Skip to main content
Post Undeleted by jcdornano
deleted 5422 characters in body
Source Link
jcdornano
  • 469
  • 2
  • 15

This is an answer to the general question, it shows that the fugitive can win the game with $\delta_N=\delta_3^{N/2}$, and it also give the best $c$ that is definded in the nice previous answer by Pace Nielsen.

[as I did an edit some definitions might not be optimal anymore, and everything can certainly be said quicker, I will make it shorter in a couple of days, but not right now, because I have been notified that edits can affect the reading of the thread]

$\forall A,B\subset \mathbb R^2$, $d(A,B):=\inf(\left\{||a-b||, a\in A, b\in B\right\})$ And $Conv(A)$ is the convex hull of $A$.

$Fr(A)$ the frontier of $A$.

Let $N>0$ be an integer. An officer strategy is any $x:\mathbb R^2\mapsto \mathbb (\mathbb R^2)^N$ , $v\mapsto (x_1(v),...,x_N(v))$ (continuous) fonction such that $\forall u,v\in \mathbb R^2$, $\mathcal D_N(u,v):=||x_1(u)-x_1(v)||+...+||x_K(u)-x_N(v)||\leq ||u-v||$.

Claim : there exists $\delta\in \mathbb R_+$ such that for all officer strategy $x=(x_1,...,x_n)$, $\exists f: \mathbb R_+\to \mathbb R^2$ that is 1-lipschitzian, such that $\forall t\in \mathbb R_+ \forall i\in [N]:=\left\{1,...,N\right\}$$||f(t)-x_i\circ f(t)||=:D(t)\geq D(0)\delta$

We fix $N$ and $x$ such that $\forall i\in [N], ||x_i(0)||\geq 1$ and pose $X_f=X=x\circ f= t\mapsto (X_1(t),...,X_N(t))$.: And also $X^* = \left\{X_1,...,X_N\right\}$ and $X^*(t)=\left\{X_1(t),...,X_N(t)\right\}$.https://math.stackexchange.com/questions/4147724/exemple-of-chassing-puzzles-idea-of-extending-from-the-way-to-solve-create-each/4147833#4147833

It is more convenientJust go to use the continuous paths than alternatives moves with laps etc... but one can easily be convinced that this statement implies the existence of a wining strategy for the fugitive with a $\delta$ that does not depend on the initial configuration.

As it was mentioned in comments, the fugitive (F) will be safe if he is out of $Conv(X^*)$ the convex hull of the set of officer, we can then procede gradually and show that, there is some $\delta'$ such that the fugitive can escape any convex hull of a choosen subset $ Y^*\subset X^*$, and then escape a bigger subset $Y^*\cup Y'^*\subset X^*$ (staying at no more then $\delta'^2$ from everyone) withanswer of the condition that F will never returnquestion in the link $conv(Y^*)$ anymore. (This is what we will call the $Y$-game). Then if in $P$ steps of these kind that will take F gradually out of $conv(X)$, we can deduce that he was able to escape with $\delta'^P$, hence $\delta'^ N$ can be took for our general $\delta$ (and even $\delta'^{(N/2)}$, because one can chose $Y$ to be of maximal cardinal (hense more than $N/2$). Then, it ​is sufficiant to prove that he can win the $Y$-game : i.e. :

$\exists \delta'\in \mathbb R_+$, $\forall Y^*\subset X^*$, $0\notin Conv(Y)$, $\exists t'\in \mathbb R_+$, and $f:\mathbb R_+\to \mathbb R^2$, 1-lipsichian such that $f(0)=0$ and $\forall t\leq t',f(t)\notin Conv(Y^*(t)))$ and $\exists z\in X^*\setminus Y^*$, $f(t')\notin Conv(Y^*(t')\cup \left\{z(t')\right\})$

