begin by defining these polynomials and then provide a relationship between the two that proves their relative strengths as invariants.
