Equidecomposition of Two Parallelograms
What is this about?
A Mathematical Droodle


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Explanation

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Copyright © 1996-2018 Alexander Bogomolny

The applet purports to illustrate a simple fact:

Two parallelograms with equal areas and bases are equidecomposable.

This is of course a direct consequence of the Wallace-Bolyai-Gerwien Theorem. However, as the proof goes, the number of pieces that is produced is greatly exaggerated. In particular cases it is always possible to use fewer pieces. The case of two parallelograms above serves to illustrate that point.

Equidecomposition by Dissiection

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Copyright © 1996-2018 Alexander Bogomolny

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