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7 votes
2 answers
393 views

Partitioning convex polygons into triangles of equal area and perimeter

This post is based on https://math.stackexchange.com/questions/2822589/dissect-square-into-triangles-of-same-perimeter, On a possible variant of Monsky's theorem and Cutting convex polygons into ...
Nandakumar R's user avatar
  • 5,979
7 votes
0 answers
162 views

Approximating any convex shape in $\mathbb{R}^d$ with a polytope having $\mathrm{poly}(d)$ facets

We denote by $V(A)$ the $d$-volume of any convex set $A$. Furthermore, given any two convex sets $A,B\in\mathbb{R}^d$, we denote by $V_{A,B}$ the $d$-volume of the symmetric difference $V\left(A \...
Penelope Benenati's user avatar
7 votes
3 answers
1k views

How can we count lines in an n-x-n rectangular array?

Is there a formula for the number of lines that contain exactly two points through an n x n rectangular array of points?
pat ballew's user avatar
6 votes
1 answer
513 views

The Universality Theorem by Mnev for uniform oriented matroids of rank 4 and higher

According to the Universality Theorem by Mnev (see below theorem 8.6.6 from [1]), for any open semialgebraic variety V there is a uniform oriented matroid of rank 3 whose realization space is stably ...
Jae's user avatar
  • 245
6 votes
2 answers
189 views

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 (...
Nandakumar R's user avatar
  • 5,979
6 votes
2 answers
217 views

Untangling entwined rigid chains in 3-space

I am interested in exploring the degree of "tangledness" of two rigid chains in space. A polygonal chain is a simple (non-self-intersecting) path of segments in $\mathbb{R}^3$, viewed as a rigid body. ...
Joseph O'Rourke's user avatar
6 votes
0 answers
219 views

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 ...
Nandakumar R's user avatar
  • 5,979
6 votes
2 answers
444 views

On planar sections of 3D convex bodies

Consider the space of planar sections of any given convex 3D body. Basic Question: What is the lower bound for the ratio $$\frac{\text{area of section of greatest perimeter}} {\text{area of section of ...
Nandakumar R's user avatar
  • 5,979
6 votes
2 answers
544 views

On circles and ellipses drawn on an infinite planar square lattice

Consider a plane with a square lattice formed by all points with both coordinates as integers. As can be easily seen, a simple parabola can be found that passes through infinitely many of the square ...
Nandakumar R's user avatar
  • 5,979
6 votes
1 answer
928 views

To find the Largest Regular n-gon contained in a given convex region

Given a general convex region C, to find the largest regular polygon that is contained in it (shared boundaries allowed). Basically, one needs to find that particular value of n for which a regular n-...
Nandakumar R's user avatar
  • 5,979
6 votes
1 answer
212 views

A polytope with congruent facets and an insphere that is not facet-transitive?

Is there a $d$-dimensional convex polytope (convex hull of finitely many points, not contained in a proper subspace), with $d\ge 4$ and the following properties? All facets are congruent, it has an ...
M. Winter's user avatar
  • 13.6k
5 votes
0 answers
214 views

Visibility in a prime orchard

This suggests a variant on Polya's orchard problem. That problem asks1 for which radius $\epsilon$ of trees at each lattice point within a distance $R$ of the origin block all lines of sight to the ...
Joseph O'Rourke's user avatar
5 votes
4 answers
540 views

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? ...
TerronaBell's user avatar
  • 3,059
5 votes
0 answers
139 views

On convex regions containing (and contained within) a given triangle

Given an arbitrary triangle T. How does one find the convex region C_M of largest area containing T such that T is also the largest area triangle that is contained within C_M? Guess: for any T, ...
Nandakumar R's user avatar
  • 5,979
5 votes
1 answer
547 views

Cover of a n-simplex with balls

Consider a n-simplex. For each edge (i,j), consider a n-ball, such that vertices i and j are antipodal on this ball. Is the simplex covered by the union of these balls? Thank you.
Max's user avatar
  • 195
5 votes
1 answer
383 views

cover and hide with squares

I am studying two numbers, related to squares, that can characterize a polygon P: MinCoverNumber = the minimum number of axis-aligned squares required to exactly cover P (the covering squares may ...
Erel Segal-Halevi's user avatar
5 votes
2 answers
441 views

Touching-tetrahedra graphs

Have the graphs representable by touching tetrahedra been explored? Let $\cal T$ be a collection of tetrahedra in $\mathbb{R}^3$ with pairwise disjoint interiors. Define a graph $G_{\cal T}$ to have ...
Joseph O'Rourke's user avatar
5 votes
1 answer
246 views

Convex polyhedra with non-congruent faces

Question: Are there convex polyhedra wherein all faces are convex polygons with same area and perimeter and no two faces are mutually congruent? Remarks: If the answer to above is "no", then,...
Nandakumar R's user avatar
  • 5,979
5 votes
0 answers
508 views

Longest simple path through hypercube corners

This is a variation on a previously answered question, Longest path through hypercube corners. Here I am seeking the longest simple (non-self-intersecting) path through the unit hypercube's vertices, ...
Joseph O'Rourke's user avatar
4 votes
1 answer
266 views

