The second knot polynomial discovered. Unlike the first-discovered Alexander polynomial, the Jones polynomial can sometimes distinguish handedness (as can its more powerful generalization, the HOMFLY polynomial). Jones polynomials are Laurent polynomials in t assigned to an R^3 knot. The Jones polynomials are denoted V_L(t) for links, V_K(t) for knots, and normalized so that V_unknot(t) = 1. For example, the right-hand and left-hand trefoil knots have polynomials V_trefoil(t) | = | t + t^3 - t^4 V_trefoil^*(t) | = | t^(-1) + t^(-3) - t^(-4), respectively.

Alexander polynomial | HOMFLY polynomial | Kauffman polynomial F | knot | link | Vassiliev invariant