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12 votes
1 answer
614 views

Covering the unit sphere by open hemispheres

Suppose $H_1,\ldots,H_{2n}$ are open hemispheres which cover $S^{n-1}$ with the property that removing any one of them leaves $S^{n-1}$ uncovered. Is it necessarily the case that the hemispheres can ...
Marcel Celaya's user avatar
7 votes
1 answer
209 views

Are the primary parallelotopes classified? (equivalently, Voronoi cells of lattices)

A primary parallelohedron is a polyhedron that can fill space with infinite translated copies. It is known (e.g., Coxeter, H. S. M. Regular Polytopes, 3rd ed. New York: Dover, pp. 29-30, 1973; or, ...
Samuel Reid's user avatar
  • 1,431
5 votes
1 answer
268 views

what's the formula of the inradius of a general simplex? [closed]

As the title, I just want to know whether there is a general formula for calculating the inradius of a n-simplex. Thank you!
Minglei Yin's user avatar
-1 votes
2 answers
640 views

Maximal-Orthogonal Convex Hull (or Maximal-Rectilinear Convex Hull) [closed]

Edit : Consider giving a reason for down vote. In my research, I have come across a this paper from the Computational Geometry field and I am not able to understand the concept of Maximal-...
Abhinav's user avatar
  • 119
6 votes
2 answers
207 views

Volume satisfying inequality constraints (simplex subset)

Is there a way to find the volume of the "feasible region" of a standard simplex satisfying simple range constraints? $x_1+x_2+...+x_n = 1$ $a_1 \le x_1 \le b_1$ $a_2 \le x_2 \le b_2$ $...$ $a_n \le ...
Bálint Czúcz's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
248 views

Choosing the weights of a Voronoi diagram -- is this function always the gradient of another function?

This question is related to the earlier question Weighted area of a Voronoi cell . As in that question, let $X = \{ x_1,\dots,x_n\} $ denote a set of $n$ points in the unit square $S = [0,1]\times[0,...
Tom Solberg's user avatar
  • 4,049
5 votes
0 answers
310 views

Biggest (or large) rectangle in a polytope

I need an efficient method to construct a (hyper)rectangle inside a polytope with a lot of dimensions (say $100 < d < 1000$). Ideally I'd want the biggest possible rectangle, but as I don't ...
Elliot Gorokhovsky's user avatar
1 vote
0 answers
117 views

Inscribed polytopal approximation to a convex body

This question is on the continuation of the post Approximation of convex body by polytopes The central problem I am interested is an explicit construction of inscribed polytope with at most $n$ ...
Roy Han's user avatar
  • 599
1 vote
2 answers
129 views

An optimality condition for the corners of convex polytopes?

Let $H,H'\subset\mathbb{R}^m$ be two hyperplanes with unit normal-vector, and let $P\subset\mathbb{R^m}$ be a convex polytope (defined via its corners $v_0, ... , v_n$, where $n\ge m$). Let's ...
Manfred Weis's user avatar
  • 13.2k
11 votes
2 answers
576 views

Book on the tetrahedron

Does anybody know of a book containing "all you want to know about the tetrahedron"? What you want to know should include basic geometry of the tetrahedron, study of orthocentric tetrahedra, the Monge ...
Matthieu Romagny's user avatar
6 votes
1 answer
347 views

Measurement of "symmetry" of a convex body

I often hear that the regular simplex is "the least" symmetric convex body, and I've heard that there are some measures of symmetry of a body, that the simplex minimizes. Could you please explain or ...
Yaniv Ganor's user avatar
  • 1,893
5 votes
2 answers
184 views

Differentiability of polytope shadow areas

Let $P$ be an opaque convex polyhedron containing the origin in $\mathbb{R}^3$, and let $S$ be an origin-centered sphere strictly containing $P$: $S \supset P$. For a point $x$ on $S$, let $\sigma(x)$ ...
Joseph O'Rourke's user avatar
2 votes
0 answers
415 views

Find the intersection between two convex hulls, in this specific case

We work over $\mathbb{R}^K$. Let $V$ be the set of vectors whose coordinates take values $0$ or $1$, or equivalently the corners of the unit cube $[0,1]^K$. Let $d:\{0, \ldots, K\} \to \mathbb{R}_+$ ...
tam's user avatar
  • 233
1 vote
1 answer
1k views

