English

Balancing unit vectors

Metric Geometry 2008-03-05 v1 Combinatorics

Abstract

Theorem A. Let x1,...,x2k+1x_1,...,x_{2k+1} be unit vectors in a normed plane. Then there exist signs \epsi1,...,\epsi2k+1{±1}\epsi_1,...,\epsi_{2k+1}\in\{\pm 1\} such that \normi=12k+1\epsiixi1\norm{\sum_{i=1}^{2k+1}\epsi_i x_i}\leq 1. We use the method of proof of the above theorem to show the following point facility location result, generalizing Proposition 6.4 of Y. S. Kupitz and H. Martini (1997). Theorem B. Let p0,p1,...,pnp_0,p_1,...,p_n be distinct points in a normed plane such that for any 1i<jn1\leq i<j\leq n the closed angle pip0pj\angle p_ip_0p_j contains a ray opposite some p0pk,1kn\overrightarrow{p_0p_k}, 1\leq k\leq n. Then p0p_0 is a Fermat-Toricelli point of {p0,p1,...,pn}\{p_0,p_1,...,p_n\}, i.e. x=p0x=p_0 minimizes i=0n\normxpi\sum_{i=0}^n\norm{x-p_i}. We also prove the following dynamic version of Theorem A. Theorem C. Let x1,x2,...x_1,x_2,... be a sequence of unit vectors in a normed plane. Then there exist signs \epsi1,\epsi2,...{±1}\epsi_1,\epsi_2,...\in\{\pm 1\} such that \normi=12k\epsiixi2\norm{\sum_{i=1}^{2k}\epsi_i x_i}\leq 2 for all kNk\in\N. Finally we discuss a variation of a two-player balancing game of J. Spencer (1977) related to Theorem C.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.0803.0460,
  title  = {Balancing unit vectors},
  author = {Konrad J. Swanepoel},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:0803.0460},
  year   = {2008}
}

Comments

7 pages

R2 v1 2026-06-21T10:18:13.216Z