Sam Wormley
Guest
|
 Posted: Sat May 26, 2007 9:14 am Post subject: Math Trek: Covering New Ground with Polygons |
 |
|
Covering New Ground with Polygons
http://www.sciencenews.org/articles/20070526/mathtrek.asp
Julie J. Rehmeyer
Grab a pen and draw a figure. Follow a few rules: keep your lines
straight, don't pick up your pen, don't cross the lines, and finish at
the spot where you starUted. You'll have a polygon.
Polygons are among the simplest mathematical objects in existence. Even
so, they hold mysteries. Here's one: What is the polygon with the
largest area that has n sides and fixed diameter?
Mathematicians still don't know. Michael Mossinghoff of Davidson (N.C.)
College has made some recent advances on the question, however. In
January, he presented them at the 2007 Joint Mathematics Meetings in
New Orleans. Mathematicians had already tackled the problem for some
types of polygons, but Mossinghoff broke new ground for polygons with
an even number of sides numbering 10 or more.
See: http://www.sciencenews.org/articles/20070526/mathtrek.asp |
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