Extreme points of convex hull of Minkowski sum [closed]

Let $\operatorname{conv}(a_1,\ldots,a_m)$ denote the convex hull of $\{a_1,\ldots,a_n\}$. Let $P = \operatorname{conv}(a_1,\ldots,a_p)$ and $Q = \operatorname{conv}(b_1,\ldots,b_q)$ be two convex sets ...
Cusp's user avatar
  • 1,713
1 vote
0 answers
50 views

Projection of a ray onto a random polytope

Suppose $P$ is a polytope formed by $p$ (general) random planes in $\mathbb{R}^n$. We assume $p \asymp n$ and $P$ has a diameter $O(\sqrt{n})$. For any $x \in \mathbb{R}^n$, denote by $\operatorname{...
John Wong's user avatar
  • 773
10 votes
2 answers
845 views

Largest regular $k$-simplex inscribed in a $d$-cube, $k < d$

The largest (by edge length) regular simplex inscribed in a unit cube is well known in $\mathbb{R}^2$ and $\mathbb{R}^3$:     Image sources: left: NMSU, right: Mathworld. A recent Amer ...
Joseph O'Rourke's user avatar
2 votes
2 answers
163 views

4D Duoprisms based on nonconvex polygons

A duoprism is a polytope that can be expressed as the Cartesian product of two polytopes (each of dimension $\ge 2$). Four-dimensional duoprisms in particular have been studied: $$P \times Q = \{ (...
Joseph O'Rourke's user avatar
13 votes
2 answers
473 views

Can any simplex shadow-project to a regular simplex?

Every triangle $A$ can be oriented in $\mathbb{R}^3$ so that its orthogonal projection (shadow) onto the $xy$-plane is an equilateral triangle $Q$:               &...
Joseph O'Rourke's user avatar
18 votes
5 answers
810 views

How many unit simplices are needed to cover a unit $n$-cube?

The volume of an $n$-dimensional simplex of unit edge length is $$V(n) = \frac{\sqrt{n+1}}{n! 2^{n/2}} \;,$$ so at least $\lceil 1/V(n) \rceil$ such simplices are needed to cover the unit $n$-cube. ...
Joseph O'Rourke's user avatar
1 vote
0 answers
80 views

A version of isotone projection cones

We write $a \succeq b$, where both $a, b \in \mathbb{R}^n$, as a shorthand for $a_i \ge b_i$ for all $1 \le i \le n$. Let $C$ be a closed convex cone in the first orthant of $\mathbb{R}^n$ and denote ...
John Wong's user avatar
  • 773
27 votes
3 answers
13k views

Which unfoldings of the hypercube tile 3-space: How to check for isometric space-fillers?

Recently Mark McClure constructed and displayed the 261 unfoldings of the hypercube (tesseract) in response to the question, "3D models of the unfoldings of the hypercube?": The first 9 unfoldings ...
Joseph O'Rourke's user avatar
5 votes
2 answers
1k views

regular polyhedra (and polytopes) in hyperbolic geometry, and generalisations

While there exist regular tesselations of the hyperbolic plane with arbitrary regular polygons, there are no new regular polyhedra in hyperbolic (3D) space. This being quite trivial, it is probably ...
Feldmann Denis's user avatar
8 votes
0 answers
183 views

Can the GUE be thought of as a uniform point in a high-dimensional polytope

I have thought about this question for a long time and could only find partial answers. The Gaussian Unitary Ensemble (or GUE) is the eigenvalues of a random Hermitian matrix with complex Gaussian ...
john mangual's user avatar
  • 22.8k
26 votes
2 answers
4k views

3D models of the unfoldings of the hypercube?

