Problem:
Let be an integer at least . At most how many diagonals of a regular -gon can be simultaneously drawn so that no two are parallel? Prove your answer.
Problem:
Let be an integer at least . At most how many diagonals of a regular -gon can be simultaneously drawn so that no two are parallel? Prove your answer.
Solution:
Let be the center of the -gon. Let us consider two cases, based on the parity of :
- is odd. In this case, for each diagonal , there is exactly one vertex of the -gon, such that is perpendicular to line ; and of course, for each vertex , there is at least one diagonal perpendicular to , because . The problem of picking a bunch of 's so that no two are parallel is thus transmuted into one of picking a bunch of 's so that none of the corresponding 's are the same. Well, go figure.
- is even. What can I say? For each diagonal , the perpendicular dropped from to either passes through two opposite vertices of the -gon, or else bisects two opposite sides. Conversely, for each line joining opposite vertices or bisecting opposite sides, there is at least one diagonal perpendicular to it, because . By reasoning similar to the odd case, we find the answer to be .