An acute angle with vertex and size is given on a plane. Points and are chosen on different sides of the angle in such a way that . Whenever points are defined, the next point on side is allowed to be defined in such a way that and . Prove that this process cannot last infinitely and determine the largest index (depending on and ) for which can be defined.
Solution
Let for some be definable (Fig. 30). By construction, , , and are collinear, whereby cannot lie between and . Since and , the triangle is isosceles, so that and . Consequently,
Fig. 30
. Since , by induction we get . Hence defining of assumes that and . These conditions are also sufficient, because if , meaning that , then point can be chosen different from on the line , and if , meaning that , then this point is located on the side .
Summing up, the largest for which is definable equals if for some integer , or equivalently, is a non-negative integer, and otherwise. Figures 31 and 32 depict the situation in the first and second case, respectively.

Fig. 31

Fig. 32
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