In our previous post, we learned how to construct a regular polygon with 15 sides using compass and straightedge. The interesting part of the construction is that it is based on the integer solutions of the Diophantine equation 3x + 5y = 1.
We have also learned about the measuring liquid puzzle - "how to measure out exactly 1 liter of water using a 3-liter jug and a 5-liter jug." Again, we showed that the answers to the puzzle correspond to integer solutions of the equation 3x + 5y = 1.
Today, let us consider a third problem that is related to the equation 3x + 5y = 1.
We will state the problem and pose some questions for the reader to think about.
A game of running bug. The rule of the game is, each time we can move the bug either 3 steps or 5 steps to the left or to the right.
Questions are:
- How can we move the bug from a point A to a point next to it? Is there a relationship between the moves and the equation 3x+5y=1?
- Prove that, from a point A, after a number of times, we can move the bug to an arbitrary point B on the line.
- Instead of letting the bug running on a line, we change the game so that the bug is moving on a circle. Is there a relationship between this game and the construction problem?
Happy thinking and see you again in our next post!