All about flooble | fun stuff | Get a free chatterbox | Free JavaScript | Avatars    
perplexus dot info

Home > Shapes > Geometry
Tri Square (Posted on 2012-09-16) Difficulty: 3 of 5
Two rectangles, shown below, are drawn on an isometric grid whose closest points are 1m apart. Draw a square whose vertices coincide with grid points, or prove that no such square exists.

  Submitted by Dustin    
Rating: 3.0000 (1 votes)
Solution: (Hide)
Pick any point on the grid and call it (0,0), and have it be the first point of the square. All other points on the grid are of the form (k/2, m*sqrt(3)), where k and m are integers. In other words, the x-values are all rational, and the y-values are all irrational (except where m=0).

If you choose point (s,t) as the second point of the square, where s and t are both non-zero, the third point must be (t,-s) [or (-t,s)]. But the x-value would then be irrational, and the y-value rational, and therefore does not exist on the grid.

If you choose point (s,0) as the second point, the third point must be (0,s) [or (0,-s)], but then the y-value would be rational, and would not exist on the grid.

If you choose point (0,t) as the second point, the third point must be (t,0) [or (-t,0)], but then the x-value would be irrational, and would not exist on the grid.

Therefore, no third point can exist [other than the trivial (0,0)].

Comments: ( You must be logged in to post comments.)
  Subject Author Date
Very close....broll2012-09-17 01:12:46
Hesitationbrianjn2012-09-16 22:46:34
Some Thoughtsnot a proof except for a limited gridCharlie2012-09-16 20:53:47
Please log in:
Login:
Password:
Remember me:
Sign up! | Forgot password


Search:
Search body:
Forums (1)
Newest Problems
Random Problem
FAQ | About This Site
Site Statistics
New Comments (22)
Unsolved Problems
Top Rated Problems
This month's top
Most Commented On

Chatterbox:
Copyright © 2002 - 2024 by Animus Pactum Consulting. All rights reserved. Privacy Information