Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84 exptools; site whuxlm.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!cbosgd!ihnp4!whuxlm!wws From: wws@whuxlm.UUCP (Stoll W William) Newsgroups: net.puzzle Subject: Re: a good interview question (manhole covers) Message-ID: <711@whuxlm.UUCP> Date: Sun, 17-Mar-85 14:57:18 EST Article-I.D.: whuxlm.711 Posted: Sun Mar 17 14:57:18 1985 Date-Received: Mon, 18-Mar-85 02:16:42 EST References: <1300@ut-sally.UUCP> <441@hou2b.UUCP> <9248@brl-tgr.ARPA> Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories, Whippany Lines: 14 > > There is a shape other than a circle which would prevent the manhole > > cover from falling through. What is it? > > There are several. > Triangle, pentagon, etc... > I disagree that triangles and pentagons couldn't fall through. If you stand them flat on one of their sides, the height will always be less than if you pivot them (slightly) on a vertex. Can anyone express this mathematically? -- I was never the geometry wizard. Bill Stoll, ..!whuxlm!wws