Let T(n) be a triangular portion of the triangular grid with n points on a side. It is an unsolved problem what the maximum number of points is that can be selected from T(n) so that no three selected points are the vertices of an equilateral triangle. For small values of n the maximum appears to be 2n-2. However, for T(12), shown below, I found more than 2*12-2=22 points, no three of which are the vertices of an equilateral triangle! How many can you find?
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Examples:
Here's an example of 5 points selected from T(4), no three of which are the vertices of an equilateral triangle.
It turns out that this selection of 5 cannot be increased to 6 without three of the selected points being the vertices of an equilateral triangle. If we add the first point in the second row, we get
Notice that three of the 6 s's are the vertices of an equilateral triangle.
There is a better selection of 6 points in T(4) no three of which are the vertices of an equilateral triangle.
(In reply to
Solve a Simpler Problem by Gamer)
The number of points indeed grows faster than 2n-2 when placed as you describe. And when n is a prime, sometimes you can apply the trick to T(n+1) and delete a row (or side), obtaining a big selection for T(n). Unfortunately, owl's selection and mine for T(12) do not increase the maximum for T(11) because all three sides of T(12) contain at least 4 selected points.
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Posted by McWorter
on 2005-08-19 04:45:39 |
re: Solve a Simpler Problem
