Two vertices of a cube are given in space. The locus of points that could be a third vertex of the cube is the union of circles. Find .
Solution
Let the distance between the two given vertices be 1. If the two given vertices are adjacent, then the other vertices lie on four circles, two of radius 1 and two of radius . If the two vertices are separated by a diagonal of a face of the cube, then the locus of possible vertices adjacent to both of them is a circle of radius , the locus of possible vertices adjacent to exactly one of them is two circles of radius , and the locus of possible vertices adjacent to neither of them is a circle of radius . If the two given vertices are separated by a long diagonal, then each of the other vertices lie on one of two circles of radius , for a total of 10 circles.
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