All Questions
Tagged with mg.metric-geometry polygons
78 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-...
- 151k
37
votes
4
answers
2k
views
What polygons can be shrunk into themselves?
Let's call a polygon $P$ shrinkable if any down-scaled (dilated) version of $P$ can be translated into $P$. For example, the following triangle is shrinkable (the original polygon is green, the ...
- 3,549
32
votes
5
answers
2k
views
Nonconvex manhole covers
One common reason given for the circularity of manhole covers is that they can't fall through the manhole. For convex manhole covers, this property is equivalent to having constant width — if ...
- 5,275
21
votes
0
answers
271
views
The "stained glass window problem": Draw many random chords in a circle; which kind of polygon ($3$-gon, $4$-gon, etc.) occupies the most total area?
Draw $n$ random chords in a circle, where each chord connects two independent uniformly random points on the circle.
As $n\to\infty$, which kind of polygon (triangle, quadrilateral, pentagon, etc.) ...
- 3,527
20
votes
2
answers
25k
views
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 ...
- 201
19
votes
5
answers
21k
views
Dividing a square into 5 equal squares
Can you divide one square paper into five equal squares?
You have a scissor and glue. You can measure and cut and then attach as well. Only condition is You can't waste any paper.
- 383
17
votes
1
answer
536
views
Does the boundary of a convex body contain a regular planar pentagon?
How to prove or disprove that the boundary of any convex body in $\mathbb{R}^3$ includes 5 points which form a regular planar pentagon? The following consideration suggests the answer "yes": if we ...
- 3,486
16
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Maximum area of the intersection of a parallelogram and a triangle
How large can the intersection of a parallelogram (or a square, if you prefer) with a triangle be, if each of them is of unit area? It is easy to see that the intersection can be of area 3/4 – is this ...
- 7,276
15
votes
4
answers
815
views
Unlinked interlocking planar polygons
Let $P$ and $Q$ be the boundary segments of two planar simple polygons.
View these boundaries as rigid wires.
Fix $Q$ in, say, the $xy$-plane, and imagine $P$ arranged in $\mathbb{R}^3$ so that $P$ ...
- 151k
15
votes
1
answer
616
views
Acute triangles in "obtuse" polygons?
Let $P$ be a convex polygon. Suppose every interior angle of $P$ is obtuse. Is it always the case that there exist three vertices $p, q, r$ of $P$ such that $\triangle pqr$ is acute?
I conjecture ...
- 173
15
votes
2
answers
779
views
How to characterize the regularity of a polygon?
In my research, I've recently started to play with Voronoi tessellations. I currently have a Python code that creates the tessellation and I am trying to color the polygonal regions according to their ...
- 161
14
votes
0
answers
270
views
Regular $n$-gon with diagonals: bounds on area of largest cell?
Consider a regular $n$-gon of side length $1$ with diagonals. Here is an example with $n=11$ (from geogebra applet).
I've been trying to find, in terms of $n$, bounds on the area of the largest cell, ...
- 3,527
13
votes
1
answer
921
views
Limiting shape for Brillouin zones
Is it true that the limiting shape for Brillouin zones (for any lattice) is a circle?
You can find the definition and the step by step construction of Brillouin zones here. This picture is taken from ...
- 12.3k
11
votes
2
answers
863
views
Strange formula for area of a convex polygon
Consider a convex $n-$gon in $\mathbb{R}^2$ with sides contained in the lines $y=k_ix+b_i, 1\leq i\leq n.$ Then its area equals to
$$
S=\frac{1}{2}\sum_{i=1}^{n} \frac{(b_{i+1}-b_i)^2}{k_{i+1}-k_i}.
$$...
- 4,316
10
votes
1
answer
9k
views
Get Largest Inscribed Rectangle of a Concave Polygon
I'm looking for an algorithm to find a set of largest inscribed rectangles of a concave polygon where each rectangle must be collinear with one of the edges of the polygon.
In other words, I want to ...
- 325
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 ...
- 151k
10
votes
0
answers
199
views
Do cut-length-minimizing equidissections exist?
Suppose $A,B$ are polygons of equal area. By the Wallace-Bolyai-Gerwien theorem, $A$ and $B$ are equidissectable: we can make finitely many straight-line cuts in $A$ and rearrange the resulting pieces ...
- 21.2k
9
votes
5
answers
13k
views
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 ...
- 201
9
votes
1
answer
8k
views
Determine if you can build a polygon from segments [closed]
Is there a way to determine whether it is possible to build a polygon from given n segments?
Maybe triangle inequality generalized?
- 107
9
votes
1
answer
559
views
What is the shape of the $n$-gon which gives the maximum of a function?
What is the shape of the $n$-gon $P_1P_2\cdots P_n$ which gives the maximum of $A_n$? The quantity $A_n$ is defined by
$$ A_n = \frac{{\sum_{i\lt{j}\le{n}}{\lvert P_i P_j\rvert}^2}-{\sum_{i=1}^{n}{\...
- 4,757
9
votes
0
answers
256
views
Compass and straightedge construction of Poncelet polygons
Gauss–Wantzel theorem states that
A regular n-gon is constructible with straightedge and compass if and only if $n = 2^kp_1p_2...p_t$, where $p_i$'s are distinct Fermat primes (A Fermat prime is a ...
- 691
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 ...
- 113
8
votes
1
answer
892
views
Three homothetic centers are collinear
I am looking a proof for the problem as follows:
Let a convex hexagon, such that its principal diagonals are concurrent. For each side of the hexagon, extend the adjacent sides to their ...
- 1,044
7
votes
2
answers
594
views
cyclic polygons & trigonometry
I posted this question to stackexchange, where it's generated some comments but no progress toward answering it. I'm going to say somewhat more here than I did there.
At one vertex of a pentagon ...
7
votes
1
answer
5k
views
Shrink polygon to a specific area by offsetting
I have a 2D polygon that I want to shrink by a specific offset (A) to match a certain area ratio (R) of the original polygon. Is there a formula or algorithm for such a problem? I am interested in a ...
- 171
7
votes
1
answer
497
views
Is there a bicyclic irregular pentagon in integers?
Is there a bicyclic irregular pentagon in integers, i.e. is there a pentagon, the length of each side is integer and unique such that it has a circumcircle and an inner circle as well?
If it does ...
- 71
6
votes
4
answers
584
views
Necessary and sufficient condition for quadrilateral to be cyclic
Can you provide a proof for the following proposition:
Proposition. Given any quadrilateral $ABCD$. Let $P,Q,R,S$ be nine-point centers of triangles $\triangle ABD$,$\triangle ABC$,$\triangle BCD$ ...
- 2,661
6
votes
1
answer
2k
views
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 ...
- 163
6
votes
1
answer
767
views
Using mirrors to make a non-convex polygon visible from a fixed interior point
Take a point $A$ inside a non-convex polygon $P$. Is it always possible to place a finite set of mirrors given by straight segments (not necessarily along the boundary of $P$, any position inside $P$ ...
- 17.9k
6
votes
1
answer
224
views
Necessary and sufficient condition for tangential polygon to be cyclic
Can you prove or disprove the following claim?
Claim. Let $A_1,A_2, \ldots ,A_n$ be the vertices of an $n$-sided tangential polygon and let $B_1,B_2, \ldots ,B_n$ be the contact points of the ...
- 2,661
6
votes
1
answer
880
views
Relation of some Euclidean geometry theorems and more conjecture generalizations
In this topic I want to share relation of the Pythagorean theorem, the Stewart theorem and the British Flag theorem, the Apollonius' theorem, the Ptolemy's theorem and the Feuerbach-Luchterhand. Since ...
- 1,044
6
votes
1
answer
715
views
Elementary problem about triangles inside a convex polygon
Let P be a convex polygon with area A(P), and to each side of P, attach the largest area triangle possible that lies entirely within P. Must the sum S(P) of the areas of these triangles always satisfy ...
- 1,318
5
votes
4
answers
24k
views
How to find overlap between two convex hulls, along with the overlap area
I have two boundaries of two planar polygons, say, B1 and B2 of polygons P1 and P2 (with m and n points in Boundaries B1 and B2). I want to find out if the polygons overlap or not. If they overlap, ...
- 53
5
votes
0
answers
184
views
Question about $n$ random points in a regular polygon, and a limiting probability
Suppose we choose $n$ uniformly random points in a disk, then draw the smallest circle that encloses all of those points. There is evidence suggesting that the probability that the enclosing circle is ...
- 3,527
4
votes
2
answers
805
views
Fitting one Polygon in another
I have two Polygons A and B and I want to find the position, rotation and scale of B, so it fits into A and has the maximum Area possible. Also both can be concave.
I did some research but couldn't ...
- 41
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 ...
- 151k
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\;...
- 1,776
4
votes
1
answer
332
views
Construct closed chain of $k$-gon around $n$ points-$n, k$ are odd primes number
Question 1: I am looking for a proof of the conjectures 1, 2, 3 as follows?
Question 2: In conjecture 3, in general case, I can not give a formula of $X$. But I think, If $n, k$ are odd primes number ...
- 1,776
4
votes
1
answer
283
views
Reordering vertices of a polygon
Let $Q,Q'$ be two planar polygons with the same number $n>3$ of vertices. There is a correspondence between vertices of $Q$ and $Q'$: to any vertex $z$ of $Q$ corresponds a unique vertex $z'$ of $Q'...
user101163
4
votes
1
answer
256
views
Polar interpretation of convexity
Let $C$ be a convex polygon in the plane containing the origin, and let $r(\theta)$ for $\theta\in[0,2\pi)$ be a parametrization of its boundary. Is there a condition on $r$ that is equivalent to (or ...
- 645
4
votes
1
answer
320
views
Collinearity in bicentric polygons
Can you provide a proofs for the following two claims?
Claim 1. The circumcenter, the incenter, and the intersection of the principal diagonals in a bicentric even-sided polygon are collinear.
Claim ...
- 2,661
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 ...
- 151k
3
votes
2
answers
2k
views
What is the name of the 65537-gon? [closed]
I know the name of the heptadecagon (17 sides) and the diacosipentacontaheptagon (257 sides). But what is the name of the polygon with 65537 sides? I am unable to figure it.
- 18.7k
3
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Is there a simple criterion to determine if two parallelograms intersect?
Assume we are given two parallelograms in the plane. How can I check if their intersection is nonempty?
Note that I do not need to actually find the intersection.
- 979
3
votes
1
answer
286
views
Need help with finding all angles of 11 sided 3D object [closed]
Question: I'm an artist trying to build a hendecahedron for a project (Image below to see the shape). This object consists of 5 pentagons at the base, 1 pentagon on the bottom, then 5 quadrilaterals ...
3
votes
1
answer
158
views
The product of the lengths of two line segments that belong to Newton line [closed]
I am looking for the proof of the following claim:
Consider a family of bicentric quadrilaterals with the same inradius length and the same distance between incenter and circumcenter. Denote by $P$ ...
- 2,661
3
votes
2
answers
279
views
Construct by compactness (Pentagonal tiling – Rao paper)
In the (arXiv) paper, Exhaustive search of convex pentagons which tile the plane by Michael Rao, on page 4 under the proof of Lemma 2, it is said that:
"… We keep a connected component $H_d'$ of $...
- 133
3
votes
1
answer
103
views
Equal sums of line segments
I would like to see a proof of the following
Claim. Let $A_1,A_2,A_3,A_4,A_5$ be vertices of bicentric pentagon. Let $B_1$ be the intersection point of $A_1A_3$ and $A_2A_5$, $B_2$ the intersection ...
- 2,661
3
votes
1
answer
123
views
Collinearity of three significant points of bicentric pentagon
Can you provide a proof for the following claim?
Claim. Given bicentric pentagon. Consider the triangle whose sides are two diagonals drawn from the same vertex and side of pentagon opposite from ...
- 2,661
3
votes
1
answer
303
views
How can construct three circles in a given triangle such that three internal tangent form an equilateral triangle
How can construct three circles in a given triangle such that three internal tangent form an equilateral triangle?
See also:
Malfatti circles
- 1,776