Polynomial invariants are polynomial

We show that (as conjectured by Lin and Wang) when a Vassiliev invariant of type $m$ is evaluated on a knot projection having $n$ crossings, the result is bounded by a constant times $n^m$. Thus the well known analogy between Vassiliev invariants and polynomials justifies (well, at least {\em explains}) the odd title of this note.

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Published 1 January 1995