We will suppose wlog $Y^*$ maximal (for inclusion), i.e . that $f(0)=0\in \bigcap_{z\in X^*\setminus Y^*} Conv(Y^*\cup \left\{z\right\}):=S_Y$ eitherways we have nothing to do and can take $t'=0$. We want $f$ to escape $S_Y$ without even enter in $Conv(Y^*)$. This mean he has to cross a "tangent"no need to the convex hull of the set of the "back officers" $Y^*$, that passes through some "front officer" in $Z=X\setminus Y$. (the convex hull is not smouth so it is not a tangent, but I'll give precize definitions later). The two nearest "tangent" will be the "target" ofread the fugitives. They delimitquestion (together with $Fr(conv(Y^*))$ the "cone like" $S_Y$ that the fugitive is in and that vertex $s_Y$ could be a target too, but there might be a real officer at this place... Note that the fugitive cannot be caught if this vertex is "officer free" and that every officer is into the symetric of the target cone, so itthat is quite intuitive that it should not be very difficult for the fugitive to touch these segments before getting cought, but we nead a bit more :related to prove that he can escape at a distance of more than some $\delta'$ that does not depend on $X$.

Let's then set precizally the definitions that where anounced.

For all $a\in \mathbb R^2$, $A,B\subset \mathbb R^2$

$Tan_A(a)=Fr(Conv(A\cup \left\{a\right\}))\setminus Fr(Conv(A))$

$Tan_A(B)=\bigcup_{b\in B} Tan_A(b)$

There exists $s_A(B)\in \mathbb R^2$ such that $Conv(A\cup \left\{s_A(B)\right\})=\bigcap_{b\in B}Conv(A\cup \left\{b\right\}):=S_A(B)$ we call $target_A(B):=tan_A(s_A(B))=Fr(S_A(B))\setminus (Conv(A))$

By now I will write "$f$ at time $t$,etc." instead of $f(t), etc...$ or just $f, etc...$ when the context is sufficient to dissipate any ambiguity.

If $y\in Y^*$, let's call $\lambda_y$ the line that join $f$ to $y$. And let $D_s$ be the circle of center $f$ and radius $||f-s||$. Let $y_s=D_s\cap \lambda_y$. We can wlog suppose that $s$ is an officer : indeed the speed of $s$ cannot be more than the speed of any officer (equility iff $s$ is an officer). Same statement for any $y_s$. Thus the only case we have to study is that of a circle that unit is $1$ and such that there is a semi-circle (that diametre is say $[ab]$ ) on it that contain only $s$ and no other officer. If $f$ is doing any move in the direction of the middlegeneralization of say $[as]$ that mesure is at most $2^{1/2}$ (unless it is the case for $[bs]$puzzle) then it is easy to see that there exists $\delta'$ such that $f$ at full speed is able to reach the middle at more than $\delta'$ from $s,a$, thus from any officer.

Note that the same argument is still true if we let the sum of officer speed be $(2-\epsilon)\delta$ while a single officer speed is still bounded by $\delta$. Thus the constant $c$ definded inunderstand the firts answer cannot be improvedproof.

This is an answer to the general question, it shows that the fugitive can win the game with $\delta_N=\delta_3^{N/2}$, and it also give the best $c$ that is definded in the nice previous answer by Pace Nielsen.

[as I did an edit some definitions might not be optimal anymore, and everything can certainly be said quicker, I will make it shorter in a couple of days, but not right now, because I have been notified that edits can affect the reading of the thread]

$\forall A,B\subset \mathbb R^2$, $d(A,B):=\inf(\left\{||a-b||, a\in A, b\in B\right\})$ And $Conv(A)$ is the convex hull of $A$.

$Fr(A)$ the frontier of $A$.

Let $N>0$ be an integer. An officer strategy is any $x:\mathbb R^2\mapsto \mathbb (\mathbb R^2)^N$ , $v\mapsto (x_1(v),...,x_N(v))$ (continuous) fonction such that $\forall u,v\in \mathbb R^2$, $\mathcal D_N(u,v):=||x_1(u)-x_1(v)||+...+||x_K(u)-x_N(v)||\leq ||u-v||$.

Claim : there exists $\delta\in \mathbb R_+$ such that for all officer strategy $x=(x_1,...,x_n)$, $\exists f: \mathbb R_+\to \mathbb R^2$ that is 1-lipschitzian, such that $\forall t\in \mathbb R_+ \forall i\in [N]:=\left\{1,...,N\right\}$$||f(t)-x_i\circ f(t)||=:D(t)\geq D(0)\delta$

We fix $N$ and $x$ such that $\forall i\in [N], ||x_i(0)||\geq 1$ and pose $X_f=X=x\circ f= t\mapsto (X_1(t),...,X_N(t))$. And also $X^* = \left\{X_1,...,X_N\right\}$ and $X^*(t)=\left\{X_1(t),...,X_N(t)\right\}$.

