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Wednesday, December 10, 2014

Solution to monochromatic equilateral triangle puzzle

This is a solution to the math puzzle posted earlier.

We will post a solution to the variant (which also solves the main puzzle).

The problem:

Each point of 2D plane is coloured either black or white. Given three positive angles α+β+γ=180, show that there are there points A,B,C of the same colour such that the triangle formed by those three has the angles α,β,γ.

Solution

The solution is quite similar to the one posted in the comments by 226.

First we show that there are three collinear points X,Y,Z which are coloured the same, and Y is the midpoint of X and Z.

Assume that is not true.

Consider two points which are coloured the same (say black, wlog). Say they are (0,0) and (2a,0).

Now (a,0), (2a,0) and (4a,0) must be coloured white. These three points satisfy the requirement.

Say X,Y,Z are coloured black.

Let γ=max{α,β,γ}

Let P,Q be such that YXP=ZYQ=α and XYP=YZQ=β. Both XYP and YZQ have the angles α,β,γ.

Ths P and Q must both be coloured white.

Now consider point R such that QPR=ZXR=α and PQR=XZR=β

Triangle PQR also has the given angles, and so R must be black. But XZR also has the given angles, and all vertices are black.

Basically, XZR is an α,β,γ triangle, and P,Q,Y are the midpoints of the sides of XZR.

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