Questions tagged [computational-geometry]
Using computers to solve geometric problems. Questions with this tag should typically have at least one other tag indicating what sort of geometry is involved, such as ag.algebraic-geometry or mg.metric-geometry.
67 questions
15
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Given the vertices of a convex polytope, how can we construct its half-space representation?
Let us say I have the vertices of a polytope $V = \{v_1,\dots,v_k\} \subset \mathbb R^n$. Is it possible to write $V$ as intersection of half-spaces using the information from the vertices, i.e., can ...
11
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3
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Random Sampling a linearly constrained region in n-dimensions...
Hi,
So here is my problem:
Given a nonlinear, discontinous, cost function $f(x_1,x_2,..,x_N)$ along with linear constraints $x_n \ge 0, \forall n$
$x_n \le c_n$
and $\sum_{n=1}^N x_n = 1$ find an ...
1
vote
1
answer
144
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On convex polygons contained in convex polygons
In what follows '$n$-gon' stands for '$n$-vertex polygonal region'.
Question: Given a convex $n$-gon $C$, find the smallest convex region $R$ such that $C$ is the smallest $n$-gon that contains it.
...
27
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3
answers
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Can squares of side 1/2, 1/3, 1/4, … be packed into three quarters of a unit square?
My question is prompted by this illustration from Eugenia Cheng’s book Beyond Infinity, where it appears in reference to the Basel problem.
Is it known whether the infinite set of squares of side $\...
20
votes
2
answers
25k
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Partitioning a polygon into convex parts
I'm looking for an algorithm to partition any simple closed polygon into convex sub-polygons--preferably as few as possible.
I know almost nothing about this subject, so I've been searching on Google ...
14
votes
2
answers
540
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Are all well behaved "mean" functions on $\mathbb{R}^+$ equivalent?
Given a set $S$, a function $M: S\times S \rightarrow S$ is a mean if it satisfies the properties:
$M(a,a)=a\qquad$ (identity)
$M(a,b)=M(b,a)\qquad$ (commutativity).
and possibly
$M(M(a,b),M(a,c))=...
14
votes
2
answers
637
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Tarski-Seidenberg for strict inequalities and bounded quantification
This theorem says that quantifiers over real variables can be eliminated from classical first order formulae built from equations and inequalities between polynomials with rational coefficients, ie in ...
13
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3
answers
1k
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(non-)existence of the aperiodic monotile
The aperiodic monotile problem asks whether there exists a single tile that every tiling of the plane made with it results non-periodic. What is known about this problem? If this tile exists, how can ...
11
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2
answers
3k
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Algorithm for embedding a graph with metric constraints
Suppose I have a graph $G$ with vertex set $V$, edge set $E \subseteq {V \choose 2}$, a poistive integer $d$, and a weight function $w:E \to \mathbb{R}^{+}$. Is there a nice algorithmic way to decide ...
7
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2
answers
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Conic hulls and cones
Suppose I have a number of vectors in $\mathbb{R}^n.$ The first question is: what is the most efficient algorithm to compute their "conic hull" (the minimal convex cone which contains them)? The next ...
6
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1
answer
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Given a set of 2D vertices, how to create a minimum-area polygon which contains all the given vertices?
Not sure whether this question belongs here or math.stackexchange.
You can assume that all the vertices are unique. The given vertices can be the vertices of the polygon, thus they do NOT have to be ...
5
votes
1
answer
156
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On folding a polygonal sheet
Consider a polygonal sheet $P$ of area $A$ with $N$ vertices (it material is not stretchable or tearable). Let $n$ be a positive integer >=2.
Question: Let $P$ lie on a flat plane. We need to fold ...
3
votes
0
answers
141
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Optimal intersections between planar convex regions
Here is an earlier discussion that could be related:
On comparing planar convex regions of equal perimeter and area
We are broadly interested in placing two given planar convex regions so that the ...
2
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1
answer
586
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Inverse Problem for Pullback
Let $M$ and $N$ be smooth manifolds and $T: M \to N$ be a smooth map. Let $ \mathcal{F}(M,\mathbb{R})$ (resp.$ \mathcal{F}(N,\mathbb{R})$) denote the space of smooth functions from $M$ (resp. $N$) ...
1
vote
1
answer
130
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Computational Geometric Aspects of Greedy Tour Expansion
Has the following problem already been investigated from the Computational Geometry point of view and what are the results regarding worst case complexity?
Given
a finite set $\mathcal{P}...
1
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1
answer
208
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On a possible variant of Monsky's theorem
See Wikipedia for Monsky's theorem which states: it is not possible to dissect a square into an odd number of triangles all of equal area.
Questions: Are there quadrilaterals that allow partition into ...
32
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4
answers
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Computational software in Algebraic Topology?
