Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.3 4.3bsd-beta 6/6/85; site sdcc3.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!ittatc!dcdwest!sdcsvax!sdcc3!bi50xrs From: bi50xrs@sdcc3.UUCP (rich) Newsgroups: net.puzzle Subject: Re: *** The infamous PIRATE PROBLEM *** spoiler Message-ID: <3060@sdcc3.UUCP> Date: Tue, 29-Oct-85 00:21:31 EST Article-I.D.: sdcc3.3060 Posted: Tue Oct 29 00:21:31 1985 Date-Received: Thu, 31-Oct-85 23:45:29 EST References: <3187@think.ARPA> Reply-To: bi50xrs@sdcc3.UUCP (rich) Distribution: net Organization: lack of Lines: 10 interesting problem. well let's see. it seems to me that what you just described is the geometrical proof for the focus points of an ellipse without stating that it needs to be an ellipse. nevertheless, the proof follows that as long as the surface is continuous and that the distances are measured accurately, the focus always will match the distance. because the angles are 90 degrees, the sum of the triangles' areas must equal the area of the surface. so that the two distances must equal. phil