It is more convenient to use the continuous paths than alternatives moves with laps etc... but one can easily be convinced that this statement implies the existence of a wining strategy for the fugitive with a $\delta$ that does not depend on the initial configuration.

As it was mentioned in comments, the fugitive (F) will be safe if he is out of $Conv(X^*)$ the convex hull of the set of officer, we can then procede gradually and show that, there is some $\delta'$ such that the fugitive can escape any convex hull of a choosen subset $ Y^*\subset X^*$, and then escape a bigger subset $Y^*\cup Y'^*\subset X^*$ (staying at no more then $\delta'^2$ from everyone) with the condition that F will never return in $conv(Y^*)$ anymore. (This is what we will call the $Y$-game). Then if in $P$ steps of these kind that will take F gradually out of $conv(X)$, we can deduce that he was able to escape with $\delta'^P$, hence $\delta'^ N$ can be took for our general $\delta$ (and even $\delta'^{(N/2)}$, because one can chose $Y$ to be of maximal cardinal (hense more than $N/2$). Then, it ​is sufficiant to prove that he can win the $Y$-game : i.e. :

$\exists \delta'\in \mathbb R_+$, $\forall Y^*\subset X^*$, $0\notin Conv(Y)$, $\exists t'\in \mathbb R_+$, and $f:\mathbb R_+\to \mathbb R^2$, 1-lipsichian such that $f(0)=0$ and $\forall t\leq t',f(t)\notin Conv(Y^*(t)))$ and $\exists z\in X^*\setminus Y^*$, $f(t')\notin Conv(Y^*(t')\cup \left\{z(t')\right\})$

We will suppose wlog $Y^*$ maximal (for inclusion), i.e . that $f(0)=0\in \bigcap_{z\in X^*\setminus Y^*} Conv(Y^*\cup \left\{z\right\}):=S_Y$ eitherways we have nothing to do and can take $t'=0$. We want $f$ to escape $S_Y$ without even enter in $Conv(Y^*)$. This mean he has to cross a "tangent" to the convex hull of the set of the "back officers" $Y^*$, that passes through some "front officer" in $Z=X\setminus Y$. (the convex hull is not smouth so it is not a tangent, but I'll give precize definitions later). The two nearest "tangent" will be the "target" of the fugitives. They delimit (together with $Fr(conv(Y^*))$ the "cone like" $S_Y$ that the fugitive is in and that vertex $s_Y$ could be a target too, but there might be a real officer at this place... Note that the fugitive cannot be caught if this vertex is "officer free" and that every officer is into the symetric of the target cone, so it is quite intuitive that it should not be very difficult for the fugitive to touch these segments before getting cought, but we nead a bit more : to prove that he can escape at a distance of more than some $\delta'$ that does not depend on $X$.

Let's then set precizally the definitions that where anounced.

For all $a\in \mathbb R^2$, $A,B\subset \mathbb R^2$

$Tan_A(a)=Fr(Conv(A\cup \left\{a\right\}))\setminus Fr(Conv(A))$

$Tan_A(B)=\bigcup_{b\in B} Tan_A(b)$

There exists $s_A(B)\in \mathbb R^2$ such that $Conv(A\cup \left\{s_A(B)\right\})=\bigcap_{b\in B}Conv(A\cup \left\{b\right\}):=S_A(B)$ we call $target_A(B):=tan_A(s_A(B))=Fr(S_A(B))\setminus (Conv(A))$

By now I will write "$f$ at time $t$,etc." instead of $f(t), etc...$ or just $f, etc...$ when the context is sufficient to dissipate any ambiguity.

If $y\in Y^*$, let's call $\lambda_y$ the line that join $f$ to $y$. And let $D_s$ be the circle of center $f$ and radius $||f-s||$. Let $y_s=D_s\cap \lambda_y$. We can wlog suppose that $s$ is an officer : indeed the speed of $s$ cannot be more than the speed of any officer (equility iff $s$ is an officer). Same statement for any $y_s$. Thus the only case we have to study is that of a circle that unit is $1$ and such that there is a semi-circle (that diametre is say $[ab]$ ) on it that contain only $s$ and no other officer. If $f$ is doing any move in the direction of the middle of say $[as]$ that mesure is at most $2^{1/2}$ (unless it is the case for $[bs]$) then it is easy to see that there exists $\delta'$ such that $f$ at full speed is able to reach the middle at more than $\delta'$ from $s,a$, thus from any officer.