I was wondering if there is any good software out there that allows you to do specific computations in algebraic topology. For example:
Create a simplicial complex/set and ask questions about its ...
17
votes
2
answers
2k
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Efficiently determine if convex hull contains the unit ball
Given a set of $n$ points in $\mathbb{R}^d$, is there an algorithm to determine if the convex hull contains the unit ball centered at the origin in polynomial time (in both $n$ and $d$)? The convex ...
16
votes
2
answers
5k
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Weighted area of a Voronoi cell
Let $X = \{ x_1,\dots,x_n\} $ denote a set of $n$ points in the unit square $S = [0,1]\times[0,1]$, and let $w = \{w_1,\dots,w_n\}$ denote a set of weights corresponding to the $n$ points in $X$. ...
12
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2
answers
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Covering a polygon with rectangles
I am trying to cover a simple concave polygon with a minimum rectangles. My rectangles can be any length, but they have maximum widths, and the polygon will never have an acute angle.
I thought about ...
11
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3
answers
960
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Algorithms in Invariant Theory
Let $V$ be a polynomial representation of the general linear group $\Gamma:=\DeclareMathOperator{\Gl}{Gl}\Gl_n(\newcommand{\C}{\mathbb C}\C)$.
In chapter 4.6 of his book "Algorithms in Invariant ...
10
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3
answers
757
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Degree of generators of irreducible components
Let $V$ be a Zariski-closed subset of $\mathbb{A}^n_k$, where $k$ is an algebraically closed field. Assume that $V$ may be defined by polynomials of degree at most $d$ (or to put it otherwise $V$ is ...
10
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2
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Random Voronoi Diagrams
I'm interested in what research has already been done with regards to the statistics of random voronoi diagrams. I have had a look on google scholar and results are a little inconclusive. I'm ...
10
votes
1
answer
565
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The intersection of two $l_1$ balls
Let $B_1$ and $B_2$ be two balls in $\mathbb{R}^n$ with respect to the $l_1$ norm that have different radii and different centers. Is there an upper bound for the number of vertices that $B_1\cap B_2$...
10
votes
1
answer
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Computionally efficient vertex enumeration for (convex) polytopes
Let $P \subseteq \mathbb{R}^d$ be an $\mathcal{H}$-polytope. The vertex enumeration problem asks for the set of vertices $V$ of $P$. Theoretically, the vertex enumeration problem for $P$ can be ...
10
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0
answers
441
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A new $\ell_p$-metric on the hyperspace of finite sets?
Let $(X,d)$ be a metric space and $Fin(X)$ be the family of all non-empty finite subsets of $X$. For every $n\in\mathbb N$ the elements of the power $X^n$ are thought as functions $f:n\to X$ where $n:=...
9
votes
5
answers
13k
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Get a point inside a polygon
I have a 2D polygon of arbitrary geometry. I need to find any point that is inside of that polygon. Taking the center won't work, because the polygon might not be convex. Is there a way to quickly ...
8
votes
1
answer
10k
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Subtract Rectangle from Polygon
I'm looking for an algorithm that will subtract a rectangle from a simple, concave polygon and return a remainder of polygons. If the rectangle encloses the polygon, the remainder is null. In most ...
8
votes
2
answers
752
views
Are point sets of the same order type connected by continuous (order type)-preserving motion?
Given two general position point sets in $\mathbb{R}^2$ of the same size and order type, is it possible to continuously move the points of one set until they coincide with those of the other set in ...
8
votes
2
answers
339
views
Angle subtended by the shortest segment that bisects the area of a convex polygon
Let $C$ be a convex polygon in the plane and let $s$ be the shortest line segment (I believe this is called a "chord") that divides the area of $C$ in half. What is the smallest angle that $s$ could ...
7
votes
4
answers
706
views
A quick algorithm for calculating the $\ell_1$-distance between two finite sets on the real line?
For two non-empty finite sets $A,B$ in the real line define the $\ell_1$-distance $d_1(A,B)$ between $A$ and $B$ as the smallest Lebesgue measure of a closed subset $\Gamma\subset \mathbb R$ such that ...
7
votes
1
answer
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Any reference to an algorithm for finding the largest empty circle on a sphere (with great-circle distance)?
Given a set $S$ of 2D points in the plane, there are known algorithms for finding the largest empty circle ($LEC$) of the set of points.
The $LEC$ problem is stated in this way: find a $LEC$ whose ...
7
votes
2
answers
1k
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Is a given point in the interior of the convex hull of a given finite collection of points?
Suppose I have the convex hull $P$ of a finite collection of points in $\mathbb{R}^d,$ and I want to see whether a point $p$ is contained in $P.$ This is a standard (some would say the standard linear ...
