English

Width deviation of convex polygons

Probability 2022-01-19 v1 Combinatorics Metric Geometry Number Theory

Abstract

We consider the width XT(ω)X_T(\omega) of a convex nn-gon TT in the plane along the random direction ωR/2πZ\omega\in\mathbb{R}/2\pi \mathbb{Z} and study its deviation rate: δ(XT)=E(XT2)E(XT)2E(XT). \delta(X_T)=\frac{\sqrt{\mathbb{E}(X^2_T)-\mathbb{E}(X_T)^2}}{\mathbb{E}(X_T)}. We prove that the maximum is attained if and only if TT degenerates to a 22-gon. Let n2n\geq 2 be an integer which is not a power of 22. We show that π4ntan(π2n)+π28n2sin2(π2n)1 \sqrt{\frac{\pi}{4n\tan(\frac{\pi}{2n})} +\frac{\pi^2}{8n^2\sin^2(\frac{\pi}{2n})}-1} is the minimum of δ(XT)\delta(X_T) among all nn-gons and determine completely the shapes of TT's which attain this minimum. They are characterized as polygonal approximations of equi-Reuleaux bodies, found and studied by K.~Reinhardt. In particular, if nn is odd, then the regular nn-gon is one of the minimum shapes. When nn is even, we see that regular nn-gon is far from optimal.We also observe an unexpected property of the deviation rate on the truncation of the regular triangle.

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Cite

@article{arxiv.2201.06736,
  title  = {Width deviation of convex polygons},
  author = {Shigeki Akiyama and Teturo Kamae},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2201.06736},
  year   = {2022}
}

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R2 v1 2026-06-24T08:53:07.177Z