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Geometry Difficulty 8.3 Shortlist Prove it Slovenia

For what positive integers n3n \ge 3 does there exist a convex nn-gon which can be divided into finitely many parallelograms?

Solution

We will show that an nn-gon with this property exists for nn even, but not for nn odd.
Assume that a convex nn-gon can be divided into finitely many parallelograms. Denote one of the sides by aa. There exists a parallelogram with one side lying on aa. Denote the opposite side of this parallelogram by b1b_1. If b1b_1 does not lie on some side of the nn-gon, then there exists a parallelogram that shares a segment with b1b_1. Denote the opposite side of this parallelogram by b2b_2. Repeat.
Figure 1
The parallelograms obtained in this way are all distinct. Since there are only finitely many parallelograms altogether, we eventually (after a finite number of steps) get to a side bkb_k, which lies on some side cc of the nn-gon.
Since the segments bib_i and bi+1b_{i+1} are parallel for all ii, aa is parallel to b1b_1 and cc is parallel to bkb_k, we conclude that aa and cc are also parallel. Obviously, cac \neq a. We have shown that for each side of our nn-gon we can find another side parallel to the first.
Since the nn-gon is convex no three of its sides are parallel. Indeed, denote the vertices of the nn-gon by A1,A2,,AnA_1, A_2, \dots, A_n. Because of the convexity we have
0<(A1A2,A2A3)<(A1A2,A3A4)<<(A1A2,An1An)<(A1A2,AnA1)<2π \begin{aligned} 0 < & \angle(\overrightarrow{A_1A_2}, \overrightarrow{A_2A_3}) < \angle(\overrightarrow{A_1A_2}, \overrightarrow{A_3A_4}) < \\ & \vdots \\ < & \angle(\overrightarrow{A_1A_2}, \overrightarrow{A_{n-1}A_n}) < \angle(\overrightarrow{A_1A_2}, \overrightarrow{A_nA_1}) < 2\pi \end{aligned}
(the angles are measured in the positive direction from the first vector to the second). Hence, there is only one number ii such that (A1A2,AiAi+1)=π\angle(\overrightarrow{A_1A_2}, \overrightarrow{A_iA_{i+1}}) = \pi. We conclude that the segment AiAi+1A_iA_{i+1} is parallel to A1A2A_1A_2. This nn-gon has pairs of parallel sides. In particular, the number of the sides is even, so nn is even. We have hereby shown that an nn-gon with the required property does not exist for nn odd.

Now, let us prove by induction that for all even n3n \ge 3 every convex nn-gon consisting of pairs of parallel segments of equal length can be divided into finitely many parallelograms. If n=4n = 4, then this 4-gon is a parallelogram and
such a splitting exists. Now, assume that we already have the division of an nn-gon into finitely many parallelograms for some even nn.
Consider a (n+2)(n+2)-gon consisting of pairs of parallel segments of equal length. Denote its vertices by A1,A2,,An+2A_1, A_2, \dots, A_{n+2}. Assume that A1A2A_1A_2 and Ak,Ak+1A_k, A_{k+1} are parallel and of equal length. Let τ\tau be the translation by A2A1\overrightarrow{A_2A_1}. Denote Ai=τ(Ai)A'_i = \tau(A_i) for all 2ik2 \le i \le k. We have A2=A1A'_2 = A_1 and Ak=Ak+1A'_k = A_{k+1}.
Since τ\tau is a translation, the quadrilateral AiAiAi+1Ai+1A'_iA_iA_{i+1}A'_{i+1} is a parallelogram for all i=2,3,,k1i = 2, 3, \dots, k-1. At the same
Figure 2
time, A2A3AkAk+2Ak+3An+2A'_2A'_3\dots A'_kA_{k+2}A_{k+3}\dots A_{n+2} is a convex nn-gon consisting only of pairs of parallel sides of equal length. By the induction hypothesis it can be divided into finitely many parallelograms. Hence, the (n+2)(n+2)-gon can also be divided into finitely many parallelograms.

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