|
|
Re: variation on a familiar calculus problem
Posted:
May 3, 2012 5:52 PM
|
|
|
|
specifically if the conditions are that you can form half of a regular polygon then half of a regular polygon you will form if you are trying to find the maximum area.
Bob Hansen
On May 3, 2012, at 4:31 PM, Wayne Bishop <wbishop@calstatela.edu> wrote:
> True, but the fact it might give the wrong answer should be taken into consideration as well.
>
> Wayne
>
> At 12:16 PM 5/3/2012, Robert Hansen wrote:
>> For odd N we can simply state that one side is perpendicular to the wall.
>>
>> Bob Hansen
>>
>> On May 3, 2012, at 12:53 PM, Wayne Bishop wrote:
>>
>>> Your question has an easy and obvious answer, it lacks symmetry; n-gons, for even n only, can safely be assumed. Taking n=4 only, as a heuristic argument, maybe shaky but with n=6, and maybe, n=8, I find it very persuasive. The three-dimensional bubble analogue is also very nice.
>>>
>>> Wayne
>>>
>>> At 07:23 AM 5/3/2012, Joe Niederberger wrote:
>>>> >The problem could have said 2 sides in which case you would arrive at a right isosceles triangle which when added to its mirror image would be a square (with the wall running across its diagonal)
>>>>
>>>> Why would one not start then with a equilateral triangle and half that?
>>>>
>>>> Anyway, I'm not questioning your instincts. However, I think the type of reasoning I'm outlining works without one even knowing about the special properties of circles and squares in advance.
>>>>
>>>> Joe N.
|
|
