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9 votes
0 answers
144 views

Which polytopes have compact realization spaces?

Let $P\subset\Bbb R^d$ be a convex polytope. Its reduced realization space is the space of all combinatorially equivalent polytopes modulo projective transformations. I am interested in polytopes for ...
0 votes
0 answers
176 views

How to find a configuration of lines

In $\mathbb{R}^3$, can anyone help find a configuration of 5 lines such that the minimum of the smallest semi-axis lengths of the ellipsoid $ \mathbf{x}^T \mathbf{A} \mathbf{x} = 1 $, where $\mathbf{A}...
3 votes
1 answer
484 views

On some infinite planar arrangements with triangles

Background: Given a convex region C. One can define a graph corresponding to a planar arrangement of non overlapping congruent copies of C - each unit C is a node and an edge connects it to another ...
4 votes
0 answers
66 views

Convergence of graph geodesics to geodesics on metric spaces

Let $(X,d)$ be a compact length space metric space $\mathbb{X}_{\delta}$ be a $\delta$-packing on $X$ and, for every $k\in \mathbb{N}_+$, let $G_{k,\delta}=(\mathbb{X}_{\delta},\mathcal{E}_k,W_k)$ ...
1 vote
0 answers
67 views

Conjecture on the increasing efficiency of the shortest minimum-link polygonal chains covering any grids of the form $\{0,1,2\}^k$ as $k$ grows

From the well-known Nine dots problem, we know that we need a polygonal chain with at least $4$ edges to connect the $9$ points of the planar grid $G_{3,2}:=\{\{0, 1, 2\} \times \{0, 1, 2\}\} \subset \...
0 votes
0 answers
82 views

On 'Bisecting sections' of 3D convex bodies

Following shadows and planar sections, we ask about bisecting sections. This post also continues Convex planar regions with all area bisectors having equal length and A claim on the concurrency of ...
4 votes
3 answers
347 views

Minimal data required to determine a convex polytope

Let $P\subset \Bbb R^d$ be a convex polytope. Suppose that I know its combinatorial type (aka. the face-lattice), the length $\ell_i$ of each edge, and the distance $r_i$ of each vertex from the ...
16 votes
0 answers
298 views

Realization spaces of 3-dimensional polytopes with fixed face areas

It is a well-know result (Steinitz, 1922) that the realization space of 3-dimensional convex polytopes with fixed combinatorics is contractible. A proof of this theorem can be found for instance in ...
22 votes
2 answers
900 views

Is every 1-million-connected graph rigid in 3D?

It is an old result that every $6$-connected graph is rigid in $\mathbb{R}^2$: Lovász, László, and Yechiam Yemini. "On generic rigidity in the plane." SIAM Journal on Algebraic Discrete ...
6 votes
1 answer
388 views

Covering number estimates on closed Riemannian manifolds

Let $(M^n,g)$ be an $n$-dimensional compact and connected Riemannian manifold with sectional curvature bounded above and below by $c,C$. Is it possible/known how to express the external covering ...
22 votes
3 answers
1k views

Equilaterally triangulated surfaces with prescribed boundary

There is a problem in Richard Kenyon's list (Wayback Machine) which I would like to post here, because although I have thought about it from time to time, I have not been able to make the slightest ...
15 votes
2 answers
885 views

Lattice n-gons with ordered side lengths 1,2,3,...,n

Consider the octagon in the Cartesian plane with vertices at (0,0), (1,0), (1,2), (4,2), (4,6), (7,2), (7,8), and (0,8). Are there other (infinitely many) polygons, such as this, lying entirely in the ...
4 votes
1 answer
492 views

Generalization of the "double cap conjecture" to a vector space with complex field

The conjecture that I proposed in Maximal set on hypersphere that does not contain pairs of orthogonal vectors is in fact known as the "double cap conjecture", as noted by Guillaume Aubrun. See for ...
4 votes
1 answer
298 views

Does Kalai's $3^d$ conjecture hold for simplicial spheres?

Kalai's $3^d$ conjecture asserts that every centrally symmetric $d$-polytope has at least $3^d$ non-empty faces. This is open in general, but has been proven for simplicial polytopes. Question: Does ...
4 votes
0 answers
222 views

What does it mean "parallel"?

I am thinking on a strict definition of the notion of parallel affine sets in a linear space and came to the following Definition 1: An affine set $A$ is parallel to an affine set $B$ in a linear ...
5 votes
1 answer
397 views

How much of an aperiodic tiling is needed to force aperiodicity?

Consider an aperiodic tiling. By definition, there is a $C$ such that, for any box of side $C$, the part of the tiling contained in the box can be continued to the whole plane only in a non-periodic ...
1 vote
1 answer
221 views

What properties are preserved by quasi-isometries

Recently, I came across the notion of quasi-isometries, while thinking of "discrete spaces which are surrogates for approximate continuous ones". What (metric)/geometric properties are ...
3 votes
0 answers
187 views

Approximating any $d$-dimensional convex shape that occupies a constant fraction of its bounding box with a polytope having $\mathrm{poly}(d)$ facets

Given any convex set $A\in\mathbb{R}^d$, we denote by $V(A)$ its $d$-volume. Furthermore, given any two convex sets $A_1,A_2\in\mathbb{R}^d$, we denote by $V_{A_1,A_2}$ the $d$-volume of the symmetric ...
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 \...
16 votes
4 answers
2k views

Point sets in Euclidean space with a small number of distinct distances

It is well known and not hard to prove that the regular simplex in n-dimensions is the only way to place n+1 points so that the distance between distinct pairs of points is always the same. My general ...
1 vote
0 answers
111 views

Maximizing the minimum curvature of a convex shape with a given volume in higher dimensions

Given any $d$-dimensional convex shape $S$ in the Euclidean space with $d\gg 1$, let $K_{\min}(S)$ be the minimum value of the Gaussian curvature of its boundary. Question: What is the maximum value $...
3 votes
1 answer
218 views

Bounding the number of facets of a polytope to approximate a given convex shape in higher dimensions

We are given a convex shape $S$ lying inside the hypercube $[0,1]^d$ in the $d$-dimensional Euclidean space. Let the volume $V(S)$ of $S$ be $\tfrac12$ (I guess nothing changes for any other fixed ...
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 ...
8 votes
1 answer
361 views

Inscribed $n$-polytope with $2^n$ vertices of maximal volume

The question is in the title: Question: Which inscribed $n$-dimensional polytope (inscribed in the unit sphere) with $2^n$ vertices has the largest possible volume? Is it the $n$-dimensional cube? ...
0 votes
0 answers
49 views

When can a compact metric space be covered by finitely many nearly-disjoint closed and convex sets?

This question is a follow-up of the following negative question. Let $(X,d)$ be a (non-empty) compact metric space. More generally than in the first post, I'll call a set of non-empty subsets $C_1,\...
3 votes
2 answers
438 views

If a polytope is centrally symmetric and combinatorially equivalent to a zonotope, is it a zonotope?

A zonotope is a polytope whose 2-faces are centrally symmetric. Question: If a polytope $P$ is centrally symmetric and combinatorially equivalent to a zonotope, is it itself a zonotope?
21 votes
3 answers
936 views

Cutting of a regular polygon into congruent pieces

Question. For which $N$ it is possible to cut a regular $N$-gon into congruent pieces such that the center of the regular polygon lies strictly inside one of the pieces? For $N=3,4$ there are trivial ...
2 votes
1 answer
84 views

What is the average component size of a coloring?

Supose each cell of a big (or infinite) grid is colored at random by one of $k$ colors. Then the connected monochromatic components (here components are not supposed to contain "wasp waists",...
9 votes
3 answers
1k views

Generalization of Sylvester-Gallai theorem

The Sylvester-Gallai theorem states that it is not possible to arrange a finite number of points so that a line through every two of them passes through a third unless they are all on a single ...
8 votes
3 answers
390 views

Is there any edge- but not vertex-transitive polytope in $d\ge 4$ dimensions?

I consider convex polytopes $P\subset\Bbb R^d$. The polytope is called vertex- resp. edge-transitive, if any vertex resp. edge can be mapped to any other by a symmetry of the polytope. I am looking ...
7 votes
0 answers
254 views

Set of unit vectors such that among any three there is an orthogonal pair

I was fascinated by the solutions of Problem 8 of the IMC 2021 contest, which can be summarized as: Theorem 1. Let $v_1,\dotsc,v_N$ be distinct unit vectors in $\mathbb{R}^n$ such that among any three ...
28 votes
5 answers
2k views

Visibility of vertices in polyhedra

Suppose $P$ is a closed polyhedron in space (i.e. a union of polygons which is homeomorphic to $S^2$) and $X$ is an interior point of $P$. Is it true that $X$ can see at least one vertex of $P$? More ...
5 votes
0 answers
235 views

Arrangement of points, lines, and planes

Is it possible to construct a finite nontrivial arrangement of points, lines, and planes in 3-dimensional Euclidean space with the following properties? every line is incident with four points and ...
2 votes
0 answers
131 views

Maximum number of regions in a disk partitioned by pairs of parallel chords

We are given a disk $D$ in $\mathbb{R}^2$. Let $C$ be its boundary (i.e., the circle bounding $D$ on its plane). Let $P(n,d)$ be a set of $n$ pairs of chords of $C$ such that for each $\{c,c'\}\in P(n,...
5 votes
0 answers
190 views

The existence of $n$-sided cells in regular $m$-gons

For any integer $n >= 3$, does there exist a regular $m$-gon with all diagonals drawn containing a cell with $n$ sides? See A342222 and its cross-references. Regular polygon on the Wiki.   &...
2 votes
1 answer
151 views

Given an input point in $\mathbb{R}^n$, select (one of) the closest point(s) from a fixed large set of points given in advance

We are given a set $S$ of $m\gg 1$ points in $\mathbb{R}^n$. In the problem I am trying to solve, in a sequential fashion, we obtain a new point $p_r\not\in S$ at each round $r\ge 1$ and the goal is ...
2 votes
1 answer
143 views

Triangles and convex hulls in high dimensions

Given a set $S_n$ of $n$ points $\mathbf{x}_1, \mathbf{x}_2, \ldots, \mathbf{x}_n\in\mathbb{R}^d$, such that every $(d+1)$-tuple in $S_n$ is affinely independent, and let $C(S_n)$ be the convex hull ...
1 vote
0 answers
124 views

Number of lattice points in a structural symmetric convex body

Let $f$ is a convex symmetric function on the interval $[-a,a]$, i.e., $f(-x)=f(x)$ for $\forall \, x\in [-a,a]$. Then we consider a $n$-dimensional convex body in Euclidean space \begin{equation} \...
22 votes
1 answer
886 views

Happy ants never leave compact domain?

I am curious if the following seemingly simple question has an easy answer? Consider an ant population of $N$ ants that lives in $\mathbb R^2$. Each ant can be labeled by some coordinate $x\in \mathbb ...
2 votes
1 answer
151 views

Graph immersed into the plane with segments as edges and we search for matching with no edges intersecting

There are some points in the plane and some of them are connected with segments between them. We look at this structure as a graph immersed into the plane where the points are the vertices and the ...
3 votes
1 answer
143 views

Combinatorial Euclidean geometry problem

Let $\mathcal{S}^d_{\epsilon}$ be the collection of all sets $S:=\{\mathbf{x}_1, \mathbf{x}_2, \ldots \mathbf{x}_{d+1}\}$ of $d+1$ points in a $d$-dimensional Euclidean space such that, for a given ...
2 votes
1 answer
404 views

Euclidean distance bound with geometric constraints

Let $S_n$ be a set of $n$ points belonging to $\mathcal{B}_d:=\{\mathbf{x}\in\mathbb{R}^d:\|\mathbf{x}\|_2\le 1\}$, where $d\ll \log(n)$. Let $s_n$ and $\ell_n$ be respectively defined as follows: $$...
9 votes
1 answer
160 views

Hyperplane arrangements whose regions all have the same shape

Suppose I have a (finite, real, central, essential) hyperplane arrangement $\mathcal{H}$ such that all regions "have the same shape": for any two regions $R,R'$, there is an orthogonal ...
2 votes
0 answers
131 views

Optimal way to group points in the plane into clusters

Consider a strictly decreasing sequence $d = (d_k)_{k\ge 1}$ of distances in $(0,1)$. Given a constant $C>2$, we say that $d$ has the $C$-grouping property if any finite non-empty subset $S$ (of ...
1 vote
0 answers
81 views

Constructive way to optimally cover a compact subset of Euclidean space

Let, $(X,d)$ be a simply connected compact subset of $\mathbb{R}^d$ with non-empty interiorn, let $d$ denote the Euclidean metric, and let $\varepsilon>0$. Is there a way to iteratively select ...
17 votes
4 answers
1k views

Can I build infinitely many polytopes from only finitely many prescribed facets?

Given a finite set of convex $d$-dimensional polytopes $\mathcal P$, for some $d\ge 2$. Question: Is it true that there are only finitely many different convex $(d+1)$-dimensional polytopes whose ...
5 votes
1 answer
114 views

Packing in uniform domains

Given $N$ points $X:=(x_i)_{i \in \{1,..,N\}}$, we now define a score function $S:X \rightarrow \mathbb{N}$ that is $S(X)= \sum_{i=1}^N S(x_i)$ where the score of $S(x_i)$ is $$S(x_i) = 2* \vert \{x_j;...
5 votes
0 answers
313 views

Trade-off between covering number, ball radius and diameter of $d$-dimensional shapes

Given any $d$-dimensional shape $X$ in the Euclidean space, let $\ell(X)$ be the length of the longest line segment connecting two points of $X$. How can we prove the following statement? There exists ...
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 ...
3 votes
0 answers
134 views

Two questions on counterexamples to Borsuk's conjecture and ball-packings

In 1933 Karol Borsuk conjectured the following Can every bounded subset $E$ of $\mathbb{R}^d$ be partitioned into $(d+1)$ sets, each of which has a smaller diameter than $E$? Whilst new to this ...