Take some point V and draw two rays from it. Choose some other point W in between those two rays. Then, construct a line that touches both rays and passes through W.

Now, this line forms a closed triangle together with the two rays. The point W divides this line into two segments (x1, x2). What is the ratio of these two segments such that the area of the enclosed triangle is minimal?

Does this minimal area even exist?

(In reply to re: Thoughts by brianjn)

That comment was not a solution, it
was an observation that asking for
the ratio of these two segments without
specifying x1/x2 or x2/x1 then one might
assume that they are equal and therefore
that the ratio equals one.

I think I will propose the problem.

When I first read the problem I thought
it was going to ask that x1+x2 be 
minimized instead of the area. This is
a famous problem - but for the life of me
I cannot remember its name ( maybe somebody
can help me here ).

I am waiting for V-L V's solution so I can
see why he thought it was only a D2.

Posted by Bractals on 2010-03-30 19:57:51