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The enigma of the triangular pyramid

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Abstract

This is a story about an old problem of the outstanding French geometer J.D.Gergonne. It is about the answer to this problem which was widely accepted as correct (and rigorously proved) for many decades, and cited as such in highly respected encyclopedias, but is in reality absolutely erroneous — the right answer is just the opposite. It is a story about two other problems closely related to that of Gergonne, about the possibility of finding highly plausible answers to them via computer experimentation.

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References

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mathematics, University of Utah, JWB 233 155 South 1400 East, 84112, Salt Lake City, UT, USA

    Alexander M. Balk

  2. Department of Mathematics, Smolensk Pedagogical University, Przhevalski str. 4, 214000, Smolensk, Russia

    Mark B. Balk

Authors
  1. Alexander M. Balk
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  2. Mark B. Balk
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Balk, A.M., Balk, M.B. The enigma of the triangular pyramid. J Geom 62, 13–25 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01237596

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01237596

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