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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
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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