There are (apparently) 261 distinct unfoldings of the 4D hypercube, a.k.a., the tesseract, into 3D.1 These unfoldings (or "nets") are analogous to the 11 unfoldings of the 3D cube into the plane.2 ...
Joseph O'Rourke's user avatar
7 votes
1 answer
648 views

Maximal volume of a simplex inscribed in a spherical cap

Let $B_n$ be the $n$-dimensional unit ball, and $B_n(\varepsilon)$ be the spherical cap with height $\varepsilon$ I am interested in the quantity $$\Gamma:=\sup_{\Delta:\textrm{ inscribed simplex in }...
Roy Han's user avatar
  • 599
5 votes
1 answer
320 views

Non-closed geodesics on a convex polyhedron in $\mathbb{R}^3$

Let $P$ be the surface of a closed convex polyhedron in $\mathbb{R}^3$. Q. Does every non-closed geodesic $\gamma$ fill $P$ densely? Of course $\gamma$ cannot pass through a vertex of $P$, but it ...
Joseph O'Rourke's user avatar
54 votes
3 answers
3k views

The view from inside of a mirrored tetrahedron

Suppose you were standing inside a regular tetrahedron $T$ whose internal face surfaces were perfect mirrors. Let's assume $T$'s height is $3{\times}$ yours, so that your eye is roughly at the ...
Joseph O'Rourke's user avatar
20 votes
4 answers
950 views

The limit of edge-midpoint convex polyhedra

    Starting with a convex polyhedron $P_1 \subset \mathbb{R}^3$, replace that with $P_2$, the convex hull of the midpoints of the edges of $P_1$. Continuing this process, we obtain a ...
Joseph O'Rourke's user avatar
18 votes
1 answer
678 views

Higher dimensional generalization of: Any quadrilateral tiles the plane?

Any (non-self-intersecting) quadrilateral tiles the plane.     (MathWorld image.) Q. What is the strongest known generalization of this statement to higher dimensions? I.e., $\mathbb{R}^d$ ...
Joseph O'Rourke's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
337 views

Estimating the volume of a union of balls

Let $\{ B_i \}_{i=1}^n$ be a set of $n$ ball in the unit cube $C$ of dimension $d$. If I want to estimate $$ \frac{ \lambda \left( \cup B_i \right) }{\lambda\left( C \right) }, \tag{1} $$ where $\...
user avatar
6 votes
2 answers
386 views

Are shortest halving curves simple closed geodesics?

Let $S$ be a smooth convex surface in $\mathbb{R}^3$ (although my question may as well be asked for the surface of a polyhedron). Say that $\gamma$ is a shortest halving curve if (a) it partitions the ...
Joseph O'Rourke's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
141 views

Volume of a polytope with relaxed constraints

Consider a polytope in $n$ dimensions defined by a set of linear constraints: $$P = \{x \in \mathbb{R}^n : Ax \leq b\}$$ where A is some $m \times n$ constraint matrix, and $b = (b_1,\ldots,b_m)$ is ...
Derrick G's user avatar
3 votes
0 answers
526 views

Cavalieri's principle and inversion of the Vandermonde matrix

There are many examples on the Web of the use of Cavalieri's principle in determining areas and volumes of 2-D and 3-D geometrical figures. The Wikipedia link uses the principle as both a proof and ...
Tom Copeland's user avatar
  • 10.5k
13 votes
0 answers
406 views

Surface area of convex hull [duplicate]

Let Q be the convex hull of a non-convex polyhedron P. Is it true that the surface area of Q is not greater than the surface area of P?
Helen Cox's user avatar
  • 131
4 votes
1 answer
258 views

The Mahler conjecture and non-zonoidal 3-polytopes (4-polytopes)

I have been working on the Mahler conjecture for over a year now and have made some progress for certain classes of convex polytopes and I'm now attempting to write up my results specified to $\mathbb{...
Samuel Reid's user avatar
  • 1,431
3 votes
1 answer
553 views

Calculate the discrete set of points B which are in the convex hull of the set of points A

This problem is likely best described with the following picture: Given the discrete set of points $A$ (shown in blue), I wish to calculate the discrete set of points that are contained within the ...
Brendan Annable's user avatar
19 votes
0 answers
577 views

"Japanese Theorem" on cyclic polygons: Higher-dimensional generalizations?

A beautiful theorem known as the Japanese Theorem (Wikipedia, MathWorld) says that, no matter how one triangulates a cyclic (inscribed in a circle) polygon, the sum of the radii of the incircles is ...
Joseph O'Rourke's user avatar
8 votes
0 answers
154 views

How many facets can $\{\|D^T x\|_1\leq 1\}$ have?

