Several special cases of a square problem
Yang Jian Ji
Abstract
Open-access reader
Yang Jian Ji
Abstract
Open-access reader
Here is a square problem: in a unit square, is there a point with four rational distances to the vertices? A probability argument suggests a negative answer. This paper proves several special cases of the square problem: if the point sits on the diagonals, the midlines or the edges of the square, or the side-length of the square is n times the distance from the point to one side (both $n$ and $(n^2+4)$ are prime numbers), the distances from this point to the four vertices can not be all rational. However, this paper does not prove a more general situation. The proof here can be extended to the whole plane, instead of being limited to the interior of the square. Key Words: discrete Geometry; rational distance; a square problem.
A significance statement is not available in the OpenAlex record.
A contribution statement is not available in the OpenAlex record.
Method details are not available in the OpenAlex metadata.
Findings are not separately available in the OpenAlex metadata.
Limitations are not available in the OpenAlex metadata.
Application details are not available in the OpenAlex metadata.
Here is a square problem: in a unit square, is there a point with four rational distances to the vertices? A probability argument suggests a negative answer. This paper proves several special cases of the square problem: if the point sits on the diagonals, the midlines or the edges of the square, or the side-length of the square is n times the distance from the point to one side (both $n$ and $(n^2+4)$ are prime numbers), the distances from this point to the four vertices can not be all rational. However, this paper does not prove a more general situation. The proof here can be extended to the whole plane, instead of being limited to the interior of the square. Key Words: discrete Geometry; rational distance; a square problem.
Key concepts: Square (algebra), Unit square, Diagonal, Mathematics, Point (geometry), Plane (geometry), Combinatorics, Square root