OFFSET
1,1
COMMENTS
The set of values for the integral-widths corridors and longest ladder are merely the cubes of Pythagorean triples, viz. (A046083, A046084, A009000).
The corridors' widths may be parametrically expressed as d*(sin x)^3 and d*(cos x)^3, for a longest ladder length d making an angle x with one of the corridors.
A given ladder, however, is maximum-corner-bending for a family of infinite pairs of perpendicular corridor widths and that the envelope of the maximum bending positions is that of a sliding rod against the outer wall, which is a branch of an astroid or four-cusped hypocycloid.
REFERENCES
E. Mendelson, 3000 Solved Problems in Calculus, Chapter 16 Problem 16.56 pp. 131, Mc Graw-Hill 1988.
M. Spiegel, Theory and Problems of Advanced Calculus, Chapter 4 Problem 40 pp. 75, Mc Graw-Hill 1974.
LINKS
C. Azeredo, The Ladder Problem
L. Husch and M. Szapiel, The Longest Ladder
M. Kantor, Knox College, Puzzle of the Week
J. J. O'Connor and E. R. Robertson, Astroid
T. Sillke, longest ladder
D. Sjerve, Solution to problem No.3
W. H. Steeb, Solved Problem
Eric Weisstein's World of Mathematics, Astroid
FORMULA
a(n)=d^3, where d=A009003(n).
CROSSREFS
KEYWORD
nonn
AUTHOR
Lekraj Beedassy, Nov 28 2003
STATUS
approved