Teach Time Encyclopedia - Learn About Our World
Home Page
Teach Time
Featured Topics

United States
by state

CITYology

Academic Disciplines

Historical Timelines

Themed Timelines

Calendars

Reference Tables

Biographies

How-tos



Thursday, July 24, 2008

Bolyai-Gerwien theorem

In geometry, the Bolyai-Gerwien theorem states that if two simple polygons of equal area are given, one can cut the first into finitely many polygonal pieces and rearrange the pieces to obtain the second polygon.

"Rearrangement" means that one may apply a translation and a rotation to every polygonal piece.

Unlike the solution to Tarski's circle squaring problem, the axiom of choice is not required for the proof, and the decomposition and reassembly can actually be carried out "physically".

Higher dimensions

The analogous statement about polyhedra in three dimensions, known as Hilbert's third problem, is false. This was proven by Max Dehn in 1900. The answer is unknown for dimensions higher than 3.

History

Wolfgang Bolyai first formulated the question. Gerwien proved the theorem in 1833, but in fact William Wallace had proven the same result already in 1807.



Internet Hotel Solutions

Site Sponsors
AC Units
Baltimore Harbor
Boot Camp Grads
Bra Size
Burkittsville
College Hotels
Digital Harbor
Free Cell Phones
Golden Hare Travel
Golf Vacations
Golf Courses
Gourmet
Hair Styles
Hippodrome
iWoman
Lesson Plans
Maryland Hotels
MD Genealogy
Minor League Stuff
Motel Site
Ocean City
OC Real Estate
Old Agers
Office Supplies
Orlando
Pet Friendly Hotel
Room Prices
Savannah, GA
Ski Vacations
South Baltimore
Student Teaching
Travel Sources
University Hotels
Visit Military Bases
Washington, DC

Brought to you by NoChildLeftBehind.com and the Beaches and Towns Network, LLC.