A closed chain of $2n+1$-gon around $2n+1$-points

I posed a generalization of Theorem 3.2 In my paper Conjecture: Let $P_1, P_2,....,P_{2n+1}$ and $O$ be $2n+2$ points in plane. Construct a chain $2n+1$ regular ${2n+1}$-gons $A_{1\;1}A_{1\;2}...A_{1\;...
Đào Thanh Oai's user avatar
4 votes
0 answers
144 views

Approximation of a convex shape in the $d$-dimensional Euclidean space for $d\gg 1$

We are given a convex shape $C$ lying inside the hypercube $[0,1]^d$ in the $d$-dimensional Euclidean space. Let the volume of $C$ be $\tfrac12$ (I guess nothing changes for any other fixed constant ...
Penelope Benenati's user avatar
4 votes
0 answers
123 views

From a given triangle, to cut 2 mutually congruent convex pieces that together 'use' maximum area of the triangle

Two planar regions are congruent if one can be made to perfectly coincide with the other by translation, rotation or reflection (flipping over). The Problem: Given a triangular region T, how will we cut ...
Nandakumar R's user avatar
  • 5,979
4 votes
2 answers
2k views

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 ...
Tom Solberg's user avatar
  • 4,049
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 ...
Joseph O'Rourke's user avatar
4 votes
2 answers
312 views

Which convex pentagon gives least packing density?

Among all convex pentagons, does the regular pentagon give least packing density? Further question: For each $n > 6$, is the regular $n$-gon the minimum of packing density? An analogous question ...
Nandakumar R's user avatar
  • 5,979
4 votes
1 answer
363 views

Trade-off between hypervolume and diameter of $d$-dimensional shapes having a hypercubic smallest bounding box

Given any $d$-dimensional shape $X$, let $V(X)$ be its $d$-dimensional volume, and let $\ell(X)$ be the length of the longest line segment connecting two points of $X$. Let $\mathcal{S}_C$ be the set ...
Penelope Benenati's user avatar
4 votes
0 answers
132 views

Can a polytopal graph be "centrally symmetric" in more than one way?

Let $P,Q$ be two centrally symmetric convex polytopes, potentially of different dimensions and combinatorial type, but with the same edge-graph $G$. The central symmetry of $P$ induces an involutory ...
M. Winter's user avatar
  • 13.6k
4 votes
1 answer
438 views

Perfect squaring of rectangles

A perfect squaring of a rectangle may be defined as a partition of the rectangle into finitely many squares all of which are mutually non-congruent. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Squaring_the_square ...
Nandakumar R's user avatar
  • 5,979
4 votes
1 answer
422 views

Can $n$ circles on a plane generate $m$ intersection points where at least $k$ circles intersect?

Can $n$ circles on a plane generate $m$ intersection points where at least $k$ circles intersect? For $k = 2$ the answer is obvious since we can always place circles so that every one of them ...
myro's user avatar
  • 63
4 votes
1 answer
303 views

On maximum perimeter triangles inscribed in convex regions with one vertex fixed

Ref: Convex curves with many inscribed triangles maximizing perimeter Given a planar convex region C. Let P be a variable point on its boundary. Observations: When C is an ellipse, the variation in ...
Nandakumar R's user avatar
  • 5,979
3 votes
0 answers
135 views

Intersecting the unit n-cube and (n-1)-planes

(Is this a known problem?) Question   Let $\ 1<n\in\mathbb N.\ $ What is the greatest $(n-1)$-area $\ S(n)\ $ of $\ L\cap I^n\ $ where $\ I^n\subseteq\mathbb R^n\ $ is the unit cube, and $\ L\ $ ...
Wlod AA's user avatar
  • 4,786
3 votes
1 answer
152 views

Triangles that can be cut into mutually congruent and non-convex polygons

It is easy to note that an equilateral triangle can be cut into 3 mutually congruent and non-convex polygons (replace the 3 lines meeting at centroid and separating out the 3 congruent quadrilaterals ...
Nandakumar R's user avatar
  • 5,979
3 votes
1 answer
197 views

Three-dimensional Apollonian spirals

Given mutually (externally) tangent spheres $S_1$, $S_2$, $S_3$, $S_4$, let $S_n$ be the unique sphere externally tangent to $S_{n-1}$, $S_{n-2}$, $S_{n-3}$, and $S_{n-4}$ for $n \geq 5$. Let $P_{\...
James Propp's user avatar
  • 19.7k
3 votes
1 answer
366 views

Illumination from visible lattice points with inverse square intensity

It is well known that the number of $\mathbb{Z}^2$ lattice points visible from the origin is $6/\pi^2$, about $61$%. See, e.g., What fraction of the integer lattice can be seen from the origin?. I am ...
Joseph O'Rourke's user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
373 views

Radial tilings with variable area ratios

I was looking at this neat page on logarithmic spiral tilings when a question popped up: http://www.uwgb.edu/dutchs/symmetry/log-spir.htm It seems that in all of the tilings shown, the area of each ...
Joel Ford's user avatar
3 votes
0 answers
98 views