Note that the same argument is still true if we let the sum of officer speed be $(2-\epsilon)\delta$ while a single officer speed is still bounded by $\delta$. Thus the constant $c$ definded in the firts answer cannot be improved.

This is the answer : https://math.stackexchange.com/questions/4147724/exemple-of-chassing-puzzles-idea-of-extending-from-the-way-to-solve-create-each/4147833#4147833

Just go to the answer of the question in the link, no need to read the question (that is related to some generalization of the puzzle) to understand the proof.

Post Deleted by jcdornano
Typos at the bigining that has if not edited would compromize the understanding
Source Link
jcdornano
  • 469
  • 2
  • 15

Let $N>0$ be an integer. An officer strategy is any $x:\mathbb R^2\mapsto \mathbb (\mathbb R^2)^N$ , $v\mapsto (x_1(v),...,x_N(v))$ (continuous) fonction such that $\forall u,t\in \mathbb R^N$$\forall u,v\in \mathbb R^2$, $\mathcal D_N(u,v):=||x_1(u)-x_1(v)||+...+||x_K(u)-x_N(v)||\leq ||u-v||$.

Let $N>0$ be an integer. An officer strategy is any $x:\mathbb R^2\mapsto \mathbb (\mathbb R^2)^N$ , $v\mapsto (x_1(v),...,x_N(v))$ (continuous) fonction such that $\forall u,t\in \mathbb R^N$, $\mathcal D_N(u,v):=||x_1(u)-x_1(v)||+...+||x_K(u)-x_N(v)||\leq ||u-v||$.

Let $N>0$ be an integer. An officer strategy is any $x:\mathbb R^2\mapsto \mathbb (\mathbb R^2)^N$ , $v\mapsto (x_1(v),...,x_N(v))$ (continuous) fonction such that $\forall u,v\in \mathbb R^2$, $\mathcal D_N(u,v):=||x_1(u)-x_1(v)||+...+||x_K(u)-x_N(v)||\leq ||u-v||$.

clarifying an accuracy, and make the argument clearer and shorter
Source Link
jcdornano
  • 469
  • 2
  • 15

This is an attempt to respond positivallyanswer to the general question, hope thereit shows that the fugitive can win the game with $\delta_N=\delta_3^{N/2}$, and it also give the best $c$ that is no mistake..definded in the nice previous answer by Pace Nielsen.

[as I did an edit some definitions might not be optimal anymore, and everything can certainly be said quicker, I will make it shorter in a couple of days, but not right now, because I have been notified that edits can affect the reading of the thread]

It is more convenient to use the continouscontinuous paths than alternatives moves with laps etc... but one can easily be convinced that this statement implies the existence of a wining strategy for the fugitive with a $\delta$ that does not depend on the initial configuration.

As it was mentioned in comments, the fugitive (F) will be safe if he is out of $Conv(X^*)$ the convex hull of the set of officer, we can then procede gradually and show that, there is some $\delta'$ such that the fugitive can escape any convex hull of a choosen subset $ Y^*\subset X^*$, and then escape a bigger subset $Y^*\cup Y'^*\subset X^*$ (staying at no more then $\delta'^2$ from everyone) with the condition that F will never return in $conv(Y^*)$ anymore. Then(This is what we will call the $Y$-game). Then if in $P$ steps of these kind that will take F gradually out of $conv(X)$, we can deduce that he was able to escape with $\delta'^P$, hence $\delta'^ N$ can be took for our general $\delta$ (and even $\delta'^{(N/2)}$, because one can chose $Y$ to be of maximal cardinal (hense more than $N/2$). Then, it ​is sufficiant to prove that he can win the $Y$-game : i.e. :

We will suppose wlog $Y$$Y^*$ maximal (for inclusion), i.e . that $f(0)=0\in \bigcap_{z\in X^*\setminus Y^*} Conv(Y^*\cup \left\{z\right\}):=S_Y$ eitherways we have nothing to do and can take $t'=0$. We want $f$ to escape $S_Y$ without even enter in $Conv(Y^*)$. This mean he has to cross a "tangent" to the convex hull of the set of the "back officers" $Y^*$, that passes through some "front officer" in $Z=X\setminus Y$. (the convex hull is not smouth so it is not a tangent, but I'll give precize definitions later). The two nearest "tangent" will be the "target" of the fugitives. They delimit (together with $Fr(conv(Y^*))$ the "cone like" $S_Y$ that the fugitive is in and that vertex $s_Y$ could be a target too, but there might be a real officer at this place... Note that the fugitive cannot be caught if this vertex is "officer free" and that every officer is into the symetric of the target cone, so it is quite intuitive that it should not be very difficult for the fugitive to touch these segments before getting cought, but we nead a bit more : to prove that he can escape at a distance of more than some $\delta'$ that does not depend on $X$.

By now I write $X,Y,Z,...$ instead of $X^*,Y^*,Z^*,...$ as soon as there is no danger of confusion. I will also write write "$X$$f$ at time $t$,etc." instead of $X(t)$, etc...and if not precized it implies that it is "for some $t\in \mathbb R^2$",$f(t), etc...$ or $at the time thatjust $f, etc...$ when the situation occures"context is sufficient to dissipate any ambiguity.

Fugitive is going to followIf $y\in Y^*$, let's call $\lambda_y$ the line $\lambda_0:= (0s(0))$ inthat join $f$ to $y$. And let $D_s$ be the directioncircle of center $s(0):=s_{Y(0)}(Z(0))$ until he get to distance$f$ and radius $1/4$ from$||f-s||$. Let $Z$$y_s=D_s\cap \lambda_y$. Of course if before that he crosses $target_Y(Z)$ at some point he We can stop because he has win the "$Y$-game."

So let'swlog suppose that he$s$ is exactly at a distancean officer $1/4=d(f,Z)$ from,say: indeed the speed of $z_0\in Z$$s$ cannot be more than the nearestspeed of any officer $z_0$ (it is possible because $f$ and $X$ are continuousequility iff (lipschitzian) fonctions$s$ is an officer)

We distinguish two cases

  1. At this time $t_0$, $s(t_0)= z_0(t_0)$

Then the. Same statement for any $d_0:=d(Tan_Y(z_0),f)<1/4$, and as$y_s$. Thus the angles defined by $Tan_Y(z_0)$only case we have to study is always smaller than that of the semi-lines of $Tan_Y(f)$ the fugitive can go perpendiculary from $z_0$ at each time soa circle that if he choses the right side (left/right) he get away from $z_0$ will without getting nearerunit is $Y$$1$ and such that there is a semi-circle (that diametre is at more thansay $1/2$ distance) while$[ab]$ $d_0$ is decreasing) on it that contain only , even worse if$s$ and no other officer. If $Y$$f$ is moving. Neverthe lessdoing any move in the speeddirection of decreasionthe middle of $d_0$ might not be fast ifsay $z_0$$[as]$ that mesure is going "away" (eventually combining withat most $Y$$2^{1/2}$ (hopeless**unless it is the case for $[bs]$) moves but then at some point $f$ will some $Tan_Y(z_1)$ or crossit is easy to see that there exists $Tan_Y(z_0)$

**Indeed$\delta'$ such that $Y$$f$ at full speed is more far so their moves have less incidence on the "front" of the line they carry than the neighbours of the front according to Thales theorem, and nevertheless they give some advanceable to reach the fugitive.

  1. $s(t_0)\ne z_0(t_0)$ same idea : he take the perpendicular to $(fz_0)$ to get closer to the tangant of $z_0$ that not make him nearer than $Y$. It is even worse for officers because $d(f,Target_Y)<d_0$ and one of $target_Y$ or $tan_Y(z_0)$ is moving less than half of the speed of $f$. Then we can take $\delta = 1/4$.

In conclusion we can repeat this operation notmiddle at more than $N/2$ times (if we take$\delta'$ from $Y$ "maximal" not only for inclusion but according its cardinality)$s,a$, thus from any officer.

ThenNote that the same argument is still true if we can takelet the sum of officer speed be $\delta=2^{-N}$$(2-\epsilon)\delta$ while a single officer speed is still bounded by $\delta$. Thus the constant $c$ definded in the firts answer cannot be improved.

This is an attempt to respond positivally to the question, hope there is no mistake...

It is more convenient to use the continous paths than alternatives moves with laps etc... but one can easily be convinced that this statement implies the existence of a wining strategy for the fugitive with a $\delta$ that does not depend on the initial configuration.

As it was mentioned in comments, the fugitive (F) will be safe if he is out of $Conv(X^*)$ the convex hull of the set of officer, we can then procede gradually and show that, there is some $\delta'$ such that the fugitive can escape any convex hull of a choosen subset $ Y^*\subset X^*$, and then escape a bigger subset $Y^*\cup Y'^*\subset X^*$ (staying at no more then $\delta'^2$ from everyone) with the condition that F will never return in $conv(Y^*)$ anymore. Then if in $P$ steps of these kind that will take F gradually out of $conv(X)$, we can deduce that he was able to escape with $\delta'^P$, hence $\delta'^ N$ can be took for our general $\delta$ (and even $\delta'^{(N/2)}$, because one can chose $Y$ to be of maximal cardinal (hense more than $N/2$). Then, it ​is sufficiant to prove that he can win the $Y$-game : i.e. :

We will suppose wlog $Y$ maximal (for inclusion), i.e . that $f(0)=0\in \bigcap_{z\in X^*\setminus Y^*} Conv(Y^*\cup \left\{z\right\}):=S_Y$ eitherways we have nothing to do and can take $t'=0$. We want $f$ to escape $S_Y$ without even enter in $Conv(Y^*)$. This mean he has to cross a "tangent" to the convex hull of the set of the "back officers" $Y^*$, that passes through some "front officer" in $Z=X\setminus Y$. (the convex hull is not smouth so it is not a tangent, but I'll give precize definitions later). The two nearest "tangent" will be the "target" of the fugitives. They delimit (together with $Fr(conv(Y^*))$ the "cone like" $S_Y$ that the fugitive is in and that vertex $s_Y$ could be a target too, but there might be a real officer at this place... Note that the fugitive cannot be caught if this vertex is "officer free" and that every officer is into the symetric of the target cone, so it is quite intuitive that it should not be very difficult for the fugitive to touch these segments before getting cought, but we nead a bit more : to prove that he can escape at a distance of more than some $\delta'$ that does not depend on $X$.

By now I write $X,Y,Z,...$ instead of $X^*,Y^*,Z^*,...$ as soon as there is no danger of confusion. I will also write "$X$ at time $t$" instead of $X(t)$, etc...and if not precized it implies that it is "for some $t\in \mathbb R^2$", or $at the time that the situation occures".

Fugitive is going to follow the line $\lambda_0:= (0s(0))$ in the direction of $s(0):=s_{Y(0)}(Z(0))$ until he get to distance $1/4$ from $Z$. Of course if before that he crosses $target_Y(Z)$ at some point he can stop because he has win the "$Y$-game."

So let's suppose that he is exactly at a distance $1/4=d(f,Z)$ from,say $z_0\in Z$ the nearest officer $z_0$ (it is possible because $f$ and $X$ are continuous (lipschitzian) fonctions)

We distinguish two cases

  1. At this time $t_0$, $s(t_0)= z_0(t_0)$

Then the $d_0:=d(Tan_Y(z_0),f)<1/4$, and as the angles defined by $Tan_Y(z_0)$ is always smaller than that of the semi-lines of $Tan_Y(f)$ the fugitive can go perpendiculary from $z_0$ at each time so that if he choses the right side (left/right) he get away from $z_0$ will without getting nearer $Y$ (that is at more than $1/2$ distance) while $d_0$ is decreasing , even worse if $Y$ is moving. Neverthe less the speed of decreasion of $d_0$ might not be fast if $z_0$ is going "away" (eventually combining with $Y$ (hopeless**) moves but then at some point $f$ will some $Tan_Y(z_1)$ or cross $Tan_Y(z_0)$

**Indeed $Y$ is more far so their moves have less incidence on the "front" of the line they carry than the neighbours of the front according to Thales theorem, and nevertheless they give some advance to the fugitive.

  1. $s(t_0)\ne z_0(t_0)$ same idea : he take the perpendicular to $(fz_0)$ to get closer to the tangant of $z_0$ that not make him nearer than $Y$. It is even worse for officers because $d(f,Target_Y)<d_0$ and one of $target_Y$ or $tan_Y(z_0)$ is moving less than half of the speed of $f$. Then we can take $\delta = 1/4$.

In conclusion we can repeat this operation not more than $N/2$ times (if we take $Y$ "maximal" not only for inclusion but according its cardinality)

Then we can take $\delta=2^{-N}$

This is an answer to the general question, it shows that the fugitive can win the game with $\delta_N=\delta_3^{N/2}$, and it also give the best $c$ that is definded in the nice previous answer by Pace Nielsen.

[as I did an edit some definitions might not be optimal anymore, and everything can certainly be said quicker, I will make it shorter in a couple of days, but not right now, because I have been notified that edits can affect the reading of the thread]

It is more convenient to use the continuous paths than alternatives moves with laps etc... but one can easily be convinced that this statement implies the existence of a wining strategy for the fugitive with a $\delta$ that does not depend on the initial configuration.

As it was mentioned in comments, the fugitive (F) will be safe if he is out of $Conv(X^*)$ the convex hull of the set of officer, we can then procede gradually and show that, there is some $\delta'$ such that the fugitive can escape any convex hull of a choosen subset $ Y^*\subset X^*$, and then escape a bigger subset $Y^*\cup Y'^*\subset X^*$ (staying at no more then $\delta'^2$ from everyone) with the condition that F will never return in $conv(Y^*)$ anymore. (This is what we will call the $Y$-game). Then if in $P$ steps of these kind that will take F gradually out of $conv(X)$, we can deduce that he was able to escape with $\delta'^P$, hence $\delta'^ N$ can be took for our general $\delta$ (and even $\delta'^{(N/2)}$, because one can chose $Y$ to be of maximal cardinal (hense more than $N/2$). Then, it ​is sufficiant to prove that he can win the $Y$-game : i.e. :

We will suppose wlog $Y^*$ maximal (for inclusion), i.e . that $f(0)=0\in \bigcap_{z\in X^*\setminus Y^*} Conv(Y^*\cup \left\{z\right\}):=S_Y$ eitherways we have nothing to do and can take $t'=0$. We want $f$ to escape $S_Y$ without even enter in $Conv(Y^*)$. This mean he has to cross a "tangent" to the convex hull of the set of the "back officers" $Y^*$, that passes through some "front officer" in $Z=X\setminus Y$. (the convex hull is not smouth so it is not a tangent, but I'll give precize definitions later). The two nearest "tangent" will be the "target" of the fugitives. They delimit (together with $Fr(conv(Y^*))$ the "cone like" $S_Y$ that the fugitive is in and that vertex $s_Y$ could be a target too, but there might be a real officer at this place... Note that the fugitive cannot be caught if this vertex is "officer free" and that every officer is into the symetric of the target cone, so it is quite intuitive that it should not be very difficult for the fugitive to touch these segments before getting cought, but we nead a bit more : to prove that he can escape at a distance of more than some $\delta'$ that does not depend on $X$.

By now I will write "$f$ at time $t$,etc." instead of $f(t), etc...$ or just $f, etc...$ when the context is sufficient to dissipate any ambiguity.

If $y\in Y^*$, let's call $\lambda_y$ the line that join $f$ to $y$. And let $D_s$ be the circle of center $f$ and radius $||f-s||$. Let $y_s=D_s\cap \lambda_y$. We can wlog suppose that $s$ is an officer : indeed the speed of $s$ cannot be more than the speed of any officer (equility iff $s$ is an officer). Same statement for any $y_s$. Thus the only case we have to study is that of a circle that unit is $1$ and such that there is a semi-circle (that diametre is say $[ab]$ ) on it that contain only $s$ and no other officer. If $f$ is doing any move in the direction of the middle of say $[as]$ that mesure is at most $2^{1/2}$ (unless it is the case for $[bs]$) then it is easy to see that there exists $\delta'$ such that $f$ at full speed is able to reach the middle at more than $\delta'$ from $s,a$, thus from any officer.

Note that the same argument is still true if we let the sum of officer speed be $(2-\epsilon)\delta$ while a single officer speed is still bounded by $\delta$. Thus the constant $c$ definded in the firts answer cannot be improved.

typos
Source Link
jcdornano
  • 469
  • 2
  • 15
Loading
Source Link
jcdornano
  • 469
  • 2
  • 15
Loading