Math Forum - Project of the Month


TTN's Winning Entry
Rectangular grid has x intersections with segments AB. (A(0,0),B(p,q)). These x points made x-1 segments and obviously each of these segments goes through exactly one unit square so if we find the number of intersections we'd solve the problem. Segment AB intersects with p+1 vertical and q+1 horizontal lines in rectangular grid. It goes through gcd(p,q)+1 points which have both coordinates integer (gcd(p,q)is greatest common divider of p and q). So, at last we get x= p+1+q+1-(gcd(p,q)+1)=p+q-gcd(p,q)+1 The answer is: line AB passes through p+q - gcd(p,q) unit squares. This project of the month is solved by the group TTM from V. gimnazija, Zagreb,Croatia.

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