Convex region $C$ with least kissing number of copies of $C$

Given a 2D convex region $C$, let us define its kissing number $K_0$ to be the largest possible number of copies of $C$ that can be arranged around a central copy of $C$ (call this $C_0$) and touching ...
Nandakumar R's user avatar
  • 5,979
3 votes
0 answers
214 views

Volume of intersection of a ball and cube with arbitrary position in $n$ dimension

Let $ A(n, r, x) = B^n_r(x) \cap [0,1]^n $ denote the intersection between an $n$ ball $B^n_r(x)$ with arbitrary radius $r$ and arbitrary center $x \in \mathbb{R}^n$ that intersects a unit $n$ cube $ [...
random_shape's user avatar
2 votes
0 answers
95 views

Is there an exact solution for the number of points within a circle of radius r for an honeycomb lattice?

I want to ask if exists an exact solution for the number of points within a circle of radius r for an honeycomb lattice. I know that it is exist for an square lattice https://mathworld.wolfram.com/...
Mihaela's user avatar
  • 31
2 votes
1 answer
308 views

Intersection of the simplex with a linear subspace of codimension $2$

The sets are defined in $\mathbb{R}_+^n$ $(n\geq 1)$. The relative interior of a convex set $C$ is denoted $\mathring C$. Let $S$ be the $n$-simplex: $$S=\left\{x\in\mathbb{R}_+^n,\,\sum_{i=1}^n x_i=1\...
G. Panel's user avatar
  • 449
2 votes
1 answer
302 views

Are two convex solids with all corresponding shadows equal in area congruent?

By shadow we mean the orthogonal projection of a convex 3D body P onto a 2D plane, for example, the shadow on the xy-plane, with P above (z>0) that plane and the light at L=(0,0,+∞). P an be freely ...
Nandakumar R's user avatar
  • 5,979
2 votes
1 answer
101 views

Another lemma on intersections of $d$-simplices

Let $d\ge1$. A $d$-simplex $S$ is the convex hull in $\mathbb R^d$ of the vertices $v_0,\dots,v_d\in\mathbb R^d$ where $\{v_1-v_0,\dots,v_d-v_0\}$ is a linearly independent set of $d$ vectors; for ...
Tri's user avatar
  • 1,644
2 votes
1 answer
107 views

To find the convex planar region minimizing diameter when area and perimeter are given

The basic question is to find that planar convex region for which diameter is a minimum when area and perimeter are specified. A partial answer is given here: http://nandacumar.blogspot.com/2012/11/...
Nandakumar R's user avatar
  • 5,979
2 votes
0 answers
84 views

Another variant of the Malfatti problem

We try to add to A Variant of the Malfatti Problem As stated in the Wikipedia entry on Malfatti circles, it is an open problem to decide, given a number $n$ and any triangle, whether a greedy method ...
Nandakumar R's user avatar
  • 5,979
2 votes
1 answer
84 views

'Constrained morphing' of planar convex regions

Morphing may be defined as a continuous transition of one shape to another. This post is about modifying planar regions continuously from one form to another under some constraints. Qn: If $C_1$ and $...
Nandakumar R's user avatar
  • 5,979
2 votes
1 answer
116 views

Convex polyhedra that can be folded from convex polygons

This question is based on http://www.science.smith.edu/~jorourke/Papers/FoldingPP.pdf. Therein is stated the theorem: Every convex polygon folds to an infinite number (a continuum) of noncongruent ...
Nandakumar R's user avatar
  • 5,979
2 votes
1 answer
292 views

Facility location on manifolds

Facility location studies optimal placement of a certain number $n$ of points (facilities) in some region $R$. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Facility_location_problem) The minimax facility location ...
Nandakumar R's user avatar
  • 5,979
2 votes
0 answers
71 views

On cutting convex regions with average values of quantities minimized

This post continues from Cutting convex regions into equal diameter and equal least width pieces - 2 and Cutting convex regions into equal diameter and equal least width pieces - 3 A basic (and to my ...
Nandakumar R's user avatar
  • 5,979
2 votes
1 answer
151 views

On congruent partitions of planar regions

Given any integer $n$, any rectangular region or any sector of a disc (including the full disk as a boundary case) can be cut into $n$ mutually congruent pieces - by equally spaced parallel lines and ...
Nandakumar R's user avatar
  • 5,979
1 vote
2 answers
153 views

Smallest triangles that contain 2D convex regions with reflection symmetry

Given any 2D convex region $C$ with a mirror symmetry. Two pairs of questions: We need to find the smallest area (likewise, smallest perimeter) triangle that contains $C$. Is it sufficient to only ...
Nandakumar R's user avatar
  • 5,979
1 vote
0 answers
59 views

What can be said about 2 convex solids with corresponding maximal planar sections having equal area?

This post follows Are two convex solids with all corresponding shadows equal in area congruent? Every convex 3D body has planar sections with normals in any given direction. We consider the maximum ...
Nandakumar R's user avatar
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