$\newcommand{\RR}{\mathbb{R}}$Consider $x\in\RR^n$ and $D\in \RR^{n\times p}$ with $p\geq n$ and full rank. My question is: How many facets can the polytope $ \{x\in\RR^n\ :\ \|D^T x\|_1\leq 1\}$ ...
Dirk's user avatar
  • 12.7k
8 votes
0 answers
826 views

Geometry of the metric cone

Let us say that two metrics $d$ and $d_0$ on a set $X$ are related if there exist positive constants $0 < \alpha \leq \beta$ such that $$ \alpha \,\left(d_0(x,y) + d_0(y,z) - d_0(x,z)\right) \leq ...
alvarezpaiva's user avatar
  • 13.5k
4 votes
0 answers
2k views

Regular cross-sections of a dodecahedron; analogous sections of 4-polytopes

One can intersect a dodecahedron with a plane and obtain an equilateral triangle, a square, a regular pentagon, a regular hexagon, and a regular decagon:             &...
Joseph O'Rourke's user avatar
4 votes
1 answer
320 views

Seeking criteria for "threadable" pairs of centrosymmetric polyhedra

Let $A$ and $B$ be origin-centered centrosymmetric polyhedra in $\mathbb{R}^3$: "for every point $(x, y, z)$ [...] there is an indistinguishable point $(-x, -y, -z)$." Say that $A$ and $B$ are ...
Joseph O'Rourke's user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
804 views

Approximation of a convex body by a contained polytope

This question deals with approximating a convex body (a compact convex set of $\mathbb{R}^d$ with non-empty interior) by convex polytopes. For a given $\delta$, let $n_\delta$ be the number of faces ...
Adrien's user avatar
  • 591
3 votes
0 answers
133 views

Convex polyhedra jammed in $k$ disjoint holes

For a given convex polyhedron $P \subset \mathbb{R}^3$, I was imagining finding the optimal "fixing" of $P$ in holes (or jamming them in "mud"), which led to the following question. First, scale $P$ ...
Joseph O'Rourke's user avatar
6 votes
1 answer
185 views

Maximizing ratio volume/diameter^n by an affinity

Suppose we have a convex compact body $D\subset \mathbb R^n$. We can try to apply affine transformation keeping the volume and decreasing the diameter of $D$. It is clear that there is a constant $\...
Nikita Kalinin's user avatar
2 votes
0 answers
193 views

Definition of self-dual polytope

Given a d-polytope $P$ we define the c-dual polytope as $P^\ast = \{y\in R^d \mid x\cdot y\geq -c, \forall x\in P\}$. Then I say that a polytope is c-polar self-dual if $P=P^\ast$. I cannot find this ...
Stephen Sturgeon's user avatar
5 votes
0 answers
232 views

4D polytope analogues of the icosahedron/Rogers-Ramanujan continued fraction relationship?

The formula for the j-function which employs polynomial invariants of the icosahedron, $$j(\tau)=-\frac{(r^{20} - 228r^{15} + 494r^{10} + 228r^5 + 1)^3}{r^5(r^{10} + 11r^5 - 1)^5}$$ where, $$r^{-1}-...
Tito Piezas III's user avatar
18 votes
2 answers
986 views

"Derived" polyhedra and polytopes

The notion of derived polygon is natural and leads to remarkable convergence. Start with a polygon, and replace it by locating a point on every edge a fraction $\alpha$ between the two endpoints. For ...
Joseph O'Rourke's user avatar
14 votes
0 answers
479 views

Does every convex polyhedron have a combinatorially isomorphic counterpart whose angles between edges are rational multiples of $\pi$?

After reading these very interesting questions, I came up with another one: Does every convex polyhedron have a combinatorially isomorphic counterpart whose angles between all pairs of edges meeting ...
Piotr Shatalin's user avatar
12 votes
1 answer
375 views

Why do convex polytope options constrict with dimension, rather than expand?

There are an infinite number of regular polygons in the plane, five regular polyhedra, six regular polytopes in $\mathbb{R}^4$, and then three regular polytopes in every dimension $d > 4$. There ...
Joseph O'Rourke's user avatar
7 votes
2 answers
392 views

Convex deltahedra in higher dimensions

There are eight convex polyhedra whose faces are equilateral triangles, so-called deltahedra:        (Image from here) Q. Have the equivalent higher-dimensional ...
Joseph O'Rourke's user avatar