You are here

Sides of a Rectangle

Given a rectangle with vertices \((0,0) (a,0), (0,b)\) and \((a,b)\), find the line segment through vertex \((0,0)\) of minimum length that passes through the extensions of the two opposite sides.

Instituzioni Analitiche (Analytic Institutions), Maria Agnesi, 1748

Click here to reveal the answer

 

"Sides of a Rectangle," Convergence (April 2004)