All Questions
4 questions
42
votes
2
answers
3k
views
Can one "hear" the shape of a polygon via external reflections?
This question is a rough analog of Kac's "Can One Hear the Shape of a Drum?"
A closer analog is the recent "Bounce Theorem" that says, roughly, the shape of a polygon is determined by its billiard-...
10
votes
0
answers
177
views
Minimum reflection paths in a mirror polygon
Let $P$ be a simple, orthogonal polygon of $n$ edges, i.e., one whose edges meet at right angles,
and is non-self-intersecting;
also known as a rectilinear polygon.
Treat every edge of $P$ as a ...
4
votes
1
answer
330
views
Billiard circuits in pentagons
A billiard circuit in a convex $n$-gon is a closed billiard path
of $n$ segments reflecting from consecutive edges of the polygon.
Every regular $n$-gon has such a billiard circuit:
Recently a ...
4
votes
0
answers
232
views
Illuminating a just-barely irrational polygon
As has been discussed earlier on MO,1,2
recently an impressive advance was proved concerning
internally illuminating a mirrored polygon.
Here is the result:
Let $P$ be a rational polygon.
Then for ...