7.57 Let be a finite set of points in the plane. For any two points and in , there exists a third point such that is an equilateral triangle. Find the maximum number of elements in .
Problem 768
Official solution
[Solution] Consider the distance between any two points in , and let be the line segment connecting the two points with the greatest distance.
By the problem's condition, there exists a point such that is an equilateral triangle.
Construct arcs with as centers and as the radius, then we get the curved triangle as shown in the figure, and all points in are within this curved triangle.
If has another point different from .
Consider the position of .
(1) If is inside or on the boundary of , then for there is a third point such that is an equilateral triangle. At this time, cannot be inside , can only be inside or on the boundary of one of the segments of the arc.
Connect , then there is a third point such that is an equilateral triangle.
If and are on the same side of the line , then by
at this time is outside the curved triangle.
If and are on the same side of the line , then similarly, is outside the curved triangle.
Thus, a contradiction arises.
(2) If is inside or on the boundary of the segment of the arc, by (1), is also outside the curved triangle, leading to a contradiction.
By (1) and (2), the maximum number of elements in is 3.