SPUG: Stick Riddle

[Michael R. Wolf]

Sanford Morton <smorton at pobox.com> writes:

> Choose two points (x,y) on the unit interval [0,1]:
> 
>    0-------x----------y----1
> 

[...]

> Now fold the interval at the chosen points.
> 
>    0.......x__________y....1
>            |          |
>            |          |
>            |          |
>            |

[...]


>        y
>        
>      1 |----------------------|
>        |..........            |
>        |.......               |
>        |.....                 |
>        |...                   |
>     1/2|.                    .|
>        |                   ...|
>        |                ......|
>        |             .........|
>        |          ............|
>        |----------------------|-  x
>     		 1/2          1


You've elegantly transformed the 1-dimension(2 parameter) problem into
a 2-dimension(1 point) problem.  Bravo!  What a great perspective
change from which to view the solution space.

This kind of side-ways thinking is why I love following these kinds of
discussions, and why I'm so often surprised at how simple (or hard) a
problem can become when a separate perspective is taken.

Thanks for the paradigm shift!

-- 
Michael R. Wolf
    All mammals learn by playing!
        MichaelRunningWolf at att.net


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