Solution to the 4 Travelers problem

The following is based on the proof to the Four Travelers problem posted by Rob Fatland at the CTK Exchange. To remind, here is the problem:

The solution is simple and beautiful.

Assuming that no meetings have taken place yet, in the rest frame of traveller #1, travellers #2, #3, and #4 all approach #1 along straight lines that can be defined in terms of angles (say a₂, a₃, and a₄). Of course once they meet #1 they depart along the same lines with the new headings (a_k + 180^o) etcetera.

We can determine a₂ by observing #2 at just about any time (since a₂ is constant). So, let's choose the moment that #2 meets #3. This gives us #3's angle a₃ as well, the same: a₂ = a₃. Similarly since #2 meets #4 we have a₂ = a₄.

Thus from #1's perspective, #2, #3, and #4 are all travelling along the same line that goes towards #1 which exactly means that the four are collinear.

Note that the argument breaks down if the equality of angles can't be obtained. This only happens if the meeting point of, say, #2 and #3 coincides with the position of #1, i.e. when #1, #2, and #3 meet simultaneously, i.e., when their roads are concurrent. But this case is excluded by the problem's premises.

(The latter observation is due to S. Anderson. There is a dynamic illustration for Rob's argument.)

Copyright © 1996-2009 Alexander Bogomolny