Cut the knot: learn to enjoy mathematics
A math books store at a unique math study site. Shopping at the store helps maintain the site. Thank you.
Learning Math Online
Sites for teachers
Sites for parents
Terms of use
Awards
Interactive Activities

CTK Exchange
CTK Wiki Math
CTK Insights - a blog
Math Help

III Millennium Olympiad

Games & Puzzles
What Is What
Arithmetic/Algebra
Geometry
Probability
Outline Mathematics
Make an Identity
Book Reviews
Stories for Young
Eye Opener
Analog Gadgets
Inventor's Paradox
Did you know?...
Proofs
Math as Language
Things Impossible
Visual Illusions
My Logo
Math Poll
Cut The Knot!
MSET99 Talk
Other Math sites
Front Page
Movie shortcuts
Personal info
Privacy Policy

Guest book
News sites

Recommend this site

Games to relax

Sites for teachers
Sites for parents

Education & Parenting

Manifesto  |  Bookstore  |  Contents  |  Amazon store  |  Term index  |  What changed?  |  Contact  |  Recommend
RSS Feed: Recent changes at CTK

Given any 6 points inside a circle of radius 1, some two of the 6 points are within 1 of each other.

I'll give two proofs.

Divide the circle into six equal circular sectors. If necessary, rotate the sectors around the center until one of the points (say, A) falls on one of the radii. Note that, since each sector is a portion of the Reuleaux triangle of width 1, no points in a sector are father from each other than 1.

If in one of the two sectors to which A belongs there is another point of the set, these two will be within 1 of each other. Otherwise, we are left with 4 sectors and 5 points and, thus, are able to claim that one of the sectors contains at least two points of the set. These two then satisfy the requirements.

The second proof is by William A McWorter Jr..

We may assume that no point is at the center O of the circle and that no two of the points are on a radius; for then we are done. Radii through O and each of the six points partition 360o into six parts, at least one of which is less or equal 60o. Let A and B be two of the points such that the AOB is less or equal 60o. AO and BO, being on radii, have length less or equal 1. But also, one of these segments is opposite an angle greater or equal 60o in the AOB. Hence the length of AB is less or equal that of one of AO or BO, both of which are less or equal 1.


Copyright © 1996-2009 Alexander Bogomolny

34222078Page copy protected against web site content infringement by Copyscape


Search:
Keywords:

Google
Web CTK