6
votes
1
answer
375
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Desargues ten point configuration $D_{10}$ in LaTeX
I want to draw the Desargues configuration $10_3$ in LaTeX using the standard picture environment, which allows only lines with the slopes $n:m$ where $\max\{|n|,|m|\}\le 6$. Is it possible? If not, ...
6
votes
2
answers
189
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Finding the point within a convex n-gon that maximizes the least angle subtended there by an edge of the n-gon
For any point P in the interior of a convex polygon, the sum of the angles subtended by the edges of the polygon is obviously 2π.
Given a convex polygon, how does one algorithmically find the point (...
6
votes
0
answers
157
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On cutting disks from planar regions
Question: Given a planar region $R$ of unit area and an integer $n$, to cut $n$ circular disks (their sizes need not be equal) such that the highest fraction of $R$ is taken off.
A simple greedy ...
6
votes
1
answer
761
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Checking if one polytope is contained in another
I have two sets of inequalities, say, $Ax \leq 0$ and $Bx \leq 0$. I would like to know if they both define the same polytope. Or, even, whether one is contained in the other.
At the moment I am ...
6
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0
answers
219
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How big a box can you wrap with a given polygon?
Question: Given a convex polygonal region, how does one find the box (rectangular parallelopiped) of maximum volume that can be wrapped with this region? While wrapping, if needed, some portions of ...
6
votes
5
answers
4k
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Formulas for equidistant curves
I'm trying to draw on the computer a curve that keeps always the same distance(given as parameter) from a given curve. I know the formula for the given curve. I tried moving perpendicular to the first ...
5
votes
0
answers
309
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Upper bounds on art gallery problems using independent witnesses
Given a polygon $P$, the art gallery problem looks to find a smallest set of points that sees all of $P$. One way of bounding the number of guards necessary (from below) is to find a largest set of ...
5
votes
2
answers
294
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Convex caps with prescribed edges
Let $P$ be a convex polygon in the plane $R^2=R^2\times \{0\}$, and $E$ be the edge graph of some subdivision of $P$ into convex polygons, which is $3$-connected. Does there exist a convex polyhedral ...
5
votes
4
answers
540
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How hard is it to determine if a weighted graph can be isometrically embedded in R^3?
Consider a graph $G$ with nonnegative edge weights.
Question: In $\mathbb{R}^3$, how hard is it to assign coordinates to vertices such that the Euclidean length of each edge is equal to its weight?
...
5
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0
answers
214
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Euclidean Minimum Spanning Trees Restricted to One Vertex Per Grid Cell
Given an $n \times n$ grid with unit grid cells, and one point from the interior
of each cell, what is are best possible lower and upper bounds for lengths of minimum spanning trees? The lower bound ...
5
votes
1
answer
169
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Connectedness of semialgebraic sets via CAD
I do not know whether there is a standard or some traditional ways to decide whether a semialgebraic set is connected or not.
One way I know is the cylindrical algebraic decomposition (CAD) algorithm. ...
4
votes
2
answers
2k
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Breaking a rectangle into smaller rectangles with small diagonals
Say I am given a rectangle with dimensions $a \times b$ and an integer $n$. I'd like to break this rectangle into $n$ smaller rectangles $R_i$, and I'd like to make the maximum diagonal of any of ...
4
votes
1
answer
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How to compute the tangent space of a quotient by a finite group
Let $I\subseteq R:=\mathbb C[x_0,\ldots,x_n]$ be a homogeneous ideal defining a subscheme $X\subseteq\Bbb P^n$. As in my previous question, the permutation group $\mathfrak S_{n+1}$ acts on $R$ by ...
4
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2
answers
390
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Construct polygon/polyhedron containing all points not externally visible w.r.t given polygon/polyhedron?
Is there an algorithm to construct a polyhedron containing all points in space for which there exists no ray to infinite not intersecting a given polyhedron?
In 2D, we could consider polygons. For ...
4
votes
1
answer
204
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Reference: Packing under translation is in NP
I am looking for a reference for a result that I am aware of.
Let me describe the result.
Given a polygon $C$ and polygons $p_1,\ldots,p_n$, it can be decided in NP
time, if $p_1,\ldots,p_n$ can be ...
4
votes
0
answers
123
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Cylindrical Decomposition vs Morse decomposition
Suppose I have a polynomial Morse function $f: \mathbb{R}^n \to \mathbb{R}$. Consider the ideal $I(\nabla f)$ generated by the partial derivatives $\partial_i f$, and assume that the real zero-set of ...
4
votes
2
answers
425
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Algorithm for Reconstructing Point Sites from a Voronoi Diagram
how can one construct a finite set of points in the euclidean plane from its Voronoi Diagram and, what is the complexity of the problem?