Re: [MLUG - DISCUSSION] In Math, Computers Don't Lie. Or Do They?

[Mike Miller <EMAIL:PROTECTED>]

On Thu, 8 Apr 2004, Jonathan King wrote:

> > The line would have to hit either a side or a vertex.
>
> Atually, a side and a vertex or a side and a side (these are lines).

Sorry, I thought it had to extend infinitely in only one direction.

Can one make use of the following:  draw line segments from the interior
point to the vertices.  This divides the larger triangle into three
smaller triangles.  Then you can simplify the problem by noting that the
line must pass through the interior of at least one of the three
triangles.  The line will pass from a vertex of that small triangle
through the side opposite that vertex.  Of course, the side of the small
triangle opposite the vertex is also a side of the larger triangle.

That seems to give a start, but I don't know if the theorem can be proved
using Euclidean axioms.  Stephen suggested that it might be impossible to
do so, so I'm not going to try.  Even if I succeeded, I could only claim
that the drunken mathematician Stephen talked with was wrong, and that
wouldn't be much of a prize